Middle East Eye
centerREPORTIsrael pitched advanced drones to UAE, leaked emails reveal: Report

Full BriefGenerated 20d ago
What Happened
Leaked emails obtained by the hacking group Handala and verified by Haaretz and Drop Site News reveal that the United Arab Emirates sought to purchase advanced military technology from the Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems following a 17 January 2022 missile and drone attack on Abu Dhabi by Yemen’s Houthis. The correspondence, spanning 2021 to early 2023, details negotiations for the Hermes 900 reconnaissance drone, SkyEye surveillance sensors, and ground control equipment in a deal initially valued at $154 million, potentially rising to $225 million. The documents indicate that in March 2022, a representative from the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s arms development directorate traveled to the UAE to propose an operational surveillance solution for detecting missile and drone launches targeting the country.
Key Actors
- ·Elbit Systems(Israeli defense contractor)Negotiated the sale of Hermes 900 drones and surveillance sensors to the UAE government.
- ·United Arab Emirates(Gulf state government)Sought advanced Israeli military technology to bolster defense capabilities following Houthi attacks in 2022.
- ·Houthis(Yemeni armed group)Conducted a missile and drone attack on Abu Dhabi on 17 January 2022, prompting the UAE's urgent search for defensive systems.
Why It Matters
The leaked correspondence provides evidence of the deepening security and defense cooperation between Israel and the UAE following the 2020 Abraham Accords. The potential acquisition of Israeli surveillance and loitering munitions highlights the strategic alignment of Gulf states and Israel in countering regional threats, specifically those posed by Iranian-aligned factions like the Houthis.
Watch For
Monitor for further disclosures from the Handala hacking group regarding the status of the $225 million contract and whether the Hermes 900 drones were ultimately delivered to the UAE. Additionally, observe any official statements from the Israeli Ministry of Defense or the UAE government regarding the veracity of these specific procurement negotiations.
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