Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Inovytec, and the Defense Ministry begin production of ventilators amid the growing need throughout the Jewish State; Bennett: Israel must develop independent capabilities in everything related to dealing with the COVID-19 virus pandemic.
Medical ventilators continue to be highly sought after amid the current global pandemic of COVID-19. While Israel has over 2,100 functioning ventilators, the need is increasing as the Jewish State reports over 7,000 infections. While they have over 2,100 ventilators, nearly 30 are reported to have issues.
IAI, along with the Directorate of Production and Procurement (DOPP) and the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) branches of the Defense Ministry, as well as another medical device provider, Inovytec, are now collaborating to mass-produce ventilators to be used.
Explaining how IAI switched from missile production to ventilators, Israel’s Defense Ministry released a statement that reads, “This morning, the production line was inaugurated in the classified missile production department of IAI, after which dozens of ventilators were tested and assembled.”
Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett spoke to the significance of Israel being completely self-dependent during this time, stating, “The State of Israel must develop independent capabilities in everything related to dealing with the COVID-19 virus pandemic. We cannot remain dependent on procurement from other countries. We must develop independent, advanced capabilities.”
The ventilators being produced now are known as the Ventway Sparrow ventilation systems and are the first of their kind, being extremely efficient and portable. As of earlier in the week, 30 ventilators had been produced and delivered to Israel’s Health Ministry.
Summing up the task ahead of them, Director of the DDR&D, Brig. Gen. (Res.), Dr. Dani Gold stated, “Turning a missile production line into a ventilator assembly plant is a very complex task, made possible by the collaboration between the Defense Ministry and the defense industry. We are continuing in the race around the clock to translate the extraordinary tech capabilities of the defense establishment, to the fight against coronavirus.”
