IDF’s New High-Tech Multidimensional Unit

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The war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 100 days, and the IDF’s Multidimensional Unit says their combat operations have proved the use of new technologies on a tactical level.

Breaking Defense spoke with Maj. R., who said: “We have executed what we have been training on, and I can tell you it works. The whole concept of multidimensional battlefield is working at a tactical level. We in Israel were the first to execute something like that at a tactical level at the unit level.”

On the 13th of January, the IDF announced that the Multidimensional Unit (also called Unit 888 or “Refaim”) was activated in a ground operation for the first time. The unit was established four years ago and operates in all battle arenas to detect, attack, and destroy the enemy in all theaters of operation and in all domains, combining the capabilities of infantry, engineering, anti-tank warfare, air, and intelligence all into one Special Operations Force.

The unit is reportedly using advanced drones and a combination of technological capabilities for target identification and direction of fire, which have all led to the destruction of anti-tank missile positions, the elimination of terrorists, and the location of weapons in civilian areas.

According to Maj. R., the combination of artillery and airborne assets into one unit is not new, but having that combination at the tactical small unit level is unique. This means not relying on the battalion, brigade, or division level for these kinds of capabilities.

Maj. R. further explained to Breaking Defense that when the unit uses new technology it categorizes them according to how they might be integrated on the battlefield (which ones require more work, which would require more training, and which are already user-friendly).

Amidst the claims of genocide, the Multidimensional Unit members said that on a tactical level, the tech they’ve employed helps them act with greater precision to reduce both their own casualties and those of civilians.

An example of this was provided by a high ranking official from the unit who explained that in previous wars soldiers would have to knock down doors to hunt down terrorists in an urban area. With the new technology, small drones and other surveillance technology can identify enemies and make sure there aren’t civilians among them before the military carries out a precision strike.