The Impact of Technology on National Security: Examining Israel's Military Innovation Culture

Political Science

We live in a competitive global world led by countries that gain strategic advantages in innovation. Israel is a remarkable example for the ability to produce military innovation with limited resources. Its defense budget is less than one-thirtieth of that of the United States, although the “start-up nation” is leading the world in military innovations such as the Iron Dome missile defense system and the Trophy active defense system for armored vehicles. The research examines Israel's military innovation culture, which is based on a commitment to military technological superiority. It is argued that the enormous influence of high-technology start-ups on Israel's economy and its global competitiveness are related to security issues, as human resources are encouraged by government policy and the mandatory service in the army. The "security culture" which identifies the Israeli society can be explained in the role of Israel Defense Forces as the “people's army”. The impact of technology is since the concept of national security, which the country is identified with since its establishment, has been under siege with the growing impact of digital military activity. The research found that the success of Israel's military innovation culture is with no proportion to its relative size, given the demands of national security and the cooperation between all parties – government, army and society – allowing it to maintain military superiority through the development of new technology.

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