IDF's New Five Year Plan: Space, Robots, AI, and More

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has begun advancing concrete steps to implement a new five-year military plan that aims to fundamentally reshape Israel’s defense posture through advanced technology, automation, and strategic independence. The plan, known as “Hoshen,” is slated to cover the years 2026–2030 and reflects lessons drawn from more than two years of continuous war following October 7, 2023.

According to the IDF, roughly a dozen planning teams have already begun work on the framework, despite formal implementation only being scheduled to begin on April 1. In the coming months, these teams are expected to present detailed operational concepts to senior command forums, outlining goals, capabilities, and integration across all branches of the military.

One of the most striking elements discussed by the IDF is the exploration of a defensive “beepers”-style system. The reference is to the September 2024 operation in which thousands of Hezbollah operatives were wounded simultaneously using rigged communication devices. For the first time, the IDF has openly signaled that similar concepts may be adapted for defensive purposes, potentially as a pre-positioned deterrent or early-response system in the event of a ground invasion. Officials did not clarify whether such systems would be deployed along Israel’s borders, inside Israeli territory, or covertly embedded within enemy infrastructure.

The Hoshen plan places a heavy emphasis on robotics and autonomous systems. The IDF intends to dramatically expand the use of unmanned platforms across land, sea, and air forces, both independently and in coordination with human soldiers. The goal is to reduce troop exposure, increase operational persistence, and improve response times in complex combat environments.

Artificial intelligence is another central pillar. The IDF plans to embed AI more deeply into operational planning, battlefield management, logistics, and decision-support systems. To support this shift, the military has already begun expanding high-capacity data centers and computational infrastructure, recognizing that future conflicts will be shaped as much by data dominance as by firepower.

Space has also emerged as a growing arena of concern. The IDF says it will invest in new space-related capabilities and doctrines, as rival powers, particularly Iran with Russian assistance, continue to expand their satellite and space-launch programs. Israeli defense planners view this trend as a direct challenge to long-standing Western advantages in intelligence, surveillance, and communications.

The plan also addresses the less glamorous but critical task of restoring readiness. After years of sustained conflict, the IDF is focusing on rebuilding resilience among reservists, conscripts, and career personnel, many of whom have faced repeated deployments and extended strain.

Financially, the plan is being developed alongside a dramatic shift in long-term defense funding. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced that Israel is preparing for a scenario in which it relies far more heavily on domestic resources, with up to NIS 350 billion earmarked over a decade to boost weapons production and technological independence. The IDF is expected to use roughly half of that sum under Hoshen.

This marks a departure from previous multi-year plans, such as “Tenufah,” which was disrupted by the Hamas invasion and the ensuing war. It also reflects uncertainty surrounding future US military aid, as Israel and Washington begin discussions on the next Memorandum of Understanding, set to replace the current framework that runs through 2028.

Taken together, Hoshen signals an IDF preparing not just for the next war, but for a radically different kind of battlefield, one defined by automation, artificial intelligence, space competition, and the need for strategic self-reliance.