‘Most nations understand they need to rearm’

Iran’s drones and missiles are a wake-up call for Israel and allies, former air force head says

- By ANNA AHRONHEIM

AIRCRAFT ARE seen on the deck of the USS 'Gerald R. Ford' aircraft carrier near Crete on Tuesday.

(Stelios Misinas/Reuters)

Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin does not mince words when assessing Israel's most formidable adversary. “Iran has advanced technology - we can’t disparage it,” he warned in an exclusive interview with Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post. “After years of handling Russian technology, now we have to handle Iranian technology.”

For the former Israeli Air Force (IAF) commander, Iran’s accelerating capabilities: missiles, drones, cyber, and regional proxies, are not just a strategic challenge. They are a wake-up call for Israel and its allies to rethink how they build, deploy, and invest in defense technology.

Israel, he insists, must avoid prolonged conflicts. “Israel needs short conflicts, no wars of attrition.”

And it must continue to innovate faster than its adversaries, including Iran.

That urgency framed both his remarks in the interview, his remarks at last week’s Defense-Tech expo in Tel Aviv, and his broader mission today as head of Ace Capital Partners, a defense-focused investment fund backing early-stage companies shaping the future battlefield.

From Air Force commander to defense investor

After retiring from the military in 2022, Norkin became CEO of Ace Capital Partners - a partnership between Key1 Capital and Aerospace Spirit - alongside Brig.-Gen. (res.) Shimon Tsentsiper, Amit Pilowsky, Danny Ackerman, and Sarel Eldor.

“We bring a strong team with over 60 years of investing experience and 60 years of defense and military experience,” Norkin said.

The fund invests in Israeli and global early-stage com-