Commander of the Ground Forces, Major General Nadav Lotan, is currently leading a series of dramatic changes within the ground forces, based on the lessons learned from the events of October 7 and the ongoing fighting. A

Commander of the Ground Forces, Major General Nadav Lotan, is currently leading a series of dramatic changes within the ground forces, based on the lessons learned from the events of October 7 and the ongoing fighting. At the center of the new plan is the expansion of the independence and operational continuity of the maneuvering Brigade Combat Team (BCT) deep within enemy territory. Consequently, it was decided to integrate the "Iron Fist" active protection system, which will provide defense for heavy engineering vehicles and bulldozers in the field. According to Maj. Gen. Lotan's plan, to ensure the BCT's reduced dependency during maneuvers and extended stays deep in enemy territory, the IDF will expand operational continuity capabilities by increasing the stockpiles of military equipment, ammunition, and weaponry at the brigade level. Additionally, emphasis was placed on creating alternatives to digital equipment, integrating command and control (C2) systems with backups that will enable functionality even under conditions of communication blackouts or electronic warfare (EW). One of the most accelerated and significant force build-up processes in the plan concerns the Combat Engineering Corps, specifically the scope of heavy engineering machinery, with a strong focus on bulldozer platforms. Recent data indicates that the IDF currently possesses about 450 heavy engineering vehicles, supplemented by another 80 Indian-made vehicles, which are primarily operated in the defensive sectors.