Israel is building 'micro air force' to fight Hezbollah drones
Israeli army (photo: Getty Images)
The Israeli army is forming special "micro air force" units for combat operations in southern Lebanon. This allows infantry forces to independently conduct reconnaissance and carry out strikes against Hezbollah militants, Ynet News reports.
Israel's ground forces are undergoing the fastest technological transformation in their history. Previously, drones were only a supporting tool, but now every field unit has its own air force.
The Northern Command drone school is one of the military institutions where the Israeli army's drone forces are being forged. Today, dozens of reserve units use drone technologies directly on the front line.
The school commander explains the new concept this way:
"We turned drone warfare into a profession. If drones used to be a small support tool, today, field units have their own 'micro air force.' A significant share of missions, from identifying the enemy, designating targets, dropping payloads, operating heavier drones, and other complex tasks that cannot be detailed are now carried out independently by drones."
A tactical nightmare in the mountains of Lebanon
The terrain of southern Lebanon creates enormous problems for the military. Deep valleys and dense bushes allow Hezbollah militants to hide effectively. Drones have become the only way to fully control this area.
An experienced operator sees what is hidden from the eyes of ordinary infantry. This makes a field commander almost all-powerful.
Lessons from the Ukrainian army
Israel is closely studying the experience of the Russian-Ukrainian war because Hezbollah FPV drones have become the main threat in recent months. Some of them use fiber-optic cables, making them invulnerable to electronic warfare.
The command is implementing a new defensive doctrine. It includes detection and interception systems, although no perfect solution exists yet. The learning curve is rising at a crazy pace on both sides of the conflict.
Technology alone is not enough for victory. The school trains specialized soldiers — sky observers. They are responsible for the early warning of incoming enemy drones.
The army now uses comprehensive protection against drones:
- Special physical protective nets
- Camouflage adapted to terrain features
- Use of small arms to shoot down drones
- Constant radio frequency scanning
This doctrine is the last layer of protection, like body armor for a soldier.
"This saves lives, unequivocally. We want to pass this message to as many soldiers as possible in the field because, in the end, this doctrine is the final and most critical layer of defense," says the head of the drone school.
The importance of anti-drone forces
Hezbollah militants have increasingly used drones to attack Israeli soldiers and their equipment. Recently, the group reported 12 attacks on Israeli military infrastructure. Militants also attempted to disable drone jamming systems.
Attacks on Iron Dome system positions have also become more frequent. At the same time, Hezbollah is not attacking valuable missile defense systems with simple drones for the first time. Just two weeks ago, the militants announced a successful attack.
