UAE reportedly behind Elbit’s record $2.3 billion defense deal
Foreign publication links one of Israel’s largest-ever arms sales to the United Arab Emirates amid secrecy and strategic concerns.
The French intelligence-focused outlet Intelligence Online reports that the country behind the massive defense deal Elbit Systems announced about a month ago is the United Arab Emirates. The deal, valued at approximately $2.3 billion, is the largest in Elbit’s history.
Shortly after the agreement was signed, Elbit informed the stock exchange that the deal involved a “strategic solution for an international customer.” On Monday, Calcalist revealed that the transaction could erode Israel’s military edge in the Middle East, due to the highly advanced and sensitive system at its core. Many details of the deal remain under a publication ban in Israel.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed a peace agreement nearly five years ago as part of the Abraham Accords, promoted by then-U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term. Since then, Israeli defense companies, including Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), have opened official representative offices in Abu Dhabi.
According to foreign reports, IAI sold batteries of its Barak MX air defense system to the UAE shortly after the normalization agreement was signed. Earlier this year, the Emirati defense conglomerate Edge Group acquired a 30% stake in Third Eye, an Israeli company that develops and manufactures systems for detecting and jamming unmanned aerial vehicles and drones.
At the same time it normalized relations with Israel, the UAE also sought to purchase F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the sale, but the deal has yet to be implemented. According to foreign reports, the delay stems from U.S. demands to retain remote control capabilities over the aircraft, driven by concerns that sensitive technology could be exposed to China. These conditions reportedly dampened the UAE’s enthusiasm for moving forward.
China maintains close ties with the UAE, and while Washington has shown a willingness to forgo the F-35 deal over security concerns, Israel appears to have taken a more flexible approach in its defense cooperation with the Emirates.
