Russian-Israeli UAV

Knowledgeable sources say that Russia and Israel are expected to develop a UAV together, one that will suit Russia’s operational needs.


Two days ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Israel for a visit in which pressing defense issues were discussed extensively, including the Iranian threat and the Syrian civil war.

It now seems that the cooperation between Israel and Russia is expected to expand in the defense field. Knowledgeable sources say that both countries are expected to develop at least one kind of UAV – one that will suit Russia’s operational needs.


Two years ago, Russia signed a deal for the acquisition of UAVs at a scope of $400 million from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The deal included the Searcher-2 and Bird Eye 400 UAV models, as well as the construction of an assembly and production line in Russia.

Now the possibility of expanding cooperation is on the agenda again. Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dimitry Rogozin, recently expressed his satisfaction with the Israeli-Russian cooperation in the field of UAVs, and sources close to the issue have said that the forming cooperation is part of a greater “strategic understanding,” that serves both sides on a variety of issues. According to foreign sources, one example of this is Russia’s decision not to sell several variants of antiaircraft missiles to Iran.


The planned cooperation will also include the transfer of technologies pertaining to UAV production.