A long row of explosives was lined up at our feet. A few days after Oct. 7, chaos engulfed the Julis base. In a large warehouse stood the combat equipment used by Nukhba terrorists in the Gaza periphery massacre, including RPG launchers, Kalashnikov rifles, and grenades as well as the explosives Hamas had hoped to use by having terrorists run toward IDF armored fighting vehicles, attach explosive devices, and then flee. But their plan failed.
"As early as 2019, we began hearing about these explosives and developing a plan to counteract them," said Lt. Col. (res.) A., commander of the technological theater field teams within the Research Division of the Military Intelligence Directorate. "We identified the threat and devised a straightforward solution, which we kept secret for years. On Oct. 7, the terrorists employed these explosives on vehicles, destroying them and their occupants. We realized this was our moment of truth and started equipping hundreds of tanks with new armor, which proved effective – Hamas' supposed game-changer collapsed at the critical moment due to our simple, yet effective, solution."
Back to the beginning
This unit is small and specialized, consisting of only 8-10 soldiers, both in regular and reserve service. Some of them are former combatants, operating in an extremely classified manner. It is unique not only because its members physically go into the field to examine combat equipment but also because they focus on deciphering the enemy's equipment rather than addressing failures of our own.
During the 2006 Second Lebanon War, the unit made history by acquiring a Russian Kornet anti-tank missile launcher and its missiles for the first time in the West. Since then, they have operated in the field to understand the enemy's capabilities and enable the IDF to strike effectively.
I met the commanders of the field teams in the Gaza periphery, in a massive staging area where tanks awaited orders to move eastward toward Gaza. A. guided us among the tanks, explaining the unit's capabilities as much as possible, with a soldier nearby to ensure no classified information was revealed.
"We are essentially a technological unit whose mission is to learn about the equipment, explosives, and ammunition from the battlefield," explained Maj. B., head of the explosives department in the ground munitions testing branch. "We collaborate with all units, receiving a lot of equipment from which we learn extensively."
A. emphasized, "We were not surprised by the combat equipment on October 7. We knew everything they had. However, there are always new lessons to be learned. For example, we discovered the terrorists' use of 3D printers for field equipment. We found a clamp they used to attach a rocket to a drone. While we were aware of the drone threat since 2018, we are continually learning new things."
A unique unit
The field teams are not a conventional unit. A., for instance, is a grandfather with a gray beard and a large kippah, armed with a rifle and a hearty laugh, who works in the defense industry daily. B. is a former Nahal officer who transferred to the Military Intelligence Directorate but still knows many reservists and officers currently fighting in the strip.
"I know the Gaza periphery better than my neighborhood," A. smiled. "I'm here a lot." The field teams regularly visit staging areas and the border fence to examine equipment right after it leaves the battlefield, including damaged tanks and seized explosives. They were behind decisions such as building pergolas over tanks to counter the drone threat and equipping tanks with 360-degree cameras to help drivers identify and neutralize threats.
The challenge after Oct. 7
"It's not easy work," B. admitted. "We often watch difficult videos, visit damaged vehicles, or debrief wounded soldiers. Some soldiers struggle with this, and we provide support, including mental health assistance. I explained to one soldier that our work with weapons of killing is to protect our soldiers. It's crucial. Watching these videos is tough, but it's necessary."
Addressing intelligence failures
When asked about being labeled as responsible for the intelligence failure of Oct. 7, B. said, "Of course, it's challenging, but we can't lose heart. We are dealing with human lives. I know I'm contributing something significant to the State of Israel, even if the results may only be visible years later."
Despite their technological focus, A.'s conclusions often relate to combat methods, which he says have not changed in decades. "We need to return to basics. We saw on Oct. 7 how terrorists used archaic combat methods to kill us. Technology is valuable, but soldiers need to identify explosive devices in real-time, just as they did 30 years ago in Lebanon."
Focusing on the northern and Iranian fronts
Seven months into the Swords of Iron War, the field teams are also focusing on the northern front and Iran.
"We're paying close attention to the northern arena, examining missile fragments and other equipment. We can't afford surprises there either," A. said.
Preserving equipment for documentation
The equipment seized from Hamas is preserved not for IDF use but for its historical significance. "Some items, like a tractor used by terrorists to breach the fence, will be preserved for heritage purposes," explained Lt. Col. Idan Sharon-Kettler, deputy commander of the IDF's enemy equipment collection unit.
Hamas' capabilities have evolved over the years. "We see significant development – from dangerous, poorly-safety-equipped items in 2014 to more sophisticated equipment now. However, they also disable safety mechanisms for immediate impact despite the risk to themselves.
"The work of the field teams is highly significant. The fact that they analyze the equipment already in the field helps a great deal in understanding the threat. They provide the IDF with intelligence information and technical items that cannot be brought into the lab. Our unit is not an intelligence one, but it's clear to us as well that a technical analysis of a tank that was targeted by explosives cannot be done remotely, only in the field," Sharon-Kettler noted.
