In wars from Israel’s Iron Swords to Ukraine, one lesson echoes loud and clear: sometimes, chasing perfection in defense can leave us trailing behind adversaries who know how to win with “good enough."
Israel’s defense industry is world-renowned for crafting tailored, top-tier systems — drones, sensors, cyber gear — all engineered for the highest operational standards. It’s a source of national pride.
But on today’s battlefields, our enemies are rewriting the playbook. With fleets of mass-produced drones and off-the-shelf tech, they move faster, adapt quicker, and prove that tactical impact often matters more than absolute sophistication.
Why do we falter?
It’s not a technology gap. It’s a mindset baked deep into our system. Institutional inertia, legacy relationships with giant defense contractors, and strict regulatory processes mean that the urge to deliver “perfect” can override the need for speed, scalability, and affordability.
Crucially, Israel’s vibrant defense-innovation ecosystem — hundreds of startups, breakthrough dual-use technologies, venture capital eager to experiment — remains underutilized.
Of course, some systems will always require uncompromising engineering and adherence to the strictest safety and operational standards — for strategic deterrence, for life-critical combat functions, or when failure is simply not an option. But those exceptional cases should not dictate the pace and philosophy of the entire defense procurement system.
Compare this to Ukraine’s rapid wartime innovations: civilian drones repurposed as weapons in weeks, open procurement empowering units directly, and field tech evolving in real time. Their approach isn’t just about saving money — it’s about fighting smarter and faster.
The path forward is clear.
Israel must become more agile — not by dropping standards, but by distinguishing what truly requires “boutique” engineering from what demands scale and speed. Procurement must streamline, embracing alternative suppliers and funding channels. Regulatory bodies must shift from gatekeepers to innovation partners, removing red tape where operational risk allows.
And here’s the crucial point: the traditional defense industry must not be sidelined — it is a strategic asset in its own right. Instead, its collaboration with the defense-tech ecosystem should be deepened and optimized. By integrating the creativity and agility of startups with the production capacity, expertise, and global reach of established contractors, Israel can create a stronger, more competitive, and more responsive defense capability.
Because future wars won’t be won by the best system on paper, but by the most adaptive, accessible, and resilient solutions in the field.
Israel has the brains, talent, and entrepreneurial firepower to lead in this new era. The choice is ours: stick to the boutique, or break through with innovation that’s good enough — and more than good enough to win.