UAE and Israel showcase their latest partnership in the defence sector, presenting their first jointly developed unmanned vessel...

The UAE and Israel showcase their latest partnership in the defence sector, presenting their first jointly developed unmanned vessel. The unmanned surface vessel (USV) was unveiled at the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

The USV is equipped with advanced sensors and imaging systems, making it ideal for surveillance, reconnaissance, and detecting mines. The USV was created by the Emirati defence consortium EDGE and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

The region has seen an increase in maritime threats over the years, with missile and drone attacks attributed to neighbouring Iran. The USV can counter these threats by securing coastlines and detecting mines in the area. According to Oren Guter, who leads IAI's naval programme, the two countries are demonstrating a mutual project that showcases their capabilities in securing coastlines and countering mine threats.

Guter also mentioned that the USV would be deployed abroad, indicating IAI's plans to increase cooperation with the UAE in air defence and improve its naval capabilities. The UAE and Israel have developed their military partnership and procurement since they established diplomatic ties in 2020.

The partnership is also working towards developing an autonomous counter-drone system to combat threats in the region. Countering maritime threats from Iran is one of the main areas of focus for the UAE-Israel partnership. Torbjorn Soltvedt of the risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft stated that both countries are prioritizing countering the growing threat to shipping in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, as both Israeli and Emirati ships have been targeted in Iran-backed drone and missile attacks.

Experts say that stalled negotiations to revive a deal over Tehran's nuclear program have renewed the threat of Iran-backed attacks in the region. On Sunday, Israel accused Iran of attacking an Israeli-linked tanker off the coast of Oman, causing minor damage. It was the second such accusation this year. The UAE-Israel partnership continues to strengthen as they face the growing threat of maritime attacks in the region.