[News] Israel sold advanced defense systems to Qatar, Saudi Arabia

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 Israel sold advanced defense systems to Qatar, Saudi Arabia: Report

The Qatari Emir's personal fleet of royal aircraft relies on Israeli-made
missile defense systems to protect him

News Desk <https://thecradle.co/authors/news-desk-9>

JUN 28, 2026 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/israel-sold-advanced-defense-systems-to-qatar-saudi-arabia-report
(Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Daniel Hernandez)

Israel has sold advanced defense systems to Qatar and Saudi Arabia,
including sophisticated missile defense systems to protect the Qatari royal
family and components for advanced fighter jets, *Haaretz* reported
<https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-06-28/ty-article/.premium/advanced-israeli-systems-sold-to-qatar-saudi-arabia-documents-and-images-show/0000019e-ff00-d0cc-af9e-ffdba62b0000>
on 28 June.

Citing documents and photographs, the left-liberal Israeli paper revealed
that Israeli Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries have sold
hundreds of millions of shekels' worth of missile defense systems and
helmets for advanced F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The sales occurred even though both Gulf monarchies have refrained from
joining the Abraham Accords and have no formal diplomatic relations with
Tel Aviv.

*Haaretz* writes that when Qatari ruler Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani flew to
Iran last year, his private jet was equipped with an air defense system
manufactured by Israel-based Elbit Systems.

A photograph of the Qatari emir's arrival in Algeria in March 2024 clearly
showed an Elbit defense system installed on the underside of his aircraft.

The Qatari royal fleet consists of 11 aircraft, including two Boeing 747s
and an Airbus A340-500, all equipped with Elbit's C-MUSIC system, known in
Israel as Magen Rakia.

The C-MUSIC system detects the launch of a heat-seeking surface-to-air
missile and emits an infrared beam that disrupts the missile's ability to
lock on to the aircraft.

It is especially effective against shoulder-fired missiles known as MANPADS.

The cost of the deal with Qatar is unknown. However, it likely exceeds $200
million, given the value of similar deals with European countries and NATO.

Elbit and other Israeli companies also produce parts for Qatar's
US-supplied F-15 fighter jets.

According to a US Defense Department contract with Boeing, Israeli
companies were awarded subcontracts worth $150 million to $250 million to
supply advanced parts and systems for the Qatari F-15s.

Elbit subsidiaries, Elbit America and Cyclone, were awarded contracts,
along with Collins Elbit Vision Systems, a joint venture with RTX.

Among the items provided by the Israeli weapons firms to Doha is the
advanced JHMCS combat helmet, which projects flight data onto the visor,
allowing the pilots to visually lock on to a target and fire a missile at
it.

Elbit also supplied AN/AVS-9 night-vision goggles for Qatar's F-15
warplanes.

Additional contracts to provide equipment for the Qatari F-15 program were
awarded to Israel Aerospace Industries, TAT Technologies, and Beth-El
Industries.

Official State Department documents and photographs also reveal that Saudi
Arabia received 462 advanced JHMCS combat helmets and 462 AN/AVS-9
night-vision goggles produced by Israeli firms for its own F-15 warplanes.
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