Israel and Palestine’s Hamas forces are currently engaged in a war, both physically and digitally. While many are familiar with Israel’s Iron Dome, an automated missile defense system protecting its capital, Tel Aviv, the country also has a lesser-known defense against online attacks called the Cyber Dome. As technology continues to shape the way large-scale conflicts are waged, a new generation of soldiers armed with computers has emerged. Israel recognizes that cybersecurity is essential for national security and sets an example for the world to follow. In this article, we will explore how Israel’s Cyber Dome works, and later, we will discuss other modern warfare technologies like the Fire Factory.
The Cyber Dome, Israel’s digital version of the Iron Dome, is made up of various groups, including the Intelligence Unit 8200J6 and Cyber Defense Directorate within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the cyber units of the spy agency Mossad and domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, and the Ministry of Defense. Gaby Portnoy, the director general of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, emphasizes the collaboration between these departments, referring to it as the “secret sauce.” The team receives alerts from other departments and uses them to improve their skills, highlighting the close working relationship between military, academia, government, and private industry in the cyberspace.
One unique aspect of Israel’s cyber defense is its compulsory military training. Citizens enter military training at age 18, lasting three years for boys and two years for girls. Elite cyber forces like Unit 8200 even accept recruits as young as 15. This continuous cycle ensures a steady supply of skilled personnel entering the cyber defense sector. Additionally, officers retiring from the defense forces join the private cyber industry, further strengthening the country’s cyber ecosystem. As a result, the IDF became one of the first to utilize AI platforms like ChatGPT to identify threats.
Apart from the Cyber Dome, Israel has developed other digital warfare projects, including the Fire Factory. The Fire Factory is an AI platform that calculates munition loads, prioritizes targets, assigns them to aircraft and drones, and proposes a schedule for air strikes. Israeli military officials have considered using it in periodic conflicts in the Gaza Strip, leading to the term “AI war.” The efficiency of AI allows tasks that used to take hours to be completed in minutes, freeing up more time for human review and analysis.
While Israel focuses on its cybersecurity, the United States has also been testing its AI fighter jet, the VISTA-X62A, equipped with the Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft. The VISTA Simulation System (VSS) enables the aircraft to imitate existing vehicles, such as the F-16 fighter or the MQ-20 drone. This allows the US Air Force to integrate new AI systems into existing aircraft without risking valuable assets.
In conclusion, Israel recognizes the importance of cybersecurity in maintaining national security. To defend against online attackers, it has developed the Cyber Dome, the digital equivalent of its Iron Dome defense system. Israel’s expertise in cybersecurity, collaboration between departments, mandatory military training, and utilization of AI technologies have positioned them at the forefront of the cyber defense industry. The country encourages attacks to improve preparedness and hopes to share their knowledge with the rest of the world.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
