The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are intensifying preparations for potential future conflicts with Iran by expanding and upgrading their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities, reflecting lessons learned during recent hostilities. The IDF’s remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) have become integral to operations across multiple fronts, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, providing vital long-range surveillance and strike capacities without risking personnel.

A senior officer overseeing the Israel Air Force’s UAV and Intelligence Department outlined how drones played a central role in last year’s 12-day conflict, known as Operation Rising Lion, in June 2025. This operation marked a notable shift as Israeli RPAs conducted thousands of flight hours and nearly half of the total aerial strikes, including approximately 500 attacks within Iranian territory. The officer stressed that advances in drone technology, driven primarily by domestic defense firms such as Aeronautics, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, have enabled the IDF to extend its reach significantly.

While manned aircraft can perform mid-air refueling, Israeli UAVs operate solely on pre-mission fuel, a limitation overcome through technological developments allowing sustained flights and navigation in GPS-denied environments—common in adversary airspace like Iran and Lebanon. The drones, equipped with domestically produced sensors and munitions, have been essential in identifying and neutralizing missile launchers, weapons depots, and logistics hubs amid waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks.

The officer recounted a notable incident involving a Heron drone that returned safely despite sustaining missile damage, including perforations in its fuel tank. Such survivability highlights the resilience and evolving capabilities of the IDF’s unmanned fleet. While the exact number of drone losses remains undisclosed, estimates suggest both Israel and the United States have lost multiple UAVs in ongoing regional conflicts.

Looking forward, the Israel Air Force plans to expand its drone fleet with the addition of more advanced platforms, including new Heron MK2 models and the Hermes 650 Spark, with new squadrons projected to come online in the near future. The force continues to analyze global conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, to refine its operational strategies despite differing contexts.

Despite the current fragile ceasefire with Iran, the IDF maintains a stance of readiness. “We cannot afford not to be ready,” the officer emphasized, signaling a continued commitment to advancing UAV capabilities as a core component of Israel’s national defense posture.