The IDF’s C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate will establish two new divisions, responsible for spectrum and communications, and for artificial intelligence (AI), respectively, following lessons learned from the Israel-Hamas War, the military confirmed on Tuesday.
The Sphere Division (responsible for spectrum and communications) and the AI Division will be added to the directorate, in order to optimally handle future challenges, the military clarified.
During the war, the directorate’s activity "expanded and intensified significantly," the military noted, adding that they found the need to provide "responses to technological needs that emerged from the field, and the desire to ensure communications continuity."
The military also clarified how the Sphere and AI Divisions will operate.
The Sphere Division will be an operational-technological division, which will lead to "superiority in the spectrum and strategic communications capabilities to secure the IDF’s freedom of action."
It was initially set up to be utilized for defensive needs, but the IDF learned during the war that it needed to be strengthened so that it could also be used offensively.
The Sphere Division will also "engage with space and satellites in alignment with a developing and required dimension in the world," the military added.
The AI Division will "lead and initiate platforms, systems, and information and AI capabilities that enable an exponential leap in the operational effectiveness of the IDF and its personnel," the military stated.
This will be achieved via "breakthrough technology, multi-branch and multi-organizational processes, and the development of people, method, and culture," the IDF added.
The directorate also reached an understanding during the war that it needs to increase the utilization of reservists who come with prior knowledge of the cyber industry from their civilian work. Therefore, the new AI Division will include a unit comprised entirely of reservists, the military confirmed.
New developments for IDF's C4I Cyber Directorate during Israel-Hamas War
The IDF commented on some new developments the directorate faced during the Israel-Hamas War.
For the first time, solutions were created and defined to make all information accessible in real time to operational units across all existing operational systems.
The directorate is developing a system, using AI, that will be able to transcribe communications networks in real time within a few seconds, creating a transcription of communications within tanks, aircraft, submarines, and more. This system will improve the efficiency of combat operations management, the military affirmed.
The directorate has also developed additional systems, including one that uses cloud and other models to identify fallen soldiers more promptly and efficiently, and another, which can schedule and manage manpower, including reservist forces, in order to reduce manpower gaps, increasing the availability of personnel.
The C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate already consisted of the Cyber Defense Division, the Operations and Signal Corps Division, and the Staff Division for Force Buildup. It is currently commanded by Maj.-Gen. Aviad Dagan.
In October, The Jerusalem Post’s Yonah Jeremy Bob visited the directorate’s training base near Beersheba, meeting the commander and discussing how the military is training its future cyber defenders.
PMO creates AI Directorate
The Prime Minister’s Office also noted the importance of AI defense, tasking Brig.-Gen. (res.) Erez Askal to head the National Artificial Intelligence Directorate, the PMO announced on October 12.
According to the PMO, "The establishment of the Directorate, which has been led and initiated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is intended to transform the State of Israel into a global AI superpower."
Further, "the National Directorate will lead the formulation and implementation of the national strategy in the field, serving as a central arm for promoting innovation, regulation, infrastructure, and research, while strengthening Israel’s status in the international arena."
The military did not initially comment on how the IDF and PMO’s AI directorates will collaborate.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.