Leaked files reveal Israel-UAE defense projects worth billions
Documents reportedly show expanded military cooperation after Abraham Accords, including proposed drone, surveillance and electronic warfare deals
ABU DHABI/TEL AVIV (MNTV) — Leaked internal documents from Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems reportedly reveal extensive military cooperation proposals between Israel and the United Arab Emirates following the 2020 Abraham Accords.
The cooperation includes plans for billions of dollars in drones, surveillance technology and electronic warfare systems, according to a report by Haaretz.
The documents, cited by the Israeli newspaper, indicate Elbit responded to what it described as an “urgent operational request” from the UAE after Houthi missile and drone attacks targeted Abu Dhabi in January 2022.
The company reportedly proposed supplying Hermes 900 unmanned aerial systems equipped with surveillance payloads, electronic intelligence capabilities and electronic warfare technology.
According to the leaked material, an initial proposal valued at about $180 million included two drone systems comprising six aircraft, ground control stations and supporting intelligence equipment.
Emirati officials later explored expanding the purchase to 15 systems containing 45 drones, potentially raising the value of the proposed deal to approximately $1.3 billion, the report said.
The documents also reportedly show Israel’s Defense Ministry preparing to send an official delegation to the UAE in March 2022 to discuss joint air defense projects.
Separate files referred to a confidential Emirati request for intelligence aircraft equipped with signals intelligence, communications interception, cyberwarfare and electronic warfare capabilities, although Haaretz said it could not confirm whether such a deal was finalized.
Another proposal reportedly involved Elbit offering its Hermes 650 drone to the UAE in 2023 before the aircraft had been publicly unveiled.
The documents also referred to a project codenamed “Jasmine 3,” involving the production of 6,000 unspecified kits that Haaretz said may be linked to precision-guided munitions technology, though the files did not explicitly identify the equipment.
The report further alleged that senior Elbit executives exchanged sensitive commercial documents through personal email accounts rather than company systems.
Haaretz said the files were later obtained from one executive’s personal Gmail account and published by a hacking group it linked to Iranian intelligence.
The leaked documents highlight the expansion of security cooperation between Israel and the UAE following the Abraham Accords, with defense ties reportedly deepening as both countries increased coordination on regional security issues.
Elbit’s only publicly announced defense agreement with the UAE remains a $50 million contract disclosed in 2022 to supply missile protection systems for Emirati aerial refueling aircraft.
The company also announced a separate $2.3 billion contract with an unnamed international customer in 2025, which French defense publication Intelligence Online later identified as likely involving the UAE.
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