Israel’s Ministry of Defense and IDF Launch New Directorate for AI and Autonomy

The Ministry of Defense and the IDF inaugurated a new Directorate for AI and Autonomy this week, aimed at spearheading research, development, and force-building in the fields of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems across all branches of the IDF.

During a ceremony attended by the Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, Major General (Res.) Eyal Zamir, and other senior officials, the directorate was presented as a foundation for an operational and technological revolution that will shape the future battlefield.

The establishment of the directorate is an initiative of the Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, who decided, upon assuming his role, to consolidate development efforts in AI and autonomy under one entity. “The inauguration of the directorate is a historic event that will bring about the next revolution on the battlefield,” Zamir remarked. According to him, the use of advanced technologies will enable better operational outcomes, reduce casualties, and improve efficiency and resource utilization.

The directorate will operate under MAFAT, in collaboration with academic researchers, technological units within the IDF, defense industries, and startups. It will join the ranks of other leading directorates, such as the Merkava and Armored Vehicle Directorate, the "Homa" Missile Defense Directorate, and the Space Directorate, which have driven technological breakthroughs for the IDF.

The head of MAFAT at the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General (Res.) Dr. Danny Gold, emphasized the directorate’s vision for global leadership in the field of defense autonomy. “The directorate will unite all entities under one roof, from researchers and developers to the operational forces in the field,” he said. According to him, collaboration with the civilian sector, including major industries and startups, will be central to advancing its objectives.

The directorate is expected to lead a significant shift in combat management in the future, integrating combat units with advanced autonomous tools. This will form a key part of the effort to ensure the IDF’s operational superiority, even under the challenging conditions of the future battlefield.