The Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” revealed that Israeli defense companies provided Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, indirectly and secretly, with advanced military systems worth hundreds of millions of dollars, despite the absence of official diplomatic relations between Israel and both Doha and Riyadh.
According to the newspaper, documents and photos indicate that Qatar obtained “Sea Music” air defense systems from the Israeli company “Elbit”, for use on the planes of VIPs, including the Emir of Qatar, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia obtained Israeli-made components, combat helmets, and night vision systems for their F-15 fighter planes, as part of contracts linked to the American company “Boeing”.
Haaretz reported that Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries participated, indirectly, in various military projects in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia, through contracts, contractors, and armament programs led by the United States.
The newspaper explained that the “Sea Music” missile defense system, developed by the “Elbit” company, was integrated into three private planes used by the Emir of Qatar, noting that one of these planes, equipped with a system capable of detecting infrared-guided missiles and neutralizing them with a laser, was used during the Emir of Qatar’s visit to Tehran last year.
It also stated that Israeli companies participated as contractors in the Qatari F-15 fighter programme, led by the United States, where they provided structural components, avionics equipment, night vision systems, and target identification systems integrated into the helmets of GHMCS pilots.
According to the report, Qatar purchased 160 units of target identification systems integrated into pilots’ helmets for $35 million, while Israeli companies provided night vision systems and hundreds of advanced helmets through projects related to the Saudi F-15SA fighter program.
This information reopens the debate about the nature of undeclared security relations in the region, especially since Hebrew media had reported, in June of last year, about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval of defense deals with Qatar worth more than $100 million.
Previous reports also indicated that a company that includes partners, including a former senior Mossad official and retired Israeli Army Major General Yoav Mordechai, represented Israeli defense companies such as “Rafael” and “Elbit Systems” in negotiations with Qatar, and held talks with “Israeli Aerospace Industries” about possible deals.
These leaks gain special importance because they come at a sensitive regional moment, in which relations between Israel and the Gulf states are witnessing an overlap between the declared political estrangement and indirect security cooperation through intermediaries and American companies, which reveals the extent of the transformations taking place behind the façade of official positions.
