Israeli defense innovations continue to play a critical role in strengthening the United States military, according to a new report from the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). Battlefield-tested technologies from Israel have repeatedly enhanced American warfighting strength, providing key advantages in protection, technology, and battlefield dominance.
The INSS report, authored by urban warfare experts John Spencer and Liam Collins, details how Israeli advancements have transformed U.S. military capabilities for decades. Following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the U.S. Department of Defense conducted 37 studies on Israeli battlefield successes, leading to significant improvements in American weapons systems, including the Apache helicopter and Abrams tank, and the adoption of the AirLand Battle doctrine.
Israeli innovations have saved countless American lives on the battlefield. The Emergency Bandage, developed by an Israeli medic, became standard issue for U.S. troops in the early 2000s. The Israeli-developed Trophy Active Protection System has been integrated into U.S. M1 Abrams tanks, providing critical defense against modern anti-tank missiles and enhancing urban combat survivability.
During the Iraq War, American forces sought Israeli expertise in countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs), adapting Israeli-developed systems like Dragon Spike and Dragon Spike II to American operations. Israeli advancements in K9 tactics, pioneered by the IDF’s Oketz Unit, have also shaped U.S. Special Operations Forces’ use of military working dogs for urban and subterranean warfare.
The partnership extends beyond traditional combat. Israeli counter-tunneling technologies have strengthened U.S. border security operations against cartel tunnels along the southern border. Airpower collaborations include Israel’s development of the LITENING targeting pod and modifications to the F-35 Lightning II, enhancing U.S. air superiority.
Israel’s Iron Beam laser defense system, designed to neutralize drone swarms and rocket attacks, offers promising solutions for future U.S. air defense. Israeli innovations in artificial intelligence, such as the CARMEL armored vehicle project and the Fire Weaver battle management system, have advanced U.S. efforts to integrate AI into battlefield command, cyber defense, and loitering munitions.
The INSS report underscores that the U.S.–Israeli defense relationship is a model of co-evolution, where mutual innovation strengthens both nations’ military readiness and global competitiveness. Spencer, a retired U.S. Army major, emphasized that Israeli battlefield lessons, especially from urban combat against Hamas, are directly informing American tactical doctrine and saving American lives.
Israeli advancements in defense, medicine, and technology continue to secure U.S. strength in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
