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JERUSALEM — An Israeli defense company has opened a new facility in the United Arab Emirates and plans to demonstrate a high-energy laser weapon to attendees IDEX meetingheld this month in Abu Dhabi.
Yoav Har-Even, head of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, attended the inauguration along with Israeli and UAE officials, according to a company press release dated Feb. 16.
“We are encouraged by another concrete step in strengthening Rafael’s relationship with the UAE. We can now say that we have built a bridge to the United Arab Emirates with our first investment and are excited to continue building on the relationship we have built so far ,” Har-Even said.
The Gulf region is a new market for Israel after the Abraham Accords, which saw the Jewish state improve its diplomatic relations with several Arab neighbors.
The company will also demonstrate its Iron Beam High Energy Laser Weapon in IDEX. Designed in Israel, the technology enhances the capabilities of the Iron Dome air defense system. It will be the first time the UAE has seen the new laser system.
last year’s report Said the UAE was seeking to acquire Rafael’s Spyder air defense system. Rafael said the Spyder received an upgrade “to allow anti-ballistic missile capability through the extended range of the Derby LR missile.”
Seth J. Frantzman is Defense News’ Israel correspondent. Since 2010, he has covered conflicts in the Middle East for various publications. He has reported on the international coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, and he is the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Middle East Reporting and Analysis.
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