IDF’s five-year plan brings “beeper” tactic into defensive doctrine

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is moving ahead with a new five-year force-building plan intended to shape the military’s development from 2026 through 2030. Among the concepts under review is a potential defensive system based on “beeper” technology, referencing a September 2024 operation in which thousands of Hezbollah operatives were wounded after their pagers exploded.

Military officials described the idea as defensive in nature but did not clarify whether such a system would be deployed inside Israel, along its borders, or elsewhere. This marks the first public indication that the IDF is exploring a defensive adaptation of that tactic, as noted by The Defence Post.

The initiative, known as “Hoshen,” will be led by Maj. Gen. Hidai Zilberman, according to IDF officials. The plan is expected to formally enter implementation on April 1, although several planning teams are already working on its various components.

Hoshen places strong emphasis on expanding the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems, and space-based capabilities. At the same time, it seeks to address shortcomings in readiness revealed by more than two years of sustained military operations.

The framework also revisits traditional military doctrines, with a focus on improving coordination between air, ground, and naval forces.

The Hoshen plan further calls for the expanded deployment of robotic and autonomous platforms across air, sea, and land forces. These systems could operate independently in certain missions or alongside human soldiers in others.

Artificial intelligence is expected to play a larger role in operational planning, command-and-control, and administrative functions, supported by an expanded military data infrastructure.

Space is identified as an increasingly contested domain. The IDF plans to invest in new space-related capabilities as more countries expand their satellite programs. Iranian satellite launches, some carried out with Russian assistance, have raised concerns in Israel about the erosion of its advantage in space-based intelligence and surveillance.

Air and missile defence remains a central pillar of the plan. The IDF intends to continue strengthening its multi-layered air defence architecture, particularly in response to evolving drone threats, and to further develop the Iron Beam laser-based air defence system.

By Nazrin Sadigova