"Tefen" plan
The "Tefen" plan was based on multi-year planning and a multi-year budget resulting from the government's decisions while adopting the conclusions of the Brodt Committee, which examined the defense budget. In the past, though the IDF presented similar plans, they ultimately did not come to fruition, as the army had to make do with a budget of only one year. The Brodt Committee , which recently completed its work and examined the budgeting of the defense system, also recommended a multi-year budget, in order to allow for the security system to plan long-term projects. The plan was also based on increasing security assistance. The plan was presented, as required, to the political level. to come into effect in January 2008.
The multi-year plan directs the building of the IDF's force for the next five years, and it actually determines the main projects that will be carried out, in accordance with the operational needs, the gaps and the challenges faced by the IDF chief. he last plan was supposed to take shape last year, but was postponed following the Second Lebanon War. The "Tafn Plan" will present key directions for the coming decade for the strengthening of the IDF's branches, the order of forces, the improvement of capabilities in full training and equipping, and means of combat and armament for both scenarios of a possible conflict in the next circle, and in looking ahead towards the possibilities of a conflict in the second and third circle if required.
The plan responded to aspects of Israel's home defense and aspects related to the ability of intelligence superiority, attack capabilities, command and control, preparedness and endurance along with sea control, air superiority, maneuvering in the land army and the ability to strike accurately, and this in order to serve the overarching goals that have been established, the main of which was state defense Israel and its citizens through: deterrence, warning, decision and victory in the various arenas. The multi-year work plan was built taking into account the intelligence assessment of the strategic situation in the region and against an assessment of the development of threats in the countries and armies of the region, and at the same time among terrorist organizations operating in the Middle East.
The program was built for the first time in light of the government's decision following the "Brodt Committee" which enables long-term budgetary planning and communication in a shekel and dollar budget through the approval of a multi-year budget and taking into account the increase in defense assistance from the United States.
The IDF presented the "Tefen 2012" plan on 09 March 2007. The plan, which includes the preparation of the army for the next five years, was concluded after a long staff work, the culmination of which was a workshop held in Zerifin. The Chief of Staff, Major General Gabi Ashkenazi, presented the plan, which includes equipping stealth fighter jets, state-of-the-art battleships, hundreds of APCs, unmanned aerial vehicles and other defensive and offensive systems.
According to senior officials in the IDF, the program examined the threats and possible diversions in the region, and formulated an adequate response to scenarios defined as "reasonable-severe". The plan placed at its center the confrontation with the threat from distant countries, with the threat from Iran at the center, which may also contain an unconventional threat, along with the confrontation with the conventional threat from the armies of the various countries.
The defense systems against the threats include dealing on two levels: on the one hand, the army was prepared to defend against conventional and non-conventional missile threats, in the development of missile defense systems. Another form of preparation was offensive preparation against the threats, which mainly includes the strengthening of the air force against the distant threats and the strengthening of the land formation to deal with the threats up close.
One of the key decisions at the heart of the plan was to speed up the pace of training in the army, regular and reserve. Along with the provision of large amounts of ammunition and stocks that were found to be lacking in the Second Lebanon War.
Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi approved the five-year plan "Tafen" 2007-2012 for the strengthening of the IDF with an emphasis on the strengthening of the land arm. Approved procurement plans:
- The purchase of hundreds of NMR -type APCs based on the Merkava tank chassis .
- Purchase of Merkava Mark 4 tanks with an active windbreaker protection system .
- The purchase of advanced F-35 aircraft (made by Lockheed-Martin ) for the Air Force .
- Purchase of new LCS ships (made by Lockheed-Martin ) for the Navy .
- Purchase of a defense system against rockets and missiles, probably Rafael 's Iron Dome , to protect the western and northern Negev.
As part of the IDF's multi-year plan, production of the Chariot Tank will continue, F-35 aircraft will be purchased, and the Navy will be equipped with new ships. The IDF will equip itself with hundreds of heavy armored personnel carriers in the coming years - this was one of the key decisions within the multi-year plan (Tafen) which was approved this morning (Monday) by the Chief of Staff, Major General Gabi Ashkenazi. The plan expresses a budgetary preference for the ground army, for the first time in many years It seems that this will also be done by postponing the transfer of some of the funds that the Air Force was supposed to receive. The plan, which was based, among other things, on the increase in defense assistance from the US, will be presented to the government, and if approved, will come into effect in January 2008.
The land formation will be significantly strengthened and the production of Merkava Siman 4 tanks will continue along with improvements in hundreds of existing tanks, and their equipment with active protection . In addition, Chief of Staff Ashkenazi decided on the production of hundreds of heavy APCs of the NMR type, (Merkava APCs). Along with this, the army decided to invest in the development and renewal of equipment for the regular and reserve combat formation.
The Tiger-type APCs will be produced using the platform of Merkava tanks. In addition, the production of Merkava tanks will continue and they will be equipped with anti-tank missiles. Also, improvements will be made to hundreds of additional tanks. "Besides extending life and upgrading the existing order of forces". The announcement did not say how it would be possible to meet this project, which involves huge expenses, alongside the flow of resources to the land arm. It was possible that the intention was to spread the aircraft procurement deal over a long period of time.
The plan also includes a decision on equipping the Navy with new multi-purpose surface ships as well as on the procurement and development of anti-missile and long-range rocket systems. Chief of Staff Ashkenazi also approved an increased investment in the field of intelligence and information technology and announced that the army under his leadership will continue to maintain its image as the "people's army".
Half of what it once was about two weeks ago, the IDF's general workshop led by the Chief of Staff opened, in which he discussed The General Staff Forum was formulating the main points of the army's multi-year plan for the coming years, in accordance with the Brodt Committee's recommendations. With the opening of the discussions, Defense Minister Ehud Barak held a press conference, in which he presented his security concept, centered on an active defense system to intercept missiles and rockets of all types, an improvement in the IDF's maneuverability, which includes an increase in the SDF, the re-establishment of two mission divisions and reinforcements Gradual of the number of tanks. According to him, "Israel today is in a state of less than half of its previous record of defense."
The Minister of Defense also said that in order to deal with more than one arena when necessary, Israel needs a logistical breathing space that includes stocks in the areas of ammunition and anti-tank weapons, as well as an increase in the amount of training of IDF forces. "Military power is not only tools and technology, but first of all self-confidence and fighting spirit," he said. He added that live fire training must continue up to the brigade and division level as it was in the past. "Fire training is the closest thing that can simulate a situation of combat, even if the psychological component is absent from it," said the Defense Minister.
At the same time, the skies of the IDF will not be spared either. The Air Force will be equipped with F-35 aircraft manufactured by Lockheed-Martin, alongside the upgrading of the existing forces, including the expansion and strengthening of the array of unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition, the Chief of Staff decided on the development and acquisition of additional capabilities that will lead to the strengthening The "long arm" capability of the IDF,
The Navy will equip itself with new multi-purpose surface ships, model LCS, they are also manufactured by the Lockheed-Martin company. The Navy will be equipped with what are known as "multipurpose surface ships" - these are ships that are even more sophisticated than the missile ships that the IDF uses today. This was in accordance with the requirement of the Corps, for the protection of the country's coasts and for additional naval missions. This is a ship with a length of approx. 15 meters. The ship has high maneuverability and can carry out targeted missions, such as: anti-marine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and humanitarian aid. The plan was for Israel to purchase one or two ships of this type.
In the area of defense against missile and rocket fire, the army will begin the process of developing and equipping itself with systems that will enable early detection and interception of missiles. It was also decided to invest extensively in order to create a defense response to the variety of threats. The army will invest in the " Iron Dome " cave, which includes missiles to intercept Qassam and Katyusha rockets.
Alongside all these, the army will continue to invest in the "Arrow" system for defense against long-range missiles. The Chief of Staff's decision regarding the "Arrow" ends a debate between the army and the Ministry of Defense over the financing of the project, which was not mentioned in the state budget.
Chief of Staff Ashkenazi also decided to increase investment in the field of intelligence and IT, in order to increase the strength of the IDF and its operational effectiveness. The plan includes features to deal with the expected decrease in the number of conscript soldiers until 2011. Because of this, the Chief of Staff ordered to give high priority to handling the reserve system, and to reward it appropriately. Ashkenazi said. He added that the plan will require streamlining the entire defense system and the IDF.
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