Satellite images from September revealed that the UAE has deployed the Israeli Barak 8 missile defense system in order to defend against Iranian missile and drone attacks, according to a report by the Tactical Report news site. The analysis, which was published on Friday, stated that two Barak launchers in addition to an Elta ELM 2084 radar system were operational near the al-Dhafra airbase south of Abu Dhabi.
The Barak 8 can defend against cruise missiles, enemy aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles. It was jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and India’s Defense Research and Development Organization.
Dr. Dan Schueftan, who heads the International Graduate Program in National Security Studies at the University of Haifa, called the deployment “revolutionary” and said that it indicates the country has for the first time become a full-fledged regional power.
“We are recognized throughout the world as a power when it comes to technology and innovation,” Schueftan told The Media Line. “But the one thing we were missing in order to be a full-fledged regional power was the ability to maneuver between the different forces in the Middle East. For a long time, the perception of Israel was not only that it was not beneficial for powers to cooperate with Israel, but also that it could be counterproductive [to do so] because Israel was so hated and isolated in the region. This has now changed in a very fundamental way.”
