The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are testing a collapsible anti-drone net for military vehicles, a move that follows criticism regarding the force's preparedness against drone threats. A video posted on social media on 29/4 showed an Israeli Humvee multi-purpose military vehicle fitted with metal bars and covered in a nylon net. A first-person view (FPV) drone then flew into the net and became entangled.

Archer83Able, an account specializing in open-source intelligence analysis on social media, stated that the IDF is testing the collapsible anti-drone net.

Howard Altman, editor of the American military news site War Zone, commented that this type of net could entangle and disable drones, or keep them far enough away to limit damage if a warhead detonates. Altman noted that the latter scenario is rare and highly dependent on the vehicle type and the drone's warhead. He added, "Based on the video released, this net would hardly protect soldiers in an open-top Humvee without protective casing if the drone's warhead detonates."

This development comes amidst increasing criticism of the IDF for its insufficient measures to protect personnel and equipment from FPV drone attacks by the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Last week, images showed Hezbollah deploying FPV drones to strike advanced Israeli Merkava Mark 4M main battle tanks and Eitan armored personnel carriers, as well as targeting soldiers. The IDF confirmed that at least one soldier was killed and six were injured in an attack in southern Lebanon on 26/4. In a separate incident on 27/4, a Hezbollah suicide drone nearly hit a Black Hawk helicopter evacuating Israeli soldiers.

The Times of Israel reported that these events have exposed a growing vulnerability: the IDF's lack of preparedness against the FPV drone threat in Lebanon. While the IDF had recorded dozens of minor injuries from drone attacks in recent weeks, the 26/4 attack marked the first time an Israeli soldier died in such an assault.

Conflict in Lebanon reignited in early March after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israeli territory in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the Middle East conflict. Israel responded with large-scale attacks across Lebanon and deployed troops into the southern part of the neighboring country.

The locations of Israel and Lebanon. Graphic: AFP

The IDF currently controls territory about 5-10 km deep inside Lebanon, stating its objective is to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks. The Israeli military has also warned residents of southern Lebanon not to enter this area.

Clashes between Hezbollah and the IDF continue, despite an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire that took effect on 16/4 and has since been extended for three weeks.

Nhu Tam (According to War Zone, Reuters, AFP)