The Israel Defense Forces and the Defense Ministry Procurement Directorate are preparing a new tender to purchase 12,000 Israeli made assault drones, marking a strategic shift toward expanded drone warfare against Hamas and Hezbollah. The move follows increased drone attacks by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and reflects growing reliance on unmanned systems in frontline combat. A previous contract awarded last year supplied 5,000 low cost drones but drew criticism over profitability requirements and the inclusion of components sourced from China.

The new drones will be first person view models operated with virtual reality goggles and a joystick, equipped with features such as night vision cameras. Each unit is expected to cost between 20,000 and 25,000 shekels, significantly more than the roughly 3,500 shekels per drone in the previous tender. The updated requirements emphasize a Western based supply chain and remove the obligation to use Chinese electronic components, amid concerns about data security.

Despite the investment, experts note that the scale of the order remains small compared to mass production seen in other conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of low cost drones are produced annually. Hezbollah is believed to manufacture inexpensive drones using commercially available parts and knowledge transferred from Russia. Defense industry officials say drone warfare is still evolving and predict that small assault drones will increasingly become a standard tactical tool for individual soldiers on the battlefield.