Editing Israel Defense Forces (section)

===Military equipment===
[[File:IAF-F-35I-and-F-16I-nf.jpg|thumb|[[Israeli Air Force]] [[F-16I]] and [[F-35I]]]]
[[File:Merkava-Tanks-Wikipedia-02.jpg|thumb|[[Merkava]] ('Chariot') – Israeli main battle tank, with 4 generations]]
The IDF possesses various foreign and domestically produced weapons and computer systems. Some gear comes from the US (with some equipment modified for IDF use) such as the [[M4A1]] and [[M16 rifle|M16]] [[assault rifle]]s, the [[M24 SWS]] 7.62&nbsp;mm [[bolt action]] [[sniper rifle]], the [[SR-25]] 7.62&nbsp;mm semi-automatic sniper rifle, the [[F-15 Eagle]] and [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] [[warplane|fighter jets]], and the [[AH-1 Cobra]] and [[AH-64D Apache]] [[attack helicopter]]s. Israel has also developed its own independent weapons industry, which has developed weapons and vehicles such as the [[Merkava]] battle tank series, [[IAI Nesher|Nesher]] and [[Kfir]] [[fighter aircraft]], and various small arms such as the [[IMI Galil|Galil]] and [[Tavor]] [[assault rifle]]s, and the [[Uzi]] [[submachine gun]]. Israel has also installed a variant of the [[Samson RCWS]], a remote controlled weapons platform, which can include machine guns, grenade launchers, and anti-tank missiles on a remotely operated turret, in [[Bunker#Pillbox|pillboxes]] along the [[Gaza–Israel barrier]] intended to prevent [[Palestinian militant]]s from entering its territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogscript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A344244b3-3fee-4dfc-be03-992bf38a6f19 |title=Weaponized Sentry-Tech Towers Protecting Hot Borders |publisher=Aviationweek.com |date=4 December 2008 |access-date=1 October 2010 |archive-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429010118/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogscript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A344244b3-3fee-4dfc-be03-992bf38a6f19 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eurasiareview.com/201007134943/israels-new-video-game-executions.html |title=Israel's New 'Video Game' Executions |work=Eurasia Review |author=Palestine Chronicle |date=13 July 2010 |access-date=8 August 2010 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Israel has developed observation [[Military ballooning|balloons]] equipped with sophisticated cameras and surveillance systems used to thwart terror attacks from Gaza.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4224907,00.html "IDF observation balloon crashes near Gaza"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506164058/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4224907,00.html |date=6 May 2012 }}, Ynet News 5 May 2012</ref> The IDF also possesses advanced [[combat engineering]] equipment which includes the [[IDF Caterpillar D9]] [[armoured bulldozer]], [[IDF Puma]] [[Combat engineering vehicle|CEV]], Tzefa Shiryon and CARPET minefield breaching rockets, and a variety of [[robot]]s and explosive devices.

The IDF has several large internal [[research and development]] departments, and it purchases many technologies produced by the Israeli security industries including [[Israel Aircraft Industries|IAI]], [[Israel Military Industries|IMI]], [[Elbit Systems]], [[Rafael Advanced Defense Systems|Rafael]], and dozens of smaller firms. Many of these developments have been battle-tested in Israel's numerous military engagements, making the relationship mutually beneficial, the IDF getting tailor-made solutions and the industries a good reputation.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

In response to the price overruns on the US [[Littoral Combat Ship]] program, Israel is considering producing their own [[warship]]s, which would take a decade<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.trcb.com/news/israel/general/israel-navy-mulls-building-larger-scale-missile-ships-locally-12305.htm |title=Israel Navy mulls building larger-scale missile ships locally |work=The Jerusalem Post |author=Yaakov Katz |date=1 July 2009 |access-date=10 June 2010 |archive-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429030607/http://www.trcb.com/news/israel/general/israel-navy-mulls-building-larger-scale-missile-ships-locally-12305.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and depend on diverting US financing to the project.<ref>{{cite web |author=Yehudah Lev Kay |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132104 |title=Navy Drops US Warship for Made-in-Israel Option |publisher=IsraelNationalNews.com |date=29 June 2009 |access-date=10 June 2010 |archive-date=30 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530042110/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132104 |url-status=live }}</ref>