The Weapons Wizards: How Israel Became A High-Tech Military Superpower, Katz and Bohbot - B

                                               The authors are journalists who cover the military and have served in the IDF. They believe it is the country's universal military service, non-hierarchical institutions, and education systems, along with its constant existential threats that have led to Israel becoming a world-wide leader in military technology and now, a leading exporter of the same.
                                                Israel's first major step into military know-how was a business that repaired airplanes in the first decade of the state's existence. In the late 60's, Israeli engineers used toy American hobby planes to provide observations of the enemy over the horizon, and  they have since created the finest drones in the world. They were the first to develop UAV's, and America's activities piggy-backed on the Israelis. Today, Israeli equipment constitutes 60% of worldwide drone sales. As they are often the first western state to face battlefield threats, the Israelis must be the first to adapt. In the late 1990's, they were attacked with the most recent Soviet/Russian anti-tank weapon and now have created cutting-edge  defensive and offensive systems for their tanks. Similarly, with satellites, rockets, A.I. and stuxnet, the highly motivated Israelis lead the way. The informality sounds almost pre-industrial, but it works.
                                              Today, Israel no longer faces a frontline state with a traditional military. Rather. its challenges are asymmetric and its opponents, Hamas and Hezbollah are non-state actors. Future wars will be a collage featuring traditional, terror and guerrilla tactics. The authors are certain they will be ready. I suspect they are correct.