IDF Developing New Weapons Against Deadly FPV Drones

Military officials said the current lull in fighting has created an opportunity to accelerate testing. 

By Shula Rosen

Israel’s military is rapidly expanding its search for effective defenses against fiber-optic first-person view (FPV) drones, deploying new technologies and adapting battlefield tactics as officials warn the weapon has become one of the most difficult threats facing ground forces, Ynet reported.

The Israel Defense Forces, working with the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), has evaluated dozens of systems in recent months and is already introducing some into operational units. The effort spans early warning, interception and force protection rather than relying on a single solution.

Military officials said the current lull in fighting has created an opportunity to accelerate testing.

“We are using the ceasefire and the reduced intensity of fighting to accelerate everything we can,” Lt. Col. D., who heads the detection and tracking branch in the IDF Technology Division for the Ground Forces, told Ynet. “Since the ceasefire, all headquarters and technology personnel have switched to turbo mode.”

Officials said fiber-optic drones have proven especially difficult to counter because they fly at low altitude and remain connected to their operators by cable, making conventional electronic jamming ineffective. Although progress has been made, they cautioned that soldiers remain vulnerable.

“I would not say we are hermetic yet,” one security source said. “Unfortunately, soldiers will likely continue to be hit in the near term. But we have improved significantly.”

The IDF is pursuing multiple layers of defense, including advanced sensors, radar, cameras and LiDAR for detection, protective netting around military positions, AI-assisted targeting systems, interceptor drones and experimental laser and microwave technologies.

Israeli startups and established defense companies are competing to provide operational systems, while officials said directed-energy weapons are viewed as a promising long-term capability.

Lt. Col. D. said the military does not expect any single technology to solve the problem.

“Based on my experience, I believe lasers will provide a breakthrough,” he said. “But there is no silver bullet. It is about building a broad set of solutions working in synergy. Each has a relative advantage, but none can solve the problem alone.”

Officials said the IDF is continuing to adapt as the threat evolves, combining new equipment, operational changes and artificial intelligence in an effort to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated drone attacks.