Col. K, head of the Israel Air Force’s UAV and Intelligence Department, has confirmed a profound strategic shift in national defense, declaring that remotely piloted aircraft have become "central to every front" and will grow more critical in the coming years. This pivot, detailed in an April 13, 2026, interview, sees the Israel Air Force preparing to significantly expand its unmanned fleet, with plans to receive more Heron MK2 aircraft and open a new squadron within the current year, followed by the introduction of the Hermes 650 Spark next year. The stated rationale for this expansion is to enable operations "without risking human life," deploying these platforms from Gaza to Lebanon and deep inside Iran.
The Automated Frontline
Over the past two years of fighting, including the recent campaign against Iran, unmanned aerial vehicles have been deployed across multiple theaters. Col. K highlighted the 12 Day War in June 2025, known as Operation Rising Lion, as a critical turning point. During this conflict, the capability to send drones "far beyond our borders" was utilized for the first time. The officers in K's department, many of whom are engineers, are credited with developing the technology that gives these platforms their long-distance flight capabilities.
Israeli UAVs logged thousands of hours and executed approximately 500 attacks in Iran during the June war, constituting around 50 percent of the total aerial attacks. In the more recent campaign against Iran, Israeli RPAs flew even longer missions, operating in conjunction with American systems. The IAF relied heavily on its unmanned fleet as Iran launched waves of missiles and attack drones, using the aircraft to locate and strike launch sites, weapons warehouses, and logistical hubs. K stated, "Every aircraft is valuable; we prefer to send a UAV rather than send a manned platform if they can achieve the same at the end of the day, to attack and destroy threats."
Domestic Production, Shifting Sacrifice
The development and production of these critical defense assets are rooted domestically. Local defense companies Aeronautics, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are responsible for the UAVs themselves. Furthermore, all sensors and payloads carried by IAF UAVs are domestically produced and underwent significant upgrades during the war. K affirmed this national self-reliance, stating, "All our payloads are Blue and white, just like our platforms." These domestically produced systems provide "day-and-night visibility to protect our troops and identify targets," whether in Gaza, Lebanon, or Iran. Over the past two years, both munitions capacity and payload capabilities have been increased.
The IAF has made substantial investments in technologies that enable drones to operate effectively even in GPS-denied environments, conditions K described as common in Iranian and Lebanese airspace. She noted that while Gaza may be operationally easier, there is no difference between Iran and Lebanon in this regard, and "Each conflict teaches us something new."
Future of Detached Conflict
Despite the emphasis on avoiding human risk, some platforms have been lost in combat. Israel and the United States have maintained secrecy regarding the exact number of UAV losses, though the US is estimated to have lost at least 20 Reaper drones, and Israel is rumored to have lost over a dozen. K acknowledged these losses, stating, "It’s a war. You plan for something, and then you meet the enemy. We lost some platforms, and every platform is important, but we learned even more." She attributed the low number of losses and continued operations to "our people and how we prepared our systems."
Looking ahead, Col. K reiterated that "The future is UAVs," citing "endless possibilities for these platforms." The IAF continues to analyze other conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, for insights, with K noting, "The Ukrainian arena is different, but every conflict teaches us something." She concluded by affirming the force's readiness: "There was a huge success on our side. But we are always ready. We cannot afford not to be ready. We will always be ready."