Documents reveal Israel quietly sold missile-defense systems and jet parts to Saudi Arabia and Qatar worth hundreds of millions

Documents and public photos reveal that Israel has quietly sold missile-defense systems and jet parts worth hundreds of millions to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties. A Haaretz investigation, summarized by The Times of Israel, indicates that three aircraft in Qatar’s royal fleet were fitted with Elbit Systems’ C-MUSIC air-defense system between 2020 and 2022 during maintenance in Switzerland. This defensive system protects large jets from heat-seeking missiles. Furthermore, Israeli-linked firms secured subcontracts valued at $150 million to $250 million for advanced systems and parts, including JHMCS helmets and AN/AVS-9 night-vision gear, for F-15QA fighter jets sold to Qatar and F-15SA aircraft for Saudi Arabia through U.S. prime contractors. This highlights how Israeli technology moves through complex supply chains, even when direct political relations are frozen.