A report has claimed that Israeli defence companies supplied advanced military systems and equipment for fighter aircraft operated by Saudi Arabia and Qatar despite both Gulf nations having no formal diplomatic or open defence ties with Israel. According to the report, the technology reached the two countries through United States-backed fighter jet programmes and subcontracting arrangements linked to major defence deals. The findings suggest that Israeli-made components were integrated into aircraft delivered under U.S. military procurement agreements.
According to the report, three aircraft belonging to the Qatari royal fleet were equipped with Elbit Systems' C-MUSIC airborne defence system between 2020 and 2022 during maintenance work carried out in Basel, Switzerland. The system is designed to detect incoming shoulder-fired missiles using radar technology and neutralise threats through laser-based countermeasures, enhancing the protection of military and VIP aircraft against portable air defence systems.
The report further claimed that Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, travelled to Tehran in 2025 aboard one of the aircraft fitted with the Israeli-made protection system. It also referred to the 2017 U.S.-Qatar agreement for the procurement of F-15QA Ababil fighter jets, under which Israeli companies reportedly secured subcontracts worth an estimated 150 million to 250 million US dollars. The reported contracts included the supply of Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) helmets and AN/AVS-9 night-vision equipment for the aircraft.
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The report also cited a 2010 statement issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, which indicated that similar Israeli-made equipment formed part of Saudi Arabia's F-15SA fighter jet acquisition from Boeing. According to the report, Riyadh received hundreds of JHMCS helmets and night-vision systems through the programme. The helmet-mounted technology enables pilots to view flight information directly on their visors and improve target tracking and engagement during combat operations.
The reported transfers are notable because Saudi Arabia and Qatar do not maintain formal diplomatic relations or publicly acknowledged defence cooperation with Israel. However, the report suggests that Israeli defence technology was incorporated into U.S.-led military procurement programmes, allowing the equipment to reach Gulf operators through international supply chains rather than direct bilateral agreements.
The report also noted that discussions on normalising relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel had gained momentum before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack but have since stalled amid regional tensions. While the latest claims highlight the complex nature of global defence manufacturing and multinational procurement arrangements, neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar has publicly commented on the report, and the findings remain based on reported defence contracts and publicly available information cited in the investigation.
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