The Jewish state is currently one of the world’s leading exporters of military technology, and has pioneered the use of drones, missile-defense systems, and remote-controlled ground vehicles. Looking to Israel’s “national characteristics,” Yaakov Katz explains how this came to be:
Despite Israel’s small size, about 4.5 percent of its GDP is spent on research and development [R&D], almost twice the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average. Of that amount, about 30 percent goes to products of a military nature. By comparison, only 2 percent of German R&D and 17 percent of the U.S. R&D is for the military.
Another major contribution is the culture of innovation and creativity in Israel. Israelis are more willing to take risks than other nations. They get this from their compulsory military service during which they are tasked, at a young age, to carry out missions often with deadly consequences. While Israeli nineteen-year-olds embark on operations behind enemy lines, their Western counterparts can be found in the safety of their college dormitories.
Lastly, Israel has been in a perpetual state of conflict since its inception, fighting a war almost every decade. The reality of having one’s back up against the wall sharpens the mind. It forces Israelis to be creative and come up with innovative ways and weapons to survive.
Read more on New York Post: http://nypost.com/2017/01/29/why-israel-has-the-most-technologically-advanced-military-on-earth/