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The IDF is preparing to establish a new Space Brigade under its Planning Directorate, marking a significant step toward expanding Israel's military capabilities beyond Earth's atmosphere, Ynet reported.
The unit, expected to be established in the coming months, will oversee the development and operational use of space-based technologies, including orbital surveillance systems and capabilities for future space warfare.
The decision was announced following a senior military appointments meeting Monday chaired by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. The new Space Brigade will operate as part of the military's multiyear Hoshen program, reflecting a growing recognition within the IDF that space has become an increasingly important dimension of modern warfare.
The Space Brigade will be responsible for coordinating the development and operational use of military space capabilities, leading professional training and establishing space operations as a distinct field of military expertise. Unlike traditional combat brigades, it will function as a specialized organizational unit within the Planning Directorate, bringing together technological development, operational requirements and long-term military planning.
According to the IDF, the decision reflects its assessment that space is becoming an active and evolving part of the battlefield, with its military significance expected to increase in the coming years. Over the past year, the military has advanced several projects in the field, including the operation of space-based sensors monitoring Earth and the development of capabilities related to space warfare. The new brigade is intended to consolidate these activities under a dedicated organizational framework.
Defense Minister Israel Katz welcomed the announcement Tuesday, describing the brigade as a key element of his ambition to transform Israel into one of the world's leading military space powers.