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The Weapon Wizards

How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower

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About this listen

From drones to satellites, missile defense systems to cyber warfare, Israel is leading the world when it comes to new technology being deployed on the modern battlefield. The Weapon Wizards shows how this tiny nation of 8,000,000 learned to adapt to the changes in warfare and in the defense industry and become the new prototype of a 21st century superpower, not in size, but rather in innovation and efficiency - and as a result of its long war experience. Sitting on the front lines of how wars are fought in the 21st century, Israel has developed in its arms trade new weapons and retrofitted old ones so they remain effective, relevant, and deadly on a constantly-changing battlefield. While other countries begin to prepare for these challenges, they are looking to Israel - and specifically its weapons - for guidance. Israel is, in effect, a laboratory for the rest of the world. How did Israel do it? And what are the military and geopolitical implications of these developments? These are some of the key questions Yaakov Katz and Amir Bohbot address. Drawing on a vast amount of research, and unparalleled access to the Israeli defense establishment, this book is a report directly from the front lines.

©2017 Yaakov Katz and Amir Bohbot (P)2017 Tantor International Israel & Palestine Middle East Military Military Science Politics & Government World War 21st Century Cyber Warfare Iran Air Force Israel Military

Critic reviews

"An enlightening look into one of the less-familiar corners of the modern military world." ( Kirkus)
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When all your neighbours want you dead and you have nowhere else to go, you become a victim or you develop some defences that will assure your survival.
A very interesting book that describes the reasons Israel is a weapons developer far beyond its demographics would lead you to expect and how they have managed to get there.
Full of anecdotes and a with a bit of boastfulness the authors take us through a little of the history of Israel and some of the reasons some of their systems for battle have been developed and also who is buying some of this platform.
A very interesting book that is also a good example of what can be achieved when survival is the motivator.

Weapons systems to survive.

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A most fascinating and instructive overview of how the only democratic country in the Middle East triumphs against adversity. Very captivating and thoroughly well told history.

Weapons Wizards - invaluable read

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An interesting insight into the armaments that Israel uses, the politics and the people who have contributed to Israel’s continued survival. It’s written before Oct 7 2023, so sometimes it seems prophetic and there’s a poignancy to that. Overall, the narration is decent enough. As a ‘story’ it is arranged by topic then time, so it jumps around time wise a bit, but it still works. Possibly where it doesn’t sound right, are the bits where it comes across like a sales brochure, but fortunately, these aren’t too many. So overall, worth a read.

There’s some interesting stories and insight.

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