JERUSALEM, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Israel's government has

turned to industry to bolster the military's ability to

intercept aerial drones launched by Iran or the Lebanese

Hezbollah militia.

The Defence Ministry said on Tuesday it had launched a

competition among eight large and small companies.

"After analysing the trial results, the Defence Ministry

will select several technologies to enter an accelerated

development and production process. This aims to deploy new

operational capabilities within months," it said.

In addition to missiles, Iran, Hezbollah and others have

used drones in attacks on Israel.

On Sunday, Hezbollah said it had attacked the Israeli

military's Golani Brigade in Binyamina in northern Israel with a

"swarm of drones". It said some of the drones, which included

models it had not used before, had eluded Israeli air defence

radar.

Israel's military said four of its soldiers had been killed

and seven severely injured.

"The UAV threat is a multi-arena threat originating from

Iran, which supplies UAVs to Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq, and even

launches them itself," said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

"We must concentrate the national effort ... to produce

operational solutions quickly."

The ministry's director general, Eyal Zamir, said it had

already invested hundreds of millions of shekels in such

capabilities.

Those participating include Israel's top defence firms,

Elbit Systems, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace

Industries.