![An Ocean Aero Triton unmanned surface vessel (USV), left, operates in the Arabian Gulf with a Saildrone Explorer USV during a bilateral exercise between the US Navy and United Arab Emirates Navy on February 16. [US Navy]](/cnmi_am/images/2023/02/21/40867-uae-us-drill-700_496.webp)
The United Arab Emirates and Israel on Monday (February 20) revealed their first jointly created unmanned surface vessel (USV), illustrating their growing military ties as maritime threats rise in the Gulf region.
The craft, which has advanced sensors and imaging systems and can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance and detecting mines, was unveiled off the coast of Abu Dhabi during the annual Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX).
The unmanned surface vessel was created by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Emirati defence consortium EDGE.
The busy Gulf shipping lanes have suffered years of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) harassment and aggression and missile and drone attacks blamed on Iran and its proxies.
![Representatives of the UAE's EDGE Group and Israel Aerospace Industries are seen here on November 18, 2021, as they enter into a strategic agreement to jointly design a series of unmanned surface vessels. [EGDE Group]](/cnmi_am/images/2023/02/21/40873-israel-uae-usv-700_496.webp)
Representatives of the UAE's EDGE Group and Israel Aerospace Industries are seen here on November 18, 2021, as they enter into a strategic agreement to jointly design a series of unmanned surface vessels. [EGDE Group]
"We are for the first time demonstrating a mutual project that shows the capabilities and strengths of both companies" in securing coastlines and countering mine threats, said Oren Guter, who leads IAI's naval programme.
IAI was looking to bolster co-operation with the UAE in air defence and hopes to help the Gulf state improve its naval capabilities, he said.
Deepening military partnership
The UAE and Israel have steadily deepened their military partnership, including defence procurement, since they normalised relations in 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords.
In January 2022, Israeli defence electronics company Elbit Systems said its subsidiary in the UAE won an approximately $53 million contract to supply systems to the UAE air force.
Emirati and Israeli defence firms are working to develop an autonomous counter-drone system.
Countering maritime threats from Iran is one area of focus for the UAE-Israel partnership, said Torbjorn Soltvedt of the risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.
"Security is a natural area of co-operation between Israel and the UAE," he said.
"Countering the growing threat to shipping in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman will be a priority as both Israeli and Emirati ships have been targeted in Iran-backed drone and missile attacks," he added.
On Sunday, Israel accused Iran of attacking an Israeli-linked, Liberian-flagged product tanker off the coast of Oman in a strike that caused minor damage. It was the second such accusation this year.
Campo Square on February 10 was "hit by an airborne object while in the Arabian Sea, approximately 300 nautical miles (555km) off the coasts of India and Oman", said Eletson, the Greek company that manages the vessel.
A spokesman for Eletson said the Liberian company that owns Campo Square was "linked" to Zodiac Maritime, a British shipping company founded and chaired by an Israeli, Eyal Ofer.
Iran has not commented.
In November, Israel and the United States blamed Iran for a drone strike on a tanker off the coast of Oman. The vessel was operated by a company owned by Idan Ofer, Eyal's brother.
In July 2021, a Zodiac Maritime-operated vessel managed by Eyal Ofer was struck by a drone near the island of Masirah in the Arabian Sea, killing a British security guard and a Romanian crew member, in an attack blamed on Iran.
US, UAE conduct drone drill
Bahrain-based US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) on Monday concluded a weeklong unmanned systems and artificial intelligence integration exercise with the Emirati navy in the Arabian Gulf.
Five USVs from the Emirati navy and NAVCENT's Task Force 59 -- launched in September 2021 to integrate unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into Middle East operations following -- operated off the coast of the UAE.
Since its launch, Task Force 59 has operated a suite of new unmanned systems based at operational hubs in Bahrain and Aqaba, Jordan.
CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla in November highlighted the growing role of drones in ensuring security in the Middle East.
He pledged that Task Force 59 would deploy more than 100 USVs in the Gulf region's waters in the next year to stave off maritime threats.
"This exercise allowed us to further train our artificial intelligence platforms to sort through new data sets, which will ultimately enhance our detection capabilities," said Task Force 59's lead exercise planner, Lt. Jay Faylo.
"It has been a tremendous opportunity doing this with our Emirati partners who are at the leading edge of technology in the region."
