The Hebrew website Walla reported that the United Arab Emirates is the unidentified client behind the largest deal in the history of the Israeli military industries company Elbit Systems. The report identifies the UAE as the previously undisclosed buyer involved in a deal whose scale and strategic implications extend beyond a routine commercial transaction.
This revelation follows Elbit Systems’ announcement last month that it had secured a major contract worth 2.3 billion dollars to supply advanced military systems to an unnamed customer. At the time, the company deliberately withheld the identity of the buyer, describing it only as a foreign entity.
According to information published by the French intelligence platform Intelligence Online and cited by Walla, the UAE purchased an advanced version of Elbit’s J-Music aircraft protection systems. These systems represent a significant escalation in military capability and technological integration between Abu Dhabi and Israeli defence manufacturers.
Advanced Military Technology and Localised Production
The J-Music system relies on advanced laser technology designed to disrupt the sensors of surface-to-air missiles launched at aircraft. The report indicated that these systems will be manufactured inside the UAE as part of a joint project that has received formal approval from Israeli government authorities. This element of local production underscores a shift from simple procurement to deeper industrial and security integration.
Walla noted that the deal, which will be implemented over eight years, constitutes the second-largest arms deal in Israel’s history. Its scale places it just behind the Arrow-3 missile defence system sale to Germany, valued at 3.5 billion dollars, and alongside other major exports such as the Spyder air defence systems sold to Romania for 2.2 billion dollars. The UAE deal thus forms part of a broader surge in Israeli military exports.
Normalisation and the Acceleration of Military Alignment
Since the signing of the normalisation agreement in the summer of 2020, security and military relations between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv have witnessed rapid and visible expansion. What were once covert channels have been transformed into an openly declared strategic alignment, particularly in the defence sector.
Major Israeli arms companies quickly established permanent offices in the UAE. In 2021, Elbit Systems officially announced the creation of a local branch under the name Elbit Systems Emirates, with the stated objective of deepening long-term cooperation with the Emirati armed forces.
Regional Tensions and Expanded Defence Procurement
Following drone and missile attacks on the UAE by the Houthis in early 2022, the pace of Emirati security procurement intensified. International reports indicate that the UAE was supplied with advanced air defence systems such as Barak MX and Spyder, aimed at countering drone threats linked to Iranian capabilities. These developments provided further justification for expanding military cooperation with Israeli defence firms.
The relationship has since moved beyond a simple buyer and seller dynamic. Joint production initiatives have emerged, reflecting a more entrenched partnership. The Emirati EDGE Group signed multiple agreements with Israel Aerospace Industries to develop unmanned naval vessels and counter-drone systems. This shift toward co-development highlights the depth of military integration that has followed political normalisation.
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