Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure

Arrow anti-ballistic missile launch

The Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (Hebrew: מינהל למחקר ,פיתוח אמצעי לחימה ותשתית טכנולוגית‎), abbreviated Maf'at (מפא"ת), is a joint administrative body of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Israel Defense Forces that coordinates between the Ministry of Defense, the IDF, the military industries, Israel Military Industries, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Institute for Biological Research and the Space Agency.

Operations

• Promoting the technological and scientific infrastructure needed for military research and development
• Deciding on the direction of research and development
• Analysis and coordination of work related to research and development
• Purchasing and project management for the IDF arms
• Maintaining relations with foreign elements in security-related areas of research and development and infrastructure
• Providing information to those in the Security Forces who engage in research and development.
• Operating the Talpiot program for IDF recruits interested in research and development; the Brakim and Psagot Excellence Programs for the intense education and then utilization of elite IDF recruits chosen to be elite R&D engineers, and the Katzir Scholarships Program for promoting technological human resources

Maf'at central operating bodies

• War Material Development
• Research and Technological Infrastructure
• External Relations
• Planning Administrations ^{[Serves as the organizational framework for central projects, operating as independent or partially integrated bodies]}

Staff and support bodies

• Planning and Operations
• Computerization
• Human Resources
• Communication
• Controllership
• Defense
• Management

Ministry of Defense purchasing divisions

Maf'at employs both civilians from the Ministry of Defense and IDF personal. It is one of five other Ministry of Defense purchasing divisions:

• Production and Purchasing Administration
• Building Branch
• Logistical Operations and Assets Branch
• Planning Administrations ^{[See above]}
• Overseas Purchasing Missions

Administration head

The Administration is currently headed by Brigadier General (Ret.) Ofir Shoham, who is one of three civilian members in the General Staff.

References

• Official site (Israeli Ministry of Defense) (Hebrew)
• "The Purchasing Bodies," (Israeli Ministry of Defense) (Hebrew)