(CNN) Richard Quest - Israel's security needs have forced the country to fast track its high-tech solutions. Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in 1975 pioneered the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), better known as the drone. Now, from giants like the Predator that can fly for two days non-stop, to micro drones that fit in a backpack, these UAVs are recognized as a crucial part of modern warfare and a top seller for Israel. These days, technology means that one person can effectively control the battlefield with the push of a button or the pull of a joystick, known as "network-centric warfare." "Twister," one of IAI's cutting-edge battlefield innovations, is a three-dimensional moving map of military campaigns in real time. Shlomo Dovrat, founder of the Israeli technology venture capital firm Carmel Ventures, said the country's compulsory military service had created a large pool of tech-savvy, motivated young workers - all eager to develop their own ideas. 55% of Israel's exports are now technology-based.
2006-06-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive