Israel expects Hezbollah drone solution within weeks, IAI CEO says

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) CEO Boaz Levy said on Wednesday that Israel expects to find a solution to Hezbollah’s explosive drones “in a matter of weeks, not months,” according to a report by 103FM. Speaking on the Israeli radio station, Levy said the drone issue is at the top of the agenda, led by MAFAT, the Defense Ministry’s research and development directorate.

“There are currently several responses being examined,” Levy said. “We divide the whole issue into the stages of detection, identification, and then destruction. At the moment, there are several ideas that have already been implemented, some of which even work, in which we are able to destroy the attacking drone using kinetic and electronic means.”

The statement came as Hezbollah continues to launch drone attacks against northern Israel, with an explosive drone pictured near the border on May 19, 2026, in a photo credited to Ayal Margolin/Flash90.

France bars Israel from Eurosatory exhibition

Levy also criticized France for barring Israel from the Eurosatory weapons exhibition, held in Paris from June 15 to 19. According to the Jerusalem Post, Levy said, “An embargo is something that has accompanied the State of Israel for many years, since the 1960s. The French were involved in it then as well, and those who remember the Mirage aircraft that we were embargoed from receiving are the ones who led to the development of Israel’s aeronautical industry.”

“These capabilities are possible thanks to the technological ability that exists in the country,” he added. “In contrast to the exhibition in Paris, there was an exhibition in Berlin last week where we received a warm welcome.”

Levy said the French “went too far and are behaving in a very strange way, which reflects their business interest more than their political interest. We will continue to be there and do business with all our partners around the world.”

France’s decision, reported by multiple outlets, restricted Israeli participation by banning the display of Israeli-made offensive weapons and limiting exhibitors. The move drew criticism from Israeli officials, but it was part of a broader context of European rearmament and protests against arms sales.

Eurosatory 2026: Drones, AI, and European rearmament

The 2026 edition of Eurosatory, the world’s largest arms fair, showcased the rise of drones and the integration of artificial intelligence into military equipment, according to organizers. Exhibits included tethered surveillance drones, teams of AI-powered robots designed to carry out missions in dangerous terrain without human operators, and unmanned ground vehicles already used in the war in Ukraine.

The defense industry is poised to benefit from a European rearmament drive, after US President Donald Trump pushed Europe to increase spending and NATO members agreed to invest 5 percent of GDP in defense by 2035. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), Europe’s arms imports in 2021-2025 increased by 210 percent compared to 2016-2020. Much of that has gone to Ukraine, which imports more major arms than any other country in the world.

The United States remains the world’s largest arms supplier, providing 42 percent of all exports in 2025. France follows in second place with 9.8 percent, with its exports climbing by 21 percent between 2016-20 and 2021-25.

Anti-war protests and regional tensions

The push to rearm has drawn opposition from anti-war activists. French campaign group Guerre à la Guerre (War on War) organized several days of protests against the Eurosatory fair, which it described as a “global supermarket of war and control.” On opening day, pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked access roads to the exhibition in Villepinte, north of Paris, calling for an end to arms shipments to Israel.

These protests occurred against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, particularly between Morocco and Algeria. According to a report from the Jerusalem Post, the Spanish parliament received a question from the far-right Vox party in late May asking whether Madrid was prepared to respond to a potential Moroccan attack using Israeli-designed SpyX suicide drones, now being manufactured domestically through a joint venture between Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and Israeli firm BlueBird Aero Systems.

The report noted that the 2026 fiscal year has seen a “stark divergence” in defense philosophies between Rabat and Algiers. Morocco has embraced a qualitative modernization strategy, allocating $17.1 billion toward advanced technology and the creation of a domestic defense industry through joint ventures with Israeli firms. Algeria, by contrast, has committed a record $25 billion to its military, representing 20.6% of the national budget and nearly 9% of GDP. That spending exceeds Algeria’s combined education and health budgets and is financed through a central government deficit surpassing 10%.

Algeria’s defense spending as a share of GDP is now the second-highest in the world, trailing only Ukraine. Unlike Ukraine, Algeria is not fighting a war. The force it is building exists in direct response to the capabilities Morocco is acquiring, which are substantially Israeli in origin.

Perspectives

  • Israeli perspective: Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy frames France’s ban as part of a history of embargoes that ultimately spurred Israel’s self-reliance in defense technology. He expresses confidence in Israel’s ability to counter drone threats and continue doing business with partners worldwide.
  • French/Business perspective: France’s restriction on Israeli exhibits at Eurosatory reflects a political stance amid protests, but also raises questions about business interests. The French arms industry, as a major exporter, may be navigating political sensitivities while maintaining its position in the global market.
  • Regional dynamics: The Morocco-Algeria arms race, intertwined with Israeli defense technology, highlights shifting alliances and security concerns in North Africa. Spain’s parliamentary question underscores the spillover effects of these developments on European neighbors.
  • European rearmament: The push for increased defense spending, driven by NATO targets and the war in Ukraine, is reshaping the European arms industry, with drones and AI at the forefront. This trend is likely to continue despite anti-war protests and political controversies.