Israel has deployed its core air defense system, the Iron Dome battery, and operational forces to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the war with Iran, U.S. media Axios reported on the 26th, citing Israeli and U.S. officials. This marks the first time the Iron Dome has been deployed to a country outside Israel and the United States.
According to the media, after the outbreak of the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran on Feb. 28, the UAE became a concentrated target of Iran. Iran launched approximately 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and over 2,200 drones at the UAE. While most projectiles were intercepted, some struck military and civilian targets, prompting the UAE to request support from its allies. A senior Israeli official stated that then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the sudden deployment of the Iron Dome battery, interceptors, and dozens of operational forces after speaking with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The ‘Iron Dome (Iron Dome; a low-altitude air defense system)’ is a weapon system that surrounds incoming targets with a dome-shaped air defense network by installing launchers in multiple locations. One Iron Dome battery consists of three launch vehicles capable of firing 20 interceptors each, Tamir interceptors, a radar with a detection range of 150 kilometers, and a tracking system. Its interception range spans 4 to 70 kilometers, with an altitude capability of up to 10 kilometers. Jointly developed by Israel and the U.S., it was deployed in 2011. With an interception rate exceeding 90%, it has protected Israel’s daily life. The Iron Dome system deployed in the UAE also demonstrated its capabilities by successfully intercepting dozens of Iranian missiles.
Israel’s decision to support the UAE with the Iron Dome is unprecedented. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested Israel’s support for the Iron Dome in 2022 but was rejected. The official stated, “This is the first time Israel has sent the Iron Dome to another country, and the UAE is the first nation outside the U.S. and Israel to use it.”
Israel and the UAE have maintained close relations since restoring diplomatic ties through the 2020 Abraham Accords. The two countries are known to have maintained close military and political coordination since the outbreak of the war. The Israeli Air Force has even conducted direct airstrikes on southern Iranian regions to preempt threats toward Gulf states. A senior UAE official praised the bilateral relationship, stating, “We will never forget the support Israel showed during the crisis.”
However, Singapore is reported to have previously purchased and received the Iron Dome, and Romania is also expected to buy it soon, according to the Jerusalem Post.
