Drone attacks by “Witness” on cities and infrastructure in the Persian Gulf region have led to a wave of purchases of anti-drone weapons, which could redefine the security outlook for the Middle East.

Based on a report by Bloomberg Businessweek, since the start of the war, more than $5 billion in contracts have been announced or confirmed for defense companies, including Anduril and RTX from the United States, Rheinmetall of Germany, and AOS Australia.

Andreas Krieg, a professor of security studies at King’s College London and a former adviser to Qatar’s army, said: “It’s almost endless money. What we are seeing now is likely the biggest spending wave in the history of Gulf defense.”

Bloomberg also wrote: “The Gulf countries no longer want to be customers. There is major strategic pressure for autonomy and building resilience, and part of resilience is building your own production line through joint investment.”

They are seeking joint production and layered systems that can intercept both ballistic missiles and inexpensive drones.