These days, the IDF is formulating its new multi-year plan (MYP) for the next 5 years (2026-2030) – which will be called ‘Choshen’.
The plan, led by the Planning Directorate for the IDF and the Chief of Staff, will be built on the basis of the IDF’s lessons learned from October 7th and the entire war. Concurrently with the extraction and implementation of lessons, ‘Choshen’ will also be planned with a future outlook, according to the vision of the next war.
The name of the MYP is derived from the 12 stones of the Choshen (breastplate), corresponding to the tribes of Israel and the 12 core topics that have been determined (and are detailed below). The choice also symbolizes unity and a single identity, rootedness, and a return to professional and value-based foundations. As well as the connection to people as a command concept – similar to wearing the Choshen close to the heart.
To formulate the plan, the Chief of Staff has set a deadline until Passover holiday, when it will be implemented – subject to the security situation. “The ‘Choshen’ MYP lays the tracks for the IDF to move forward, based on the lessons of October 7th and the war,” described the Chief of Staff the plan, which reflects significant learning from intense force deployment and rich operational friction, and is intended to enable effective force buildup against future challenges, and ensure defense and security alongside immediate readiness for war.
These are the 12 core topics of the MYP:
Each will be led by a dedicated team headed by a Major General
1. People
From the concept of people as the source of the IDF’s strength, this topic was placed at the foundation of the MYP – in a way that will address all personnel components. Within this framework, an effective action plan will be determined in this area, with the appointed team formulating principles for a multi-year plan for the treatment, development, recognition, and reward of IDF soldiers and their commanders, in regular service and reserves, and IDF employees.
2. Readiness for War
The IDF is required to strengthen and maintain its readiness for war, especially for surprise warfare in all arenas, with defense and offense plans in hand to defeat the enemy in all combat sectors and in multi-arena warfare.
3. Return to Fitness and Rehabilitation
After two years of war, the IDF is required to deeply address the return to fitness and the rehabilitation of combat platforms, munitions, stockpiles, and infrastructure. Concurrently, it must conduct training and education while maintaining alertness on the country’s borders.
4. Borders
A plan will be established to fortify the borders to provide a response to a range of threats – preventing enemy entrenchment near the border, preventing infiltration, and readiness for a rapid response in case of an attack: on every border, at any time, and in all dimensions.
5. Air Defense and Short-Range Air Defense
The IDF will continue to operate in the fields of air defense and low-altitude air defense against various threats from all sectors. This will be done while responding to emerging and developing threats in this area.
6. Third Circle and Depth
The IDF is required to contend with threats in distant circles, with Iran as the primary enemy in terms of preparedness. The army will be required to strengthen operational capabilities and system management in multiple distant arenas simultaneously.
7. Lethal Maneuver
The war highlighted the importance of multi-dimensional maneuver, with an emphasis on the Ground Forces. This leads to the need to strengthen these forces in order to improve and maintain the IDF’s maneuver capabilities, and the training and exercises in this field.
8. Functional Continuity
The IDF will maintain and improve its ability to continue operating in all dimensions under fire. This is particularly true for the IDF’s core systems, while implementing knowledge and insights gained throughout the war.
9. Intelligence and Collection
The IDF will extract its lessons in this area and increase its intelligence and collection capabilities in all arenas, with the aim of generating significant operational effectiveness.
10. Digital, Information, and AI
A force buildup plan will be established in these domains, with an emphasis on technological superiority and improving operational effectiveness in various IDF processes, with AI serving as a central accelerator for capabilities.
11. Robotics and Autonomy
Strengthening the use of robotic and autonomous tools, while improving and developing the response to required operational needs in various dimensions. This process will be carried out in every branch and unit of the force operators.
12. Space
The development of space from an operational dimension to a combat dimension, as part of realizing the potential in this arena, will necessitate a different organization for the IDF – and a long-term outlook beyond the MYP years, as a central national effort.
*Three additional teams will focus on cross-cutting essential topics: an efficiency team, a technological surprises team, and an organizational culture team.
Related Topics
