Unmanned Platforms: The Future of Battlefield Safety?

Hi, I'm Amy Shapiro, journalist at CEK. Hi, I'm Amy Shapiro, journalist at CEK. We're here today at the Defense Tech We're here today at the Defense Tech We're here today at the Defense Tech Expo 2026 in Tel Aviv. I'm joined by Expo 2026 in Tel Aviv. I'm joined by Expo 2026 in Tel Aviv. I'm joined by Lead Fifel, the CEO of Makushla. Leah, Lead Fifel, the CEO of Makushla. Leah, Lead Fifel, the CEO of Makushla. Leah, thank you so much for joining us today. thank you so much for joining us today. thank you so much for joining us today. It's a pleasure. Thank you for being It's a pleasure. Thank you for being It's a pleasure. Thank you for being here. here. here. >> It's our pleasure. Uh could you talk us >> It's our pleasure. Uh could you talk us >> It's our pleasure. Uh could you talk us through what it is that we're seeing through what it is that we're seeing through what it is that we're seeing here in the background?

here in the background? here in the background? >> Yes. Um so, um basically at Musha in the >> Yes. Um so, um basically at Musha in the >> Yes. Um so, um basically at Musha in the past few years, we've been uh deploying past few years, we've been uh deploying past few years, we've been uh deploying um UGVs and multiple weapon systems to um UGVs and multiple weapon systems to um UGVs and multiple weapon systems to the armies. Um our our products are the armies. Um our our products are the armies. Um our our products are battlefield proven and um and we are um battlefield proven and um and we are um battlefield proven and um and we are um basically um what what we want to do, basically um what what we want to do, basically um what what we want to do, what we try to do is to um replace uh what we try to do is to um replace uh what we try to do is to um replace uh soldiers in day-to-day missions and uh soldiers in day-to-day missions and uh soldiers in day-to-day missions and uh and actually uh reduce uh reduce risks. and actually uh reduce uh reduce risks. and actually uh reduce uh reduce risks. >> Right. And so what is the kind of like >> Right. And so what is the kind of like >> Right. And so what is the kind of like the technology if you could talk us the technology if you could talk us the technology if you could talk us through that we're seeing here? through that we're seeing here?

through that we're seeing here? >> Um sure. So what you see here today is a >> Um sure. So what you see here today is a >> Um sure. So what you see here today is a platform that weighs 25 kilos and can platform that weighs 25 kilos and can platform that weighs 25 kilos and can carry more than 200 kilos. Um works carry more than 200 kilos. Um works carry more than 200 kilos. Um works underground, overground, indoor, and underground, overground, indoor, and underground, overground, indoor, and outdoor. Um, and it's very, very outdoor. Um, and it's very, very outdoor. Um, and it's very, very versatile. We look at it as the new versatile. We look at it as the new versatile. We look at it as the new Swiss Army knife. So, basically the end

Swiss Army knife. So, basically the end Swiss Army knife. So, basically the end user buys one platform and it can be user buys one platform and it can be user buys one platform and it can be anything and anything. It can be adapt anything and anything. It can be adapt anything and anything. It can be adapt to any type of mission. It could have a to any type of mission. It could have a to any type of mission. It could have a robotic arm. It could have a remote robotic arm. It could have a remote robotic arm. It could have a remote control weapon system, but you can also control weapon system, but you can also control weapon system, but you can also have just a camera that goes and have just a camera that goes and have just a camera that goes and surveiles. surveiles. surveiles. Um, and basically it's one one kit that Um, and basically it's one one kit that Um, and basically it's one one kit that serves a bunch of missions.

serves a bunch of missions. serves a bunch of missions. >> Fascinating. And uh in the last few >> Fascinating. And uh in the last few >> Fascinating. And uh in the last few years, Le, we've seen a surge in defense years, Le, we've seen a surge in defense years, Le, we've seen a surge in defense tech startups. In your opinion, what are tech startups. In your opinion, what are tech startups. In your opinion, what are the kind of opportunities and challenges the kind of opportunities and challenges the kind of opportunities and challenges of scaling a defense tech company in of scaling a defense tech company in of scaling a defense tech company in Israel today? So I think um let's say

Israel today? So I think um let's say Israel today? So I think um let's say the past two years um has given us us the past two years um has given us us the past two years um has given us us small companies um a good base to um to small companies um a good base to um to small companies um a good base to um to introduce our technologies um and to um introduce our technologies um and to um introduce our technologies um and to um maybe get exposure that uh in day-to-day maybe get exposure that uh in day-to-day maybe get exposure that uh in day-to-day we look two years ago we wouldn't we we look two years ago we wouldn't we we look two years ago we wouldn't we wouldn't get that exposure um so um wouldn't get that exposure um so um wouldn't get that exposure um so um let's say the um the condition in Israel let's say the um the condition in Israel let's say the um the condition in Israel in the past two years expedited the in the past two years expedited the in the past two years expedited the whole um use of technology in the whole um use of technology in the whole um use of technology in the battlefield battlefield battlefield Um and if you look at the future um you

Um and if you look at the future um you Um and if you look at the future um you can definitely see that technology is is can definitely see that technology is is can definitely see that technology is is one of the pillars in the battlefield. one of the pillars in the battlefield. one of the pillars in the battlefield. Um and um it works together. It's not Um and um it works together. It's not Um and um it works together. It's not just uh everything is shifting and um just uh everything is shifting and um just uh everything is shifting and um and the battlefield is shifting as well. and the battlefield is shifting as well. and the battlefield is shifting as well. And that's where the technology meets uh

And that's where the technology meets uh And that's where the technology meets uh meets the soldiers. It can definitely meets the soldiers. It can definitely meets the soldiers. It can definitely reduce risks um change u change the way reduce risks um change u change the way reduce risks um change u change the way of thinking um or just our let's say uh of thinking um or just our let's say uh of thinking um or just our let's say uh let's say our more conservative approach let's say our more conservative approach let's say our more conservative approach to to the battlefield. to to the battlefield. to to the battlefield. >> Absolutely. Well, it was such a pleasure >> Absolutely. Well, it was such a pleasure >> Absolutely. Well, it was such a pleasure to meet you. Good luck to you and the to meet you. Good luck to you and the to meet you. Good luck to you and the rest of the team at the club.