Israel has begun deploying its new Iron Beam laser air defense system, marking what Elliott Abrams, a Middle Eastern studies senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations, calls a revolutionary step in countering low-cost drone threats. In a CFR blog post on Sunday, the foreign policy expert and former U.S. diplomat writes that the...
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Category: Middle East
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Elbit Systems Secures $330M in Combined Contracts to Deliver Advanced Naval Technologies
Israel-based military technology solutions provider Elbit Systems has secured new contracts with a combined value of $330 million to equip international customers with advanced naval technologies and platforms. The deals cover orders for electronic warfare solutions, anti-submarine warfare systems and combat management technologies. Apart from supplying major defense equipment, Elbit is also set to provide...
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General Atomics Set to Deliver New MQ-9s to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is set to acquire up to 200 MQ-9 unmanned systems from General Atomics. The deal forms part of the over $2 trillion in investment commitments President Donald Trump announced during his Middle East tour. In an interview with Breaking Defense, C. Mark Brinkley, spokesperson for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., said the deal...
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Cognyte Expands US Cybersecurity Footprint With GroupSense Acquisition
Cognyte Software, an Israel-based security analytics software company, is expanding its U.S. footprint with the acquisition of GroupSense, a digital risk protection services firm in Arlington, Virginia. The purchase cost of $4 million is in addition to a $5 million earnout based on the business’s future performance, Cognyte said in its purchase announcement Wednesday. Founded...
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Capgemini Study Sees Data, Trust as Barriers to Public Sector’s AI Use
Data and trust concerns on artificial intelligence are the main barriers to the technology’s widespread use for public sector functions globally, according to a new Capgemini Research Institute report. The study showed that 79 percent of public sector executives in countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East are wary about AI’s...
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AirMatrix Adds Former SAMI CEO to Board of Directors
Ontario-based artificial intelligence firm AirMatrix has appointed Walid Abukhaled, former CEO of Saudi Arabian Military Industries, to its board of directors as it expands its presence across the Middle East and North Africa. Abukhaled is expected to support AirMatrix’s efforts to deploy secure AI platforms in critical infrastructure globally. Abukhaled brings decades of senior-level leadership...
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Elbit Systems Promotes Shay Avinu to Strategic Procurement & Subcontracting VP
Israeli defense company Elbit Systems has promoted Shay Avinu, head of its strategic procurement and subcontracting unit, to vice president. Avinu, who shared his promotion on LinkedIn, has worked with Elbit for over 17 years, previously holding leadership positions in program management and business development. He joined the company 2008 as a product manager and subsequently...
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US Gains $2T in Investment Commitments From Middle East, Adds $200B From UAE
President Donald Trump closed over $200 billion in commercial deals during the United Arab Emirates stop of his Middle East tour. The latest round of investment agreements brings the total commitments to over $2 trillion, including a $1.2 trillion deal he sealed in Qatar and a $600 billion package signed in Saudi Arabia. Among the...
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US, UAE to Improve Collaboration in AI, Emerging Technologies Development
The United States and the United Arab Emirates have established the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership framework, an initiative that aims to improve collaboration on advancing artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. The agreement also improves the process of UAE-based funds’ inward investments into the North American country. Under the framework, the U.S. will launch several...
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US Trillion-Dollar Worth of Deals in Qatar Seen to Boost American Manufacturing
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday several deals made during his visit to Qatar, including at least $1.2 trillion in economic exchange and an economic deal amounting to over $243.5 billion. The deals align with the Trump administration’s goal of ushering in a new Golden Age of American manufacturing. According to the White House, one key...