UAE signs six defence deals worth over Dhs 767m

The United Arab Emirates signed six defence deals worth over Dhs 767m at the Unmanned System Exhibition (UMEX 2016) in Abu Dhabi, it was announced on Sunday.

The deals were signed with international and local companies to help strengthen the country’s unmanned and aerospace defence sector, confirmed chairman of UMEX’s Higher Organising Committee Brigadier General Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi.

Canada-based CAE won a major Dhs 404.8m deal to provide simulation systems, while the International Flight Academy bagged a deal worth Dhs 80.37m to train pilots on Blackhawk aircraft.

Infox Simulation signed a deal worth Dhs 160m, while Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments won a Dhs 62.8m deal to supply spare parts for the Sebar project.

Another Dhs 9.1m deal was awarded to Quebec Simulation Systems to install internal training systems consisting of 20 shooting systems.

Local firm Al Badi also won a Dhs 50m contract to train technicians and operators from Belarus on Volate tanks.

Al-Shamsi stressed that the UAE was focussed on building and developing the unmanned defence sector.

“This technology is very important to acquire and to have the capability to do it yourself is a strategic goal we are trying to reach,” official news agency WAM quoted him as saying.

“The UAE companies we are seeing – like ADASI – ­are part of Abu Dhabi’s vision towards aerospace manufacturing. These companies are part of the leadership’s direction to upgrade the level of manufacturing in the country and to become a hub for the industry in the region,” he added.

UMEX was earlier part of the popular International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) but was delinked to focus specifically on the booming unmanned sector.

“All operations around the world now involve unmanned drones flying somewhere which gives support and enables officials to make better and more precise decisions,” said Al Shamsi.

“We expect more growth for 2018 and we hope to attract even more companies in the sector which also include those that produce sensor equipment like radars, cameras, lasers and all those things required in the manufacturing of unmanned equipment,” he added.