Israel Defense Ministry Imposes Ethical Code on Military Firms Over Global Rivalry
Israel Ministry of Defense Director General Amir Baram has established an ethical code for defense firms following reputational damage abroad. Baram also detailed major export deals, lessons from October 7, and the progress of laser defense systems.
The Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense, Amir Baram, has introduced a new ethical code of conduct for Israeli defense industries operating in the international market. Baram announced the initiative during a panel discussion with Globes Editor-in-Chief Naama Sikuler and journalist Dean Shmuel Elmas at the Globes Israel Real Estate Conference in Tel Aviv.
Ethical Code and International Competition
Amir Baram revealed that the decision to establish the ethical code was prompted by instances where senior executives and agents of competing Israeli defense firms disparaged one another in front of potential foreign clients, damaging the country's reputation.
Baram stated:
"My relationships with my counterparts around the world are so strong that they sometimes tell me that as a result of this competition, there is also damage to the reputation of the State of Israel. I do not think these wonderful executives do this personally, but they have agents and representatives. We must establish clear codes of conduct."
To illustrate effective state-led defense diplomacy, Baram pointed to the recently signed €3.1 billion government-to-government (G2G) air defense agreement with Greece. He emphasized that major contracts involving sensitive Israeli military technologies are managed directly by the Ministry of Defense to align commercial interests with regional strategic goals.
Balancing Export Success with IDF Requirements
Addressing the challenge of balancing record-breaking defense exports with the immediate operational needs of the IDF, Baram argued that these two objectives are complementary rather than contradictory. He explained that export revenues actively fund and accelerate the integration of advanced capabilities into the Israeli military amid tight domestic budget constraints.
He highlighted the Arrow 3 missile defense deal with Germany as a prime example:
"The deal with Germany allowed us to secure significant funding in a very short timeframe. It enabled our three largest defense industries to scale up production lines for munitions and interceptors, hire more workers, and secure raw materials globally. This effectively quadrupled our interceptor stockpile, which we later utilized during intense combat operations."
Lessons from October 7 and the Iranian Threat
Reflecting on the failures of October 7, 2023, when he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the IDF, Baram described the personal and institutional embarrassment of being caught off guard while returning from a brief holiday. He noted that the fundamental failure was not merely intelligence-gathering, but a deeper conceptual misconception regarding the buildup of terrorist armies on Israel's borders.
Looking at the current geopolitical landscape, Baram expressed confidence that Israel is winning the multi-front campaign, though he cautioned that dismantling hostile regional networks is a long-term process. Commenting on potential escalation with Iran, Baram suggested that while further rounds of confrontation remain possible, Tehran is highly unlikely to initiate major actions before the US midterm elections, recognizing that President Donald Trump opposes pre-election military entanglements.
Development of Laser Defense Systems
When questioned about the operational status of the "Iron Beam" (Magen Or) laser defense system, Baram defended the progress of the project. He confirmed that while the full-scale system is not yet fully operational, a smaller prototype was deployed during the current war and successfully intercepted several hostile UAVs. He reiterated his strong confidence in the future of ground-based and mobile laser interception technologies.
Regarding the conscription of the ultra-orthodox (Haredi) population into the IDF, Baram advocated for a pragmatic approach focused on creating specialized frameworks rather than relying solely on aggressive sanctions, which he argued would not succeed in driving enlistment.
