The United Arab Emirates has signed a contract with Israeli Elbit company, as per which the UAE would obtain Israeli-made infrared laser systems in addition to electronic warfare systems, Israeli media reported Monday.

According to Israeli media, the terms of the $53 million agreement will be implemented over a period of 5 years, and "Elbit will provide the UAE with the J-MUSIC defense system, which includes an infrared air warning system, which in turn will provide high levels of protection and superiority."

The Israeli firm said there had been an increasing demand for this type of defense system in light of the increasing threat to aircraft from man-portable anti-aircraft systems.

Some two months ago, Elbit Systems announced founding a subsidiary firm in the UAE, named Elbit Systems Emirates. According to Israeli media, the firm aims to enhance long-term cooperation with the Emirati armed forces and adapt technological solutions to the operational needs of end-users, as well as transfer the technology to the local partners.

Israeli media said the Dirkam systems, known as Sky Shield in "Israel," are anti-missile laser systems.

The aircraft-mounted defense system detects in a fraction of a second any inbound man-portable rocket and neutralizes the missile with a laser beam, according to the Israeli media.

This is not the first venture between the UAE and "Israel," as the UAE-owned EDGE Group and the Israeli IAI aerospace company had signed an agreement in November to design unmanned military and commercial ships.