The restructuring reflects a move toward integrating canine capabilities across all combat units, challenging Oketz’s traditional role.
By Eliana Fleming, JFeed
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are implementing a transformative project by the Administration for Research and Development of Defense Technologies (DIRAP, Hebrew acronym: Maf’at) that could reshape the role of its elite canine unit, Oketz, potentially leading to its closure, according to a report by Ynet News on May 27, 2025.
The initiative aims to train regular combat soldiers to operate military working dogs within a month, bypassing the specialized 18-month training historically provided by Oketz.
This rapid certification process equips every battalion or platoon with an organic canine handler, reducing dependence on the unit’s expertise.
The new program enables soldiers to deploy dogs for tasks like detecting explosives, tracking suspects, and clearing buildings, roles Oketz has mastered since its establishment in 1974.
However, Oketz personnel warn that deploying dogs with minimally trained handlers risks lowering operational effectiveness and endangering troops.
Despite these concerns, the shift is already evident: elite IDF units have begun using dogs developed under this program without Oketz’s oversight.
In one case, a munitions officer completed a week-long course and successfully used a dog to neutralize explosives before a patrol entered a built-up area.
Concurrently, Oketz is undergoing significant internal changes. The unit currently has only a few dozen attack dogs fit for operations, with additional dogs potentially ready in three weeks.
Plans are in place to retrain 10 of these dogs, including those nearing readiness, from attack roles to explosive detection over four months, drastically reducing Oketz’s capacity to counter fortified terrorists.
This aligns with a broader tactical shift favoring drones for indoor scans, diminishing the reliance on attack dogs.
The restructuring reflects a move toward integrating canine capabilities across all combat units, challenging Oketz’s traditional role.
Critics argue this could undermine the unit’s proven effectiveness, evidenced by its actions during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, where Oketz dogs neutralized threats and saved lives.
The IDF has not commented, leaving the unit’s future uncertain as the military adapts to evolving battlefield demands.
