Bezhalel Machlis
Bezhalel Machlis has served as the president and CEO of Elbit Systems Ltd. since 2013.
From 2008 until 2012, he served as executive vice president and general manager. He has served in various capacities with Elbit since 1991.
Prior to that, he served as an IDF artillery commander at the senior rank of colonel.
On August 11, Machlis said, “The strong momentum in the second quarter was sustained, delivering double-digit growth in sales, backlog, and earnings per share; improved profitability, and strong cash flow generation.”
“Our backlog reached a new record of $32 billion, providing long-term visibility and demonstrating the continued confidence of customers worldwide in Elbit Systems’ technologies and capabilities,” he continued.
He added, “Most recently, we unveiled our airborne high-power laser system, currently under development for helicopters and fighter aircraft. This new capability builds on decades of technological and operational experience and will further expand Elbit Systems’ broad portfolio of systems.”
On June 16, The Jerusalem Post reported on an exclusive visit to Elbit’s facilities for developing the airborne laser.
“Using lasers to shoot down aerial threats, air-to-air at the same height or from above, has a number of distinct advantages over ground-based laser defense,” Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW ELOP’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Oded Ben David explained to the Post at the time.
Aerial lasers are the holy grail of lasers in the sense that they can be used more effectively and suddenly on both defense and offense, as opposed to ground-based lasers, which must adjust the direction and goal of their firing much more slowly.
Next, Elbit Systems is the IDF’s primary provider of unmanned aerial vehicles and land-based equipment.
The company has signed deal after deal to help the IDF become more independent from foreign allies in supplying both precision and standard aerial bombs.
Elbit has also recently signed billions of dollars in deals to provide a range of defense solutions, including highly sophisticated ISTAR capabilities, SIGINT, COMINT, and electronic warfare systems to various European countries.
Inbal Kreiss
Inbal Kreiss is one of the most influential figures in Israel’s defense and space industries, known for leading programs that pushed the country into the top tier of global missile defense and satellite innovation.
She grew up in a home where national service and strategic thinking were part of daily life.
Her father, Amnon Biran, served as a senior IDF officer involved in major operations, including the Entebbe rescue. Kreiss received her Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering with honors from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, in 1988.
Kreiss completed her Executive Master in Business Administration with honors from Tel Aviv University in 1996 and was a visiting research fellow at the Aeronautics & Astronautics Department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, US, from 2006 to 2007.
Kreiss joined Israel’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development after completing her academic studies. She spent more than a decade leading integrated weapons development programs before joining Israel Aerospace Industries in 2000 where she became one of Israel’s most important missile defense engineers.
She served as chief engineer of the Arrow 2 system and later led the Arrow 3 program from concept through successful flight tests, helping establish Israel as a global leader in exo-atmospheric interception. Her work placed her among the few engineers worldwide to manage a national-level ballistic missile interceptor program that is central to Israel’s deterrence abilities.
From 2013 to 2019, Kreiss served as deputy director of IAI’s Space Division, overseeing the development, production, and operation of Israel’s observation and communication satellites. She later led the spacecraft design team for Israel’s first lunar mission, Beresheet, which reached lunar orbit and captured global attention in 2019.
Today, Kreiss serves as head of innovation for IAI’s Systems, Missiles & Space Division and chairs the scientific committee of Israel’s Rakia mission to the International Space Station.
Yoav Turgeman
Yoav Turgeman has spent more than four decades shaping Israel’s defense capabilities, from the decks of Navy vessels to the upper ranks of the country’s most important defense industries.
Born and raised in Hadera in a large family that immigrated to Israel from Morocco, he enlisted in the Israeli Navy in 1981, beginning a military career that spanned 25 years and culminated in senior command roles before retiring with the rank of navy captain.
During his service, Turgeman held multiple operational and headquarters positions, eventually becoming head of the Navy’s Combat Systems Division. His work focused on integrating advanced weapons, radar, and electronic warfare systems into Israel’s maritime forces, giving him a deep understanding of the technological backbone of Israel’s defense establishment.
In 2006, Turgeman joined IAI and moved directly into the Arrow missile defense system program. As head of the program, he guided the development of advanced configurations of Israel’s long-range interceptor and worked closely with the Defense Ministry and international partners. His leadership later expanded to the MLM Division and, beginning in 2018, to the role of CEO of ELTA Systems and IAI executive vice president. At ELTA, he led more than 4,000 employees and significantly expanded Israel’s global footprint in radar, intelligence, and electronic warfare technologies.
In 2024, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems appointed Turgeman as its president and CEO, placing him at the center of Israel’s defense and technology surge during a period of heightened regional threats and unprecedented operational demand.
He holds degrees in electrical engineering, political science, and law and is a graduate of the IDF National Defense College. Turgeman is married and the father of five children.