IDF faces security dilemma over Chinese-made drones used on battlefield

Some of the drones proving most effective for Israeli troops on the battlefield may also be creating a serious security vulnerability, as concerns grow that Chinese-made equipment could potentially transmit sensitive information back to China and, ultimately, hostile actors.

The Walla media portal reported on Wednesday that IDF officials are sounding the alarm about the potential risks posed by some widely used equipment operated by frontline combat units.

The concern centers in part on drones used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that are manufactured in China. Officials fear that some of the drones' components could potentially transmit data, including geolocation information, photographs, video captured by onboard cameras and other sensitive information.

That raises the possibility that equipment being used by Israeli forces to gather intelligence on terrorist organizations could itself become a source of intelligence for the enemy.

The concern stems from the potential for Chinese authorities to require companies operating in China to cooperate with the country's military and intelligence services. Israeli officials are therefore concerned that electronic components manufactured in China could potentially contain software or other capabilities that allow data to be transmitted to servers controlled by Chinese authorities.

In response, the IDF has begun reviewing the equipment used by different field units to determine whether units have similar capabilities and, where they do not, whether equipment should be redistributed.

The military is also examining whether Chinese-manufactured equipment can eventually be phased out and replaced with alternatives that do not pose the same potential security risks.

Chinese-made vehicles are already prohibited from entering IDF bases and Shin Bet facilities.

The issue has been further complicated by the wide variety of drones and other equipment now used by IDF units, much of which has been purchased with funds donated directly to individual units and soldiers since the beginning of the Swords of Iron war.

The IDF has described the influx of private funding for military equipment as a mixed blessing.

On the one hand, the donations enabled many units to obtain equipment they desperately needed but that the IDF itself had difficulty providing, particularly during the early stages of the war.

On the other hand, the donations have created disparities between units and introduced equipment into frontline operations that the IDF might not have approved had it gone through the military's normal procurement and security review processes.

The IDF is aware of the problem, and officials quoted by Walla said the military is working to bring the situation under control.

One IDF official admitted, however, that "The IDF is far from having this issue in order, and there is a lot of chaos. Frequencies were allocated to the Ground Forces, and they do not really adhere to them. It is a sensitive issue."

Another official said that the basic issue was cost, as Chinese-made drones are very cheap compared to their American, European or even Israeli counterparts.

In response to the report, the IDF issued an official statement saying that it operates “in accordance with regulation and binding security standards in the field of force buildup, including in the areas of weapons, vehicles, technology, and digital components.”

"Systems that meet the requirements and security standards may be considered for integration into the IDF, subject to the relevant directives and approval processes. Additionally, systems that do not meet the requirements will be required to make the necessary adjustments, and if they fail to meet the conditions, they will not be approved for use in the IDF.”