In August 2021, the EU's border agency Frontex awarded contracts worth €100 million to companies in the aircraft and defence & aerospace industry including Airbus, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Elbit Systems Ltd for providing and operating unmanned drones to monitor refugees and migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

According to the Middle East Eye article, the Elbit Systems-operated Hermes 900 drone, as well as the Airbus and IAI-operated Heron drone, have been utilized by the Israeli military in its assaults on the Gaza Strip, implying they can be promoted for border surveillance as "combat proven" equipment.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies singled out in the report by Middle East Eye, featured below, to respond. Airbus has provided the below response, while Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Elbit Systems Ltd did not respond.