Defense Technology International - April 2008 - (Page 20) DISPATCHES GLOBAL servers say the effectiveness of these operations was evident in improved combat performance in the Gaza Strip in February and March, when the IDF launched Operation Hot Winter to attack the infrastructure supporting Qassam rocket attacks on Israel. Ashkenazi is also pushing for increased military funding in the multiyear Tefen 2012 procurement plan. The $68.8-billion plan reverses a downsizing of the army and reduces investments in high-tech systems in favor of strengthening land forces, training and anti-rocket defense. Other initiatives include a continuing emphasis on diffused warfare, where small forces deploy over large areas to pursue specific targets (see related story, p. 34). Israel and the IDF learned much from the Second Lebanon War. What matters now, analysts say, is how thoroughly the lessons are absorbed by decision-makers and how vigorously they will be applied. � To read David Eshel's analysis of the Winograd Report, go to DTI’s homepage, AviationWeek.com/dti and click on “Extras for this issue” under “DTI Interactive.” ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES Israeli soldier clears a Hezbollah bunker. Winograd Report criticized the delay in committing ground forces to the battle. early in the war. Without ground troops hunting down rocket cells and forcing Hezbollah to retreat, the highly mobile, short-range rocket offensive was able to keep nearly a million Israeli civilians under attack for a month. Valuable lessons were also learned in technology and combat leadership. Network-centric communications provided unprecedented situational awareness to commanders. But data transmitted to command centers away from the front doesn’t replace combat leadership. Analysts say tactical commanders from the division level to platoons must be in the battle with troops to keep objectives in sight and maintain morale. Watching battles from remote locations is no substitute for a field presence. Halutz resigned after the war. His successor, Lt. Gen. Avi Ashkenazi, is honing the IDF’s conventional warfi ghting capability. His initiatives include enhanced training protocols. IDF has held divisional exercises based on lessons learned during the war. Ob- November 19-20, 2008 New York, NY SAVE THE DATE The only investor event that is open to industry attendees! Be there as A&D’s Top CEOs pitch their 2009 and beyond business plans to Wall Street! www.aviationweek.com/conferences +1.212.904.4483 or 1.800.240.7645 20 http://AviationWeek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/conferences http://www.aviationweek.com/conferences http://AviationWeek.com/dti
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