Israeli Industry Conference
Israel’s Defense Industries Are Its Greatest Technological Engine, Says IAI Chairman
Government-owned IAI is Israel’s largest aerospace and defense company, developing systems for air, space, sea, land, cyber, and homeland security
12:4901.05.18
Israel’s defense industries are a great technological engine, providing the local tech sector with the best human capital, according to Harel Locker, chairman of defense contractor Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI). “Without the defense industries Israel will lose its competitive economic edge,” he said Monday, speaking on Monday at Calcalist’s Conference on Israeli Industry, held in Tel Aviv in partnership with Bank Leumi and Bazan Group.
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Government-owned IAI is Israel’s largest aerospace and defense company, developing and manufacturing defense systems including aerial defense, anti-missile, unmanned aerial systems, intelligence and cyber systems, drone disruption, land robotics, and marine systems.
Harel Locker. Photo: Amit Sha'al IAI spends $829 million (NIS 3 billion) a year on research and development, according to Mr. Locker, and has registered more patents in the past year than any other Israeli company. “We are Israel's largest tech company, with a turnover of $3.8 billion (NIS 14 billion) and $2.7 billion (NIS 10 billion) in annual exports,” he said.
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Mr. Locker added that the cybersecurity technologies used by IAI in all its defense technologies could be applicable for non-military uses. “The line between defense technology and civilian technology has blurred,” Mr. Locker said.
