David Zaikin, founder and CEO of the Key Elements Group, emphasized the urgent need for accelerated weapons development and the establishment of independent defense ecosystems to meet the demands of future conflicts. Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Annual New York Conference on Tuesday during a panel titled “Security in a Shifting World: Israel, the US, and What Comes Next,” Zaikin outlined how traditional defense procurement models are increasingly inadequate for modern warfare.

Drawing on his experience advising Western governments and collaborating with the Ukrainian defense sector, Zaikin highlighted the shortcomings revealed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He described incidents where advanced Western military technologies failed in practical deployment, citing, for example, a leading drone that could not withstand a short transport to the front lines. “It was shocking to see how the best praised modern Western technologies failed at the battlefield,” he remarked, underscoring the critical need for weapons systems designed for operational resilience and adaptability.

According to Zaikin, the key lesson from Ukraine is that the speed of technological adaptation now outweighs prolonged development cycles. He stressed that countries can no longer depend solely on procuring sophisticated weaponry from abroad. Instead, they must cultivate comprehensive defense ecosystems encompassing innovation, manufacturing, supply chains, and integration among financing institutions, policymakers, and engineers.

Zaikin pointed to increasing efforts across Europe and the Gulf states to build domestic defense industries, moving beyond initial ambitions of simply acquiring equipment to creating robust infrastructure supporting operators, maintenance, and parts production. He warned that current European defense procurement timelines, often extending beyond a decade, are ill-suited to the rapidly evolving nature of modern conflict. “Programs taking more than a decade to deliver weapons systems are preparing for wars that no longer exist,” he said.

The panel discussion was moderated by Jerusalem Post Defense & Tech editor Anna Ahronheim and brought attention to the necessity of rethinking defense strategies in an era where technological agility and self-sufficiency are becoming paramount. Zaikin’s insights reflect a growing consensus among defense experts that future military effectiveness will depend not just on advanced technology, but on the ability to rapidly adapt and sustain operations in dynamic combat environments.