Feb 19, 2013
Anti-missile shield, drones and armoured cars as UAE spends Dh5.2bn
An anti-missile system to protect the nation's skies and two of the world's leading reconnaissance drones dominated a day of military deals in the capital yesterday.
As the UAE Armed Forces said it had reached agreements with defence companies worth Dh5.2 billion ($1.41bn), Lockheed Martin unveiled its Diamond Shield system, capable of linking all the UAE's missile arsenal under a single command and control, and intercepting incoming missiles from space to sea skimmers.
Later, Boeing signed a teaming agreement with Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments to operate its Integrator and ScanEagle intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.
The biggest deal signed by the military was with the American military vehicle company Oshkosh, to provide 750 M-ATV vehicles to the UAE Armed Forces in a contract worth Dh1.4bn.
International Golden Group, a defence supplier based in Abu Dhabi, won a Dh722 million contract to supply predator drones to the UAE through a partnership with the United States manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and KBP, a Russian defence company, will supply missiles worth Dh472.7m.
Locally, Tawazun won a deal worth Dh720m to supply laser-guided rockets to the UAE military through a partnership with Roketsan, a Turkish defence company.
At the Al Taif stand there was a full-size cutaway of a tank engine, and a Nimr armoured fighting vehicle with an automatic 20mm cannon; the first to illustrate how the maintenance repair and overhaul company trains technicians to maintain the 700 UAE military vehicles that pass through their sheds every year, and the latter to show their design, and upgrading skills.
Since the Mubadala subsidiary was spun off from the Emirati military in 2006, its workforce has grown to 966 employees across 15 sites, and it is on target for a 40 per cent Emiratisation rate among its technical staff by next year.
Anti-missile shield, drones and armoured cars as UAE spends Dh5.2bn - The National
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Feb 19, 2013
A display screen of Lockheed Martin's DiamondSheild system.
Tawazun unit to manage key reconnaisance drones for Boeing
A deal to operate and support two of Boeing's leading reconnaissance unmanned drone aircraft was signed yesterday by the Tawazun subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments (Adasi).
The deal will team the two companies in a project that will enable Adasi to provide training, support and marketing services for Boeing's ScanEagle and Integrator unmanned aircraft systems in the UAE, with prospects to expand into the Middle East and North Africa region.
"This is an important continuation of our strategy to build innovative aerospace capabilities in the Middle East," Homaid Al Shemmari, the chairman of Adasi said at the signing ceremony at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) in Abu Dhabi.
"Our home-grown expertise coupled with Boeing's technical capabilities in unmanned aircraft systems is a winning combination and is poised to have a significant contribution to the ongoing drive to develop UAE national capabilities within Adasi."
The teaming agreement expands on a previous agreement between Adasi and Insitu, a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary that makes the ScanEagle and Integrator.
Under the deal, Adasi teams will be able to operate and maintain the unmanned aircraft for the UAE military, and for neighbouring allies.
It will also offer training for potential clients from maintenance technicians to the operators who actually "fly" the missions, said Debbie Rub, the vice president of Boeing Military Aircraft.
Adasi will also market the technology from supplying flight hours on ScanEagle and Integrator, operated by an Adasi team, to the sale of actual aircraft and ground equipment, she added.
"This teaming agreement advances Boeing's strategy of partnering with best-in-industry companies such as Adasi," said Ms Rub.
"We plan to continue investing and growing in the UAE and the broader Middle East region in order to support US allies' enduring need for affordable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [ISR] solutions, such as ScanEagle and Integrator."
The 61kg, twin-boomed Integrator has been designed as a follow-on to the ScanEagle, a 20kg unmanned aircraft operated by United States marines and the US navy since 2004.
The new aircraft is designed to carry significantly more payload, and to more easily swap its major sensors. It carries electro-optic and infrared sensors, and a laser rangefinder, and can stay in the air for 24 hours.
It is capable of flying at 4,573 metres and has a maximum speed of 80 knots.
The lighter ScanEagle also has 24-hour endurance, and can climb to 5,944 metres.
"When we first launched ScanEagle, we weren't just launching an aircraft, we were launching a new category of ISR," said an Insitu spokesman.
"The concept behind the platform, to create a system that launches from anywhere, stays on station longer and delivers the highest quality data possible to tactical decision-makers. Since 2004 ScanEagle has provided 24/7/365 operations with worldwide customers.
"We deliver the highest-value ISR capabilities available for both land and maritime missions."
Both the Integrator and ScanEagle share the same catapult launcher and hooking recovery systems.
Adasi is the first UAE-based company to offer clients a comprehensive range of services to cover all types of autonomous systems.
Adasi offers solutions, starting with joint analysis of end-users' needs, through formalisation of their requirements, to equipment selection and procurement.
Adasi also offers product or system design, development, testing and commissioning of localised subsystems and systems, and other engineering solutions, as well as training of customer teams, operational support and systems maintenance.
Boeing's direct involvement with Adasi will also open many opportunities for UAE nationals to develop their knowledge and skills, and gain experience in the management and implementation of ISR programmes.
Tawazun unit to manage key reconnaisance drones for Boeing - The National
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Feb 19, 2013
Philippe Burtin, chairman and chief executive of Nexter stands in front of VBCI,combat armoured infantry carrier.
Tank supplier seeks new deal on UAE troop carriers
The Armed Forces' main battle tanks supplier Nexter Systems are looking to supply 700 combat armoured infantry carriers (VBCIs) to the military.
Nexter Systems has supplied the UAE with 390 of their main battle tanks, the Leclerc MBT, since 1993 and a further 46 Armoured Recovery Vehicles, according to Philippe Burtin, chairman and chief executive of Nexter, a French company.
Nexter was approached by the Armed Forces in 2010 to supply the infantry carriers to replace their current ageing fleet of Russian-made BMP infantry fighting vehicles, Mr Burtin said.
"We have been approached to present 700 vehicles for variant use, ambulance, combat and other uses," Mr Burtin said.
The VBCIs have a high firepower ranging from 25mm and 105mm calibre, a high mobility performance, ballistic protection, protection against rocket propelled grenades and stealth capability with its low radar and thermal signature, according to the company.
"We have been contracted to deliver 630 VBCIs to the French armed forces and we have already delivered 450," Mr Burtin said.
The vehicles, he said, are combat proven and have been in combat operations in Afghanistan, Libya and, most recently, in Mali.
"We have participated in two trials with the Army in the UAE in 2010 and 2011," he said. "We are very confident of the performances it has given and we are hoping for a response soon."
Trials involve the vehicles being exposed to the harshest conditions around the country and rigorous testing by the Armed Forces personnel.
Since 1993, Nexter has been supplying and maintaining the Armed Forces' main battle tanks locally.
"We have a few hundred personnel who maintain and upgrade the tanks and the armoured vehicles," Mr Burtin said. "We have had a very successful relationship that we would like to enhance further."
The chief executive said that in their proposal to the UAE they would like to transfer the technology and help to develop the local defence industry.
"We would like to start building parts of the vehicles in the UAE until we can supply 100 per cent UAE-built VBCIs," he said.
The plan would involve Emirati engineers and workers being involved in the construction of the vehicle and would result in 250 of the 700 troop carriers being 100-per-cent locally made.
"This would give a boost to the local industry and talent," Mr Burtin said.
Tank supplier seeks new deal on UAE troop carriers - The National
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Feb 19, 2013
UAE proudly displays its wares
Abu Dhabi-based Adcom Systems’ general designer and chief executive Ali Al Dhaheri says: "Our manufacturing industries are advanced - Israel and the United States are the only countries who can manufacture similar drones.”
UAE companies' growing confidence in their ability to produce world-leading defence technologies was evident at Idex yesterday.
Large amounts of locally designed or created products were on display to the thousands of delegates and visitors at the event.
Among them were defence technologies from Abu Dhabi-based Adcom Systems, whose general designer and chief executive was bullish in his praise of the company's drones.
"Our manufacturing industries are advanced - Israel and the United States are the only countries who can manufacture similar drones," Ali Al Dhaheri said. "Being able to create drones like them means we are also advanced in this field."
The drones' purpose is to aid in disasters, civil use, border control, traffic control and city control, he added.
"We are peaceful people but the drones can also be used in military services and war zones, hence the addition of the missiles.
"The aircraft is built to certified standards from the United States, so the quality, according to aviation, is very high and is used for long-term aircraft use."
In 24 years, Adcom has progressed from building missiles to developing strategic radars and it now creates unmanned aircrafts and advanced communication systems.
The main products the company has at Idex are unmanned drones that fly to high altitudes, can stay mobile for many hours and carry up to 10 missiles.
The largest drone is called "United 40" as it was created in the 40th year of the union of the UAE, Mr Al Dhaheri said. In the future, he is planning on designing and creating a bigger plane.
"It is a blessed name to a blessed aircraft. This drone can carry up to 10 missiles called "Namrood-1" and can fly 100 hours in the air," he said.
Three smaller drones at the exhibition were designed by Mr Al Dhaheri himself. "I am the general designer of the planes and the founder of the company. Since I have a background in science and technology and I have a passion for these aircraft, I developed my hobby into a profession," he said.
"Many other aircraft are found around the world but the United 40 is the new one and we have potential contracts with seven other countries, from the Gulf, as well as Europe," he said, adding that the company had a contract with the UAE Armed Forces.
Elsewhere at Idex, Abu Dhabi Ship Building was launching a new product. The company is a regional leader that builds and maintains naval and civil ships and was displaying the largest Abu Dhabi-built vessel at the naval and maritime security section of Idex, the 72-metre Baynunah-class corvette.
"This is a multipurpose ship and serves in the regional waters of the UAE," said Mohammed Al Ghas, the company's director of services.
The shipwas design by a French company, a process that took two years. The first one to be fully ready is being showcased at Idex. Four more of the ships will be delivered within the next two years.
The company also makes civilian ships for the UAE coast guard, as well as selling them to other countries worldwide.
"We are the leading company in the UAE and the GCC which is able to build these ships, and we are definitely proud," Mr Al Ghas said.
"We are promoting an industry in our country and if we build the ships, we can maintain them. Also, in hardships, we wouldn't need other countries' help."
Many nationalities were involved in the building of the ships but most were Emirati, Mr Al Ghas said.
"Because of Emiratisation, Emirati managers and helping hands made this ship with high quality. We also have a new maintenance sector now where highly qualified Emiratis provide their services to the navy."
UAE proudly displays its wares - The National
