Israel Collaborates With United Arab Emirates To Develop Anti-Drone Defense Technology

JAKARTA - Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced that it will develop anti-drone defense technology, in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arms manufacturer, EDGE.

This continues the intimacy between the two countries who are on their 'honeymoon', after formalizing diplomatic relations last year. Apart from paying attention to economic matters, the two of them also pay attention to common security issues, including the issue of Iran.

In a statement quoted by Reuters on Friday, March 12, Israel's IAI will build a drone defense system tailored to the market and the needs of the United Arab Emirates.

The Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen has recently stepped up cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia while posing a threat to the UAE.

The UAE has been Saudi Arabia's main partner in a military coalition to intervene in Yemen in March 2015 against the Houthis. However, last February, a senior UAE official said they had withdrawn from involvement in the military coalition since October last year.

The war has seen years of military stalemate and in 2019, the UAE reduced its presence in Yemen following that year's attacks on tankers in Gulf waters, including off its coasts.

The UAE itself is known to have had an advanced anti-missile interception system, the Terminal Altitude Defense Area (THAAD), made by the United States.

Meanwhile, EDGE itself is known to be tasked with supplying advanced weapons to the UAE armed forces, focusing on developing drones, unmanned vehicles, smart weapons, and electronic warfare equipment rather than conventional weaponry.