Intelligence Online, says that the United Arab Emirates is the secret customer behind a long-term, multi-billion-dollar defence deal negotiated by Israel's Elbit Systems.
The article says that the transaction is worth about 2.3 billion USD and will be carried out over the course of eight years. This is one of the biggest defence deals ever made between Israel and an Arab state. Last month, Elbit Systems announced the deal but wouldn't say who the customer was. They only said it was a "international client" for a strategic airborne defence system.
The reports claims that the contract aims to protect both civilian and military aircraft operated by the UAE against missile threats. The system in question is assessed to be Elbit’s laser-based directional infrared countermeasure solution, widely known as J-MUSIC, designed to defeat man-portable air defence systems and surface-to-air missile threats during flight.
When first announcing the agreement, Elbit Systems CEO Bezhalel Machlis stated that the company would deliver a “strategic and long-term solution” to an international customer, without naming the country involved. The Intelligence Online report indicates that the scale, duration and operational profile of the contract align with the UAE’s ongoing efforts to strengthen aircraft survivability across both military and government aviation fleets.
The reported deal comes at a time when Israel’s regional relations remain under strain due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Despite heightened political tensions and criticism from parts of the Arab world, Abu Dhabi is assessed to be maintaining defence and technology cooperation with Israel within the framework established by the Abraham Accords.
According to Intelligence Online, the agreement reflects the UAE’s emphasis on advanced defensive technologies rather than offensive weaponry, focusing on aircraft protection and survivability rather than strike capabilities. No official confirmation has been issued by either the UAE authorities or Elbit Systems regarding the identity of the customer or the specific systems to be delivered.
The report adds that the scale of the contract places it among Israel’s largest defence export agreements to date, although no official ranking or comparative figures have been released by Israeli authorities.
Neither Elbit Systems nor Emirati defence officials have commented publicly on the Intelligence Online report.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
