Hezbollah’s fibre-optic drones expose Israel’s counter-UAV gap in southern Lebanon
SmartShooter’s SMASH family could be under consideration by Israel as a counter-measure. (Photo: SmartShooter)
Israel is working to close a counter-drone capability gap exposed by Hezbollah’s fibre-optic systems, drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine to replace improvised defences with targeted solutions.
Hezbollah’s kamikaze fibre-optic-guided drones are emerging as one of the most difficult threats facing Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon, exposing a gap in the Israel Defence Forces’ (IDF) ability to counter low-cost, precision-guided systems that are largely immune to conventional electronic jamming.
Israeli defence companies have so far failed to field an effective countermeasure to these wire-guided drones, while parts of the Israeli military establishment are facing criticism for their lack of preparedness for a threat that is causing mounting human and material losses.
Military sources in Israel say Hezbollah is using modified drones fitted with RPG-type warheads designed to penetrate building
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