Israel defense self‑reliance push

In late July 2026 Israel announced a ten‑year programme to design and produce its own stealth fighter and unmanned combat aerial vehicle, citing concerns that future U.S. policy could restrict access to systems such as the F‑35. The plan was presented as a move toward greater strategic independence and included the possibility of foreign partners joining the effort.

A week later the Ministry of Defence outlined how the initiative would be accelerated. Senior officials met with around twenty defence‑startup CEOs, pledging public funding, long‑term contracts and assistance in opening overseas markets such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The focus shifted toward an autonomous stealth drone platform rather than a new manned fighter, echoing the cancelled 1980s Lavi programme. Export revenues were highlighted as having doubled to roughly $330 million, underscoring the economic as well as security motivations behind Israel’s push for defence‑industry autonomy.