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This is the First Robotics War - Tens of Thousands of Autonomous Systems Deployed Across All Domains

Israel Ministry of Defense

1/12/2025

These remarks were delivered by Yaron Sarig, Head of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D)'s AI and Autonomy PEO, at the International DefenseTech Summit led by the IMOD's DDR&D, in collaboration with the Blavatnik Cyber Research Center at Tel Aviv University.

Sarig further stated: "This is the first robotics war. In this conflict, we have mobilized our entire defense ecosystem and deployed tens of thousands of autonomous systems across the battlefield - from drone swarms to agile ground robotics distributed across vast areas."

"The AI and Autonomy PEO, working in coordination with the IDF, has accelerated innovative developments from startups, defense contractors, and research institutions, with the goal of integrating them into the operational theater and maintaining our relative advantage on land, in the air, and at sea."

"We are only at the beginning of this revolution. In the coming years, driven by operational necessity, we will significantly expand our robotic capabilities. Robotics serves as a critical bridge to the world of AI, which, looking forward, will be integrated into every weapon system and into the operational capability of every soldier."

Drawing lessons from Israel's ongoing military operations and real-world scenarios, the International DefenseTech Summit showcases cutting-edge advances in emerging technologies that are shaping the future of global security.

Key participants include: Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, IMOD Director General; Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold, Head of the DDR&D; Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Prof. Isaac Ben-Israel, Conference Chairman and Director of the Blavatnik ICRC at Tel Aviv University; Brig. Gen. Benny Aminov, Head of the DDR&D's Military R&D unit; Avi Berger, Head of the DDR&D's Space Program Office; Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Alon, Managing Partner at Elements Venture Capital; Michael Dodd, U.S. Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies and Acting Deputy Director of the Defense Innovation Unit; Dame Fiona Murray, Associate Dean of Innovation at MIT School of Management; Shaun Maguire, Partner at Sequoia Capital; Dr. Christian Steinborn, Head of Business Development Start-Up Activities at Rheinmetall AG; Francois Chopard, CEO & Founder of Starburst; and many other senior officials from Israel and worldwide.