IDF to equip combat engineering vehicles with Iron Fist active protection system

IDF Ground Forces Commander Maj.-Gen. Nadav Lotan is advancing a series of major changes to Israel's ground forces based on lessons learned from the October 7 attacks and the ensuing war, with a new plan focused on increasing the independence and operational continuity of brigade combat teams maneuvering deep inside enemy territory.At the center of the plan is a decision to integrate the Iron Fist active protection system into heavy combat engineering equipment and bulldozers, providing the vehicles with additional protection in the field.Under Lotan's plan, the IDF will expand brigade-level stocks of military equipment, ammunition, and weapons to reduce brigade combat teams' dependence on outside support while maneuvering and remaining deep in enemy territory.The plan also emphasizes alternatives to digital systems, including command-and-control systems with backup capabilities that will allow troops to continue operating in the event of communications disruptions or electronic warfare.One of the most significant and rapidly…