Ukrainian lesson: the Israeli Ministry of Defense is looking for solutions to neutralize cellular-controlled drones

Having “slept through” the emergence of fiber-optic-controlled drones near Israeli borders, the Israeli Ministry of Defense is learning a lesson from the Russian-Ukrainian war, where the use of drones controlled via a cellular network is gaining momentum.

The Ministry of Defense’s Weapons and Technology Infrastructure Development Authority (MAFAT) has issued an open call for proposals for solutions in this area.

According to the request, “solutions must provide a rapid, mobile response tailored to the dynamics of maneuvering forces in hostile territory.”

Serious concerns about these drones stem from their advantages over both radio-frequency controlled aircraft and fiber optic drones.

Unlike radio frequency and fiber optic drones, conventional means of combat are not applicable against cellular-controlled drones. These drones are controlled using a SIM card and are connected to the civilian cellular network, providing communication with the operator. As a result, Ukraine and Russia are using this technology to strike at distances of thousands of kilometers.