JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said on Thursday it would jointly develop an advanced drone defense system with the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned weapons maker EDGE. Israel and the UAE formalized relations last year, brought closer by commercial interests and concern over Iran. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which recently stepped up cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, has in the past threatened to launch strikes on the UAE. The UAE already has an advanced anti-missile interception system, the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defenses (THAAD). EDGE, tasked with supplying advanced weapons to the UAE armed forces, is focused on developing drones, unmanned vehicles, smart weapons and electronic warfare equipment rather than conventional weaponry.

Source: Egypt Independent March 11, 2021 10:07 UTC