The IDF’s procurement plans have come to a complete halt as the government
continues to haggle over planned cuts to the defense budget.
A new
program, called Halamish, was supposed to go into effect over the summer but has
been suspended pending a decision on the extent of spending cuts. The plan
outlines development and procurement programs for the coming five
years.
Defense officials said that the plan was approved recently by
Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen.Benny Gantz and Defense Minister Ehud Barak but that it
would not go into effect until Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu determined the
final size of the budget.
The IDF also warned that if plans to cut NIS 3
billion from the budget are approved, it will need to cut back on vital training
regimes for its standing forces. Officers advised that at a time of instability
in Egypt, Syria and across the Middle East it is imperative that the IDF
continue to train and upgrade its offensive capabilities.
“Halamish is
not being implemented since we do not yet know how much money there is to be
able to order new platforms,” one official said on Sunday.
The Halamish
plan, which is supposed to replace Tefen – the plan in place for the past five
years – is based on the premise that there is a growing possibility for a
multi-front war in the near future.
For the time being, the IDF has
decided against making comprehensive structural changes that could be required
in the event that the situation in Egypt further deteriorates, and has
reorganized existing capabilities to increase defenses along the southern
border.
The Halamish plan is expected to continue the investment in the
ground forces that started after the Second Lebanon War in 2006, and will see
the procurement of additional missile defense systems – like the Iron Dome and
David’s Sling – as well as new interceptors for the Arrow ballistic missile
defense system.
The Artillery Corps is looking to buy new, accurate
rocket systems that would provide ground forces with standoff precision attack
capabilities (the ability to attack the enemy from the air without being
directly above it) without needing to rely on the air force for air
support.
The plan is also expected to lead to a dramatic boost in
Israel’s intelligence collection capabilities – with the attainment of new
special electronics mission aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles – as well as
new defenses for critical military infrastructure from cyber attacks by
countries such as Iran.