Israel’s largest arms manufacturer has disclosed that its battlefield command and control system identified approximately 850,000 targets in real time over the first two years of military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, according to a presentation delivered at a London defense conference.
Elbit Systems, which supplies the Tzayad digital army programme to the Israeli military, stated the system generated an average of 1,000 potential targets per day between October 7 and the end of 2025. The platform is designed to map people, vehicles, and other objects across multiple theaters of war.
American Funding and Foreign Lobbying
The disclosure comes as Congress continues to authorize billions in annual military aid to Israel, with U.S. defense contractors often subcontracted into these foreign supply chains. Elbit Systems operates subsidiaries in the United States and has received contracts from the Department of Homeland Security. The company spent over $2 million on U.S. lobbying efforts in recent years, according to federal disclosures.
America’s role in underwriting foreign command and control infrastructure demands scrutiny. The domestic workforce sees no return when taxpayer dollars subsidize targeting systems used in conflicts that do not advance American strategic interests. The foreign lobby influence that steers these appropriations has long distorted Washington’s policy calculus.
Technology and Sovereignty
The scale of automated targeting mapped by Tzayad represents a significant expansion of digital warfare capability. While the system’s technical specifications remain largely classified, Elbit’s presentation confirms the transition toward algorithm-driven battlefield management. American counterparts in the defense industry are closely monitoring these developments for potential domestic procurement opportunities.
The full cost of developing and maintaining this system — and what portion was borne by the American taxpayer — remains undisclosed by both Israeli defense officials and the Pentagon.
The U.S. maintains its own command and control programs, yet the continued funding of parallel foreign systems raises legitimate questions about industrial base priorities and national interest.