How China Used UAE to Supercharge Its Missiles with U.S, U.K, and French Technology

A stunning new U.S. intelligence report has shaken Washington, revealing that China’s air-to-air missile arsenal has been upgraded using technology from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—channeled through Chinese telecom giant Huawei. While the technology originated in the UAE, it was heavily influenced by Western missile systems, including France’s MICA and the UK’s ASRAAM, giving China access to advanced guidance, targeting, and countermeasure capabilities. This upgrade has reportedly given Chinese fighter jets a longer strike reach than some of America’s own aircraft, marking a troubling twist in the global tech rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

A Covert Tech Pipeline Through the Gulf

According to multiple intelligence sources, the technology originated from G42, a rapidly growing AI and data analytics firm based in Abu Dhabi, backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security chief. The company, already under quiet U.S. scrutiny for its deepening ties with Huawei, allegedly provided dual-use computing and signal processing algorithms that were later adapted by China’s defense industry to enhance the PL-15 and PL-10 air-to-air missiles.

The PL-15, China’s long-range beyond-visual-range missile, is believed to have achieved a 20–30% improvement in range and electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) resistance, making it more capable of striking targets well before U.S. or allied pilots can respond. Similarly, the short-range PL-10 reportedly benefited from refined seeker head algorithms derived from Western missile architectures—notably France’s MICA and the UK’s ASRAAM—technologies to which the UAE has long had access.

Huawei’s Shadow Role

The alleged link between Huawei and G42 is central to Washington’s alarm. U.S. intelligence believes Huawei served as a technical intermediary, channeling hardware and software solutions under the guise of civilian AI collaboration. These included high-speed digital signal processors and machine-learning modules capable of enhancing missile guidance and target discrimination in cluttered environments.

Both Huawei and G42 have denied all accusations, labeling the claims as “politically motivated.” Still, the timing is significant—coming amid renewed scrutiny of China’s military-civil fusion strategy, which blends commercial tech innovation with defense applications.

A Crisis of Trust Between Allies

The revelations have ignited a major policy debate in Washington, where officials are now questioning whether the UAE can still be trusted as a key Gulf partner. The UAE has long balanced relationships with both the U.S. and China, purchasing Western defense systems while simultaneously expanding cooperation in AI, telecommunications, and surveillance technologies with Chinese firms.

Under the Trump administration, U.S. officials reportedly warned the UAE to curb its ties with Chinese entities if it wanted to maintain access to American defense and AI technologies. Those warnings appear to have intensified, as the Commerce Department this week blacklisted over two dozen companies from China, Turkey, and the UAE for allegedly aiding Iran’s military supply networks.

In a rare move, the list also included subsidiaries of U.S.-based Arrow Electronics, suggesting that American-origin components have been re-exported through complex intermediaries. The inclusion of a U.S.-listed firm underscores how deeply globalized tech supply chains have become—and how hard it is for Washington to control the flow of sensitive technologies once they leave American borders.

U.S. Tightens the Screws

The addition of these firms to the Entity List means they are now barred from accessing U.S. components without government approval. According to the Commerce Department, the decision was driven by “violations involving American-made tech used in the support of Iran’s military and its proxies.” But insiders suggest the timing aligns with rising intelligence concerns over UAE-China defense cooperation, particularly through commercial AI platforms that can be repurposed for military applications.

Senior officials have privately warned that this situation could undermine U.S. dominance in air combat, especially as China rapidly modernizes its J-20 stealth fighter fleet, which relies heavily on the PL-15 for long-range engagements. If the missile now exceeds even the AIM-120D AMRAAM in reach and electronic performance, it would mark a strategic shift in aerial balance across the Indo-Pacific.

Beijing’s Silent Advantage

Analysts believe China’s use of UAE-sourced components demonstrates its adaptability in bypassing Western export controls. By leveraging neutral or allied countries’ access to Western technologies, Beijing can reverse-engineer and repackage critical innovations into its own systems. The PL-15’s new capabilities reportedly stem from advanced AI-assisted guidance systems and improved radar data fusion, allowing the missile to lock onto stealth aircraft more effectively and maintain tracking under jamming conditions.

A Diplomatic Tightrope for the UAE

For the UAE, the controversy couldn’t come at a worse time. Abu Dhabi has invested heavily in positioning itself as a global tech and AI hub, courting both U.S. and Chinese investors. G42, once praised for its partnerships with American firms like Microsoft and OpenAI, is now under quiet review by U.S. security agencies for its connections to Huawei’s cloud and data infrastructure.

While UAE officials insist they remain committed to strategic alignment with Washington, this latest leak may strain defense and intelligence cooperation that underpins one of the Middle East’s closest security relationships.

The Bigger Picture

This episode highlights a new frontier in great-power competition—where AI, data analytics, and signal processing are as decisive as tanks or aircraft. The boundaries between civilian and military innovation are blurring, and countries like the UAE—flush with Western tech access and global ambition—are becoming key battlegrounds in the tech war between the U.S. and China.

As one senior U.S. intelligence official reportedly put it:

“It’s not just about who builds the best missiles anymore—it’s about who controls the algorithms that make them smarter.”

If China has indeed leveraged Emirati technology to outpace American missile systems, the implications extend far beyond the South China Sea or Taiwan Strait. It signals that Washington’s own allies may unintentionally be helping its greatest rival gain the upper hand.