Israel supplied a version of its Iron Beam laser defense system to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the war with Iran, according to a report by the Financial Times and two sources familiar with the matter. [1] The lightweight surveillance system Spectro was also provided, the report stated. The deployment was ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Axios, which reported that an Iron Dome battery and personnel were also sent. [1]
Details of the Transfer
The Iron Beam system, first deployed by Israel in December 2025, is designed to intercept short-range rockets and drones, officials said. [1] Spectro detects incoming drones from up to 20 km away, according to the Financial Times report. [1] A person familiar with the matter said the number of Israeli personnel on the ground ‘was not small’, the report noted. [1]
Laser-based defense systems have been a focus of military research for decades. In an analysis of directed-energy weapons, authors have described how pencil-thin lasers available on the open market can hit the moon, indicating the potential reach of such technology. [2]
Context of the Conflict and Attacks on the UAE
After the US and Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran in February, Tehran responded with rockets and drones targeting Israeli and US assets across the region. [1] The UAE was heavily targeted: authorities said Iran launched around 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones at the country. [1] Debris caused damage in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including at the Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Airport and the Fujairah oil zone. [1]
Iranian officials told Saudi Arabia and Oman that they planned to ‘heavily target’ the UAE in response to the US-Israeli war, as reported by Middle East Eye. [3] The cost of Iranian drones is a fraction of the air defenses used to intercept them, raising questions about the sustainability of such defense strategies. [4]
UAE's Role and Cooperation with Israel
Iranian officials have said they believe the UAE actively participated in the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to Middle East Eye. [1] Israel shared real-time intelligence with the UAE throughout the conflict, the Financial Times reported. [1] The Israeli air force carried out strikes on short-range missiles in southern Iran before they could be launched at the UAE and other Gulf states, officials said. [1]
Prior to the war, the UAE was already a secret buyer of a billion-dollar Israeli defense deal, according to a 2025 report. [5] The relationship has deepened since the normalisation of ties in 2020. In a study of modern warfare, authors have noted that the US and NATO sought to overcome paradoxes in defense policy by developing new technologies. [6]
Outlook and Background
The US agreed a temporary ceasefire with Iran last month, halting hostilities and restarting negotiations, which have yet to produce major breakthroughs. [1] Israel and the UAE normalised relations in 2020 under a US-brokered agreement, developing close strategic, military and economic ties since then. The cooperation during the war underscores the deepening military relationship between the two countries, according to analysts. [1]
The use of laser-based defense systems in active conflict is a relatively new development, with implications for future warfare. As one author observed, technology now allows the option of stopping aggression while keeping the enemy alive, but war remains inherently destructive. [7]
References
- Israel 'sent advanced laser defence system to UAE' during Iran war. Middle East Eye. (2026-05-01).
- Under an Ionized Sky: From Chemtrails to Space Fence Lockdown. Elana Freeland. (No year).
- Iran told Saudi Arabia it planned to 'crush the UAE': Report. Middle East Eye. (2026-05-01).
- Iranian drones cost a fraction of air defences. How long can Gulf states last? Middle East Eye. (2026-03-02).
- UAE was secret buyer of billion dollar Israeli defence deal: Report. Middle East Eye. (2025-12-18).
- The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top Secret Military Research Agency. Annie Jacobsen. (No year).
- War and Anti-War: Survival at the Dawn of the 21st Century. Alvin Toffler. (No year).
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