English day 4 final · international companies. His Excellency Staff Brigadier-General Rashid...

422 Feb. 2017

UAE Armed Forces inks deals worth more than AED 4 billion on day 3Total business concluded over the past three days valued at over

AED 15 billionContinued on page 2

His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council commissioned Arrilah, a new coastal patrol corvette, into service in the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Pro-tection Authority (CICPA).A commissioning ceremony took place at the quay of NAVDEX 2017, the 4th naval defence and maritime security section of the 13th International Defence Exhibition and Conference, IDEX 2017, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.After he raised the UAE flag on the deck, HH Sheikh Hazza toured the vessel to ex-plore its capabilities.“Sincere congratulations to the command-ers and staff of CICPA on the inauguration of Arrilah at IDEX 2017. It’s a qualitative addition to the authority’s effective work towards further achievements in protect-ing the country and enhancing its secu-rity, stability and civilisational journey,” HH Sheikh Hazza wrote in the guest book placed at the corvette.Sheikh Hazza was welcomed and accom-panied by Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Staff Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of IDEX 2017 and NAVDEX 2017, Major General Ibrahim Salim Mohammad Al Musharkh, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces, Major General Saif Musbah Abdullah Al Musafri, Chief of Operations Authority, and Dr. Khaled Al Mazrouei, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ship Building, and others.

Abu Dhabi Executive Council Deputy Chairman commissions new coastal patrol corvette into service

english issue 4.indd 1 2/21/17 11:09 PM

2 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

Nineteen of the deals are with national companies and the remaining 12 with international companies. His Excellency Staff Brigadier-General Rashid Moham-med Al Shamsi declared the following UAE Armed Forces contracts:An AED 76,494,010 contract with the UAE based company, International Golden Group (IGG), to build the infrastructure for information and communication technol-ogy (ICT). An AED 34,000,000 contract with the Swiss company, Rheinmentall Air Defence to supply technical spare parts, maintenance and repairs of defence systems for the UAE Air Force and UAE Air Defence Force. A contract worth AED 828,261,500 with the American company, Raytheon, to sup-ply the UAE Air Force and UAE Air Defence Force with air-defence system equipment and spare parts. A contract worth AED 36,000,000 with UAE based company Al Jaber to supply the UAE land forces with spare parts. A contract with the UAE based company, Naval Advanced Solutions (NAS), to buy AED 11,243,420 worth of accuracy de-fence systems for the UAE Navy. A contract with Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL), a UAE-based company, for an addi-tional AED 50,000,000 to provide technical and logistical support for all aircrafts. An AED 40,000,000 contract with the UAE based company, Al Masaood, to provide

IDEX 2017 saw a slew of defence deals on the third day, which was worth more than AED 4.075 billion with the total business concluded during the event exceeding AED 15 billion. At a press conference on day three of the 13th edition of the IDEX, His Excellency Staff Brigadier-General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi, Official Spokesperson of IDEX 2017, announced 31 new deals worth AED 4,075,627,554.

UAE Armed Forces inks deals worth more than AED 4 billion on day 3

maintenance and repairs for vehicles. A contract valued at AED 60,000,000 with the Swedish company BAE Systems Bofors AB, to buy hardware for the UAE Navy. An AED 8,934,619 contract with the Brit-ish company Chemring Technology Solu-tions, to buy wireless surveillance systems. A contract with the British company HES-CO Bastion Limited worth AED 67,168,671 to purchase (HESCO) engineering equip-ment. A contract with the American company Harris Corporation Communication Sys-tems for AED 77,129,077 to purchase radio devices and supplementary accessories. An AED 285,000,000 contract with UAE based company Etimad Holding for main-tenance of border security systems and critical infrastructure.A contract with the American company, The Boeing Company, valued at AED 68,685,100 to manage simulations of car-go/freight aircrafts for the UAE Air Force and UAE Air Defence Force. A contract with the German company Blucher GmbH, for AED 164,916,311 to purchase protective body armour and supplementary accessories. A contract valued at AED 87,000,000 with the German company DST Defence Ser-vice Tracks to develop and increase the ef-ficiency of land forces artillery for the UAE Army. A contract valued at AED 16,132,000 with

the Swiss company Solutions Minewolf to buy explosive removal equipment and demining gear.A contract worth AED 10,120,000 with the South African company Paramount to pur-chase 8*8 vehicles. An AED 84,919,811 contract with the Jor-danian company King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) to buy ammunition for the UAE Army.A contract with UAE based company Siham Al Khaleej for AED 226,533,512 to purchase and supply ammunition. A contract worth AED 377,023,553 with UAE based company Abu Dhabi Autono-mous Systems Investments Company (ADASI) to offer Integrated Logistics Sup-port (ILS) for aircrafts.A contract with UAE based company Al Masaood worth AED 54,000,000 to pro-vide technical support.An AED 55,952,000 contract with UAE based company Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons Group to purchase MAN trucks and vehicles for transporting tanks. An AED 5,000,000 with UAE based com-pany Armed Forces Cooperative Society to purchase field targets.A contract worth AED 275,475,000 with UAE based company, CAE Maritime Mid-dle East to buy and install simulations and naval training centre.An AED 277,000,000 contract with UAE based company Bayanat to licenses soft-ware and the production of spatial infor-mation.A contract with UAE based company Al Shammal Military Solutions valued at AED 143,300,000 to train pilots. A contract worth AED 365,351,284 with UAE based company Palms Sports to pro-vide specialised jiu-jitsu and combat train-ing instructors. A contract with UAE based company Ma-trix for AED 114,964,900 to facilitate ship-ping of materials in and out of the country.An AED 96,952,222 contract with UAE based company Emirates Advanced In-vestments Group to purchase spare parts for military equipment.A contract with UAE based company Horizon Flight Academy valued at AED 30,000,000 to train pilots and develop their skills.A contract with UAE based company Atlas Telecom valued at AED 48,070,564 to pur-chase and install aircraft equipment.


3

Greece, UAE share a rare synergy, says ministerPanos Kammenos, the Minister of National Defense, Greece commended the time-tested bilateral relations with the UAE saying his country valued the ties in both civilian and military sectors.Kammenos who was visiting the IDEX, lauded the expo for its scale of organiza-tion and for the profile of visitors it has been drawing over many editions. “I have been here many times, and every year IDEX is getting better. The inaugura-tion ceremony was spectacular. IDEX is im-portant not only because everyone is here but also due to the number of high profile visitors you get to meet,” he told the Na-tion Shield in an exclusive interview.“HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, visited our stand,” he said adding that IDEX provided a unique

opportunity to to contact all major inter-national players in defence, from America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. “The future of IDEX is bright. It will be the center of the defense field and the UAE is becoming the hub for all major activities in the defense and technology sector. “Greece and the UAE share a longstanding history. We have been together for long, we cooperate on many issues, we fight together, and we train together, “ he said.“Our army, navy and special forces cooper-ate with each other. We exchange military

and defense technology and intelligence. We support each other at all times and share a close friendship.“We have tourist exchanges too. Also we cooperate in shipping. We have a common interest in the upgradation of F-16s. The synergy we share is excellent,” he added“We collaborate in training exercises with the UAE Armed Forces. We exchange train-ing programs in our academies. The new technology of F-35 and training programs are another area where we can work to-gether,” the minister said.

Panos Kammenos, the Minister of National Defense, Greece, talks to Nation Shield’s Editorial Manager


4 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

Lockheed Martin offers many opportunities at IDEX in missile defence

“We help the UAE become a hub for advanced robotic and automated manufacturing systems”

Rick Edwards, Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Con-trol, says his company is looking forward to discussions with leaders and customers at IDEX to promote and nurture emerging partnerships with countries in the region.“The IDEX exhibition has continued to grow as an important global venue for the defense and aerospace industry over the past 15 years, at the same time the UAE has increased its influence as a prominent partner in the world industry,” he said in an interview with Nation Shield.Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Con-trol (MFC) segment is a recognised de-signer, developer and manufacturer of precision engagement aerospace and de-fense systems for the U.S. and allied mili-taries and has business in more than 50 countries with more than 50 product and service lines.“Lockheed Martin comes to IDEX with many business opportunities under devel-opment both in the UAE and throughout the Middle East. These include integrated air and missile defense opportunities, potential new military aircraft sales, ex-pansion of our new energy business, our state-of-the-art fire control systems and others,” he said. Edwards said the nations of the Middle East are clearly important participants in government-to-government agreements that exist to strengthen global security and serve mutual interests both in the realms of defense and commerce. “The UAE and other nations in the region also face many challenges that our Corpo-

ration can help address through a wide range of technologies and programmes to be implemented within those govern-mental agreements. Historically, some of Lockheed Martin’s most innovative and successful international partnerships have been accomplished in this region and with the UAE. We are very proud of our track record with programmes and partnerships in the region,” he said.He said Lockheed Martin and the Swedish technology company Exechon formed a new joint venture with a local company, Injaz National, last year in Abu Dhabi. This joint venture, Exechon Enterprises, manu-factures an advanced robot machining tool, the XMini, made of carbon fiber. “Our goal is for the joint venture to help support the UAE becoming a hub for ad-vanced robotic and automated manufac-turing systems. The machine on display

“Lockheed Martin comes to IDEX with many business opportunities including integrated air and missile defense opportunities and potential new military aircraft sales.”

at IDEX was assembled in Abu Dhabi and is the first such machine locally made,” he added.Referring to key partnerships of Lockheed Martin in the UAE, he said his company has a history of successful, wide-ranging partnerships in the UAE. “For instance, last year we launched a space-based workforce-training program with the UAE Space Agency and Mubadala to develop emerging leaders in the UAE space indus-try. In 2014, we celebrated the opening of a state-of-the-art collaboration center in Masdar City to explore innovation and advance security. Additionally, in 2011, Lockheed Martin joined the Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Centre (AMMROC) joint venture and also conducted educational programmes with schools and universities in the UAE.”

Rick Edwards, Executive Vice President ofLockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control



6 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

Serdar Görgüç, Otokar General Manager, said that Otokar had established ‘Otokar Land Systems Limited’ in the United Arab Emirates in 2016 to strengthen export ac-tivities of Otokar.He said, “Today, 30,000 military vehicles we have developed for different needs are being used on five continents in over 30 countries. Otokar Land Systems will be our driving force in our regional expansion, es-pecially in the Gulf countries.”Görgüç expressed that IDEX is an impor-tant exhibition in terms of increasing co-operation in the region. He said, “IDEX ex-hibition, which we are participating in for the eighth time, is especially significant for us. In 2016, we established a new com-pany titled Otokar Land Systems Limited in Masdar City Free Zone in the United Arab Emirates to strengthen our position as one of the world’s leading players in the defence industry. With Otokar Land Sys-tems, we will be closer to our users in re-gions where we operate. By following the export activities more closely, we intend to strengthen our cooperation abroad, especially in the Gulf region, open to new markets and increase our sales.” He added, “The success of Otokar’s ar-moured vehicles was also a reference for

new orders. In 2016, we completed the deliveries of armoured vehicles ordered in 2015 by different countries. Last year, a Gulf country client with URAL armoured vehicles already in its inventory placed a new order for URAL because of the ve-hicle’s successful performance. We will complete these URAL deliveries within this year. On the other hand, we signed the first export contract for COBRA II with a South Asian country. The vehicles are expected to take part in United Nations Peacekeeping operations. As the deliver-ies continued, user tests of Otokar vehicles in different geographies were conducted throughout the year in our target mar-kets, North Africa and Gulf countries. The testing activities that involved mobility in challenging desert conditions and live firing tests have proved the suitability of our vehicles for the hot climate and geo-graphical conditions.”

Technology investments continue to growExplaining that Otokar continued to in-vest in new technologies with increasing demand for armoured vehicles, Görgüç also noted that a total of 269 patent ap-

plications, utility models and industrial design applications, including 37 indus-trial designs, have been filed for the prod-ucts and subsystems in the last decade. Görgüç said that Otokar continues with its investments to provide fast and quality re-sponse to the demands from the defence industry, “The Otokar R&D centre, one of Europe’s leading facilities, is equipped with simulators, testing equipment and the latest information systems to create and evaluate information for the purpose of testing the manufactured vehicles fast-er and with higher technology. Otokar’s test centre featuring a climate controlled test chamber with dynamometer, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC / EMI) testing qualification, also serves as an in-dependent accreditation centre for de-fence industry’s R&D activities.”In 2016 Otokar was awarded with the in-ternationally recognized accreditation certificate for its mine testing equipment, considered one of the world’s most ad-vanced for defence industry products, bal-listic laboratories, and ballistic and mine tests, and the IAS (International Accredi-tation Service) has confirmed the labora-tory’s compliance with ISO / IEC 17025: 2005 standards.

Otokar is now closer to its users in the Gulf Region

Otokar, Turkey’s largest private defence industry company, is exhibiting four vehicles at the show. The vehicles include COBRA II, KAYA II, ARMA 6x6, as well as the new generation tracked ar-moured vehicle TULPAR-S Person-nel Carrier version, which is being presented for the first time in the region. The company is also shar-ing information about the world’s modern main battle tank, ALTAY, with visitors.


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DarkMatter, the international cyber security firm headquar-tered in the UAE, is debuting its capabilities targeting the Defence sector at the show. The company is launching its RF Jamming solutions, and Command, Control & Monitoring plat-forms, while for the first time showcasing the extension of its Cyber Network Defence, Big Data & Analytics, and Secure Com-munications capabilities for the Defence sector.

DarkMatter unveils tailored cyber security offerings

DarkMatter is also highlighting how its Test and Validation Labo-ratories, Crypto, Managed Security Services, and Infrastructure & Systems Integration capabilities are all working in unison to fur-ther heighten national security.In the modern era, it is becoming abundantly clear that cyber defences are an important facet of nations’ overall national secu-rity posture. Thus security is no longer being defined by just the number of infantry or physical weapons a military establishment has, but rather the access to digital information, and the ability to protect that information from others who might look to use it to inflict harm. Given this paradigm shift in the concept of military and national defence, countries around the world are investing heavily in cyber capabilities in order to keep their national institutions and sys-tems protected from infiltration.Helping build DarkMatter’s cyber security capabilities in the De-fence sector is Hisham Fadel, Yahsat and General Dynamics veter-an, who has been appointed as DarkMatter’s Senior Vice President of Special Projects. For over 15 years, Hisham was responsible for leading engineering, strategy, procurement, sales, and business activities to military and governmental entities. He now advises DarkMatter’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer on cyber secu-rity related issues, and identifies and progresses new technology and business ideas. Commenting on the growing importance of the critical role that cyber security plays in the Defence sector, Faisal Al Bannai, Found-er and CEO of DarkMatter said, “It is abundantly clear that robust cyber security defences are becoming as important to national security as standing armies and military hardware, if not more so. The expansion of DarkMatter’s capabilities into this strategically significant area builds on our outlook to secure nations, enter-prise, and individuals from cyber threats in order to establish an overall standard of national cyber resilience and safety.” Al Bannai continued, “We are pleased to welcome Hisham to the team. His extensive experience in the military and telecommuni-cations space both in the Middle East and the US will be highly useful at DarkMatter as we expand our activities in the Defence sector further.”DarkMatter will continue to rely on its industry-leading interna-tional cyber experts who develop, manage and deploy the most

innovative and comprehensive range of cyber security technolo-gies, products and services to deliver the requirements of the de-fence sector.Hisham Fadel, Senior Vice President of Special Projects at Dark-Matter said, “My appointment is a great opportunity to continue developing solutions that protect and enhance the working of critical infrastructure. DarkMatter’s mission to secure nations in order to safeguard peace and security is an important one, and I look forward to actively contributing to achieving it.”

Hisham Fadel, Senior Vice Presidentof Special Projects at DarkMatter


8 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

Raytheon Company is featuring its ad-vanced capabilities in air and missile de-fense, border security, and land and naval systems among a wide range of innova-tive solutions, at the show. Plus, the com-pany is also celebrating three decades of its partnership with the UAE.John D. Harris II, Chief Executive Officer, Raytheon International, told Nation Shield, “I am proud to say that we are now cel-ebrating our 30th year in the UAE. It has been a long and meaningful relationship and has grown over the years. It had very humble beginnings with our Hawk con-tract back in 1987 and we are proud to say that we have replaced Hawk with Pa-triot and in addition to that have grown as a provider from one customer to nine customers in the Emirates and provide a broad range of capabilities.”At the show, Raytheon is focusing on their core competencies and are showcasing

their integrated defense capabilities, pre-cision targeting and precision weapons, cyber capabilities, and training capabili-ties, among others. They are also showcas-ing their command and control capabili-ties, although it is by invitation only. Harris highlighted, “It’s a great partnership especially at IDEX because you get to see everyone. During the course of the show I have met with the highest levels of the Armed Forces here. And in each and every case they are grateful for the partnership and they always ask for what else can we do. This is because they are in a very chal-lenging environment and want to figure out how they can leverage more of our ca-pability to help them to be safe and secure in their missions.”According to Harris, the UAE figures very prominently in the company’s plans. “It has remained a very strong partner and because of our past performance and

our commitment to doing the right thing every single time, we have the privilege of enjoying their support. The UAE remains a very important partner to us and as a con-sequence we bring our resources to give them what they need,” he added.“I have told people in the past and main-tain that IDEX is the best way to start the year,” Harris said. “At the show, you are not only seeing GCC customers, but we also see global customers because they come here. So far I have met with representa-tives from European as well as Far East countries. IDEX remains a centre of excel-lence and we intend to continue to come to the event. For me it is a highlight of the year.”When asked about future plans, Harris ex-plained that at the global level Raytheon intends to grow between three to five per cent. “We intend to continue to grow interna-tionally. We will continue to make invest-ments in our technologies and partner with nations and companies to bring new products and solutions. You will see us continue to pursue opportunities not only alone but teamed with other companies.” One example of their longstanding part-nership in the UAE is with Abu Dhabi Ship Building and they also have a co-develop-ment programme with Tawazun. He said, “Those are two very important opportuni-ties and programmes that have provided proven capabilities to the Armed Forces and we will continue to do that.”Harris concluded by saying, “I am excited about being here at IDEX, I am always pleased with the chance to meet with the decision makers and to also meet with partners. I am really excited about the stand we have here as it showcases all we do as a company. It’s a kick off of our 30th anniversary with the UAE and it is an excit-ing time.”

“IDEX remains a centre of excellence”

John D. Harris II, Chief Executive Officer, Raytheon International, Inc. talks to Nation Shield about the company’s three decades of partnership with the UAE

A contract worth AED 828,261,500 with Raytheon has been signed to supply the UAE Air Force and UAE Air Defence Force with air-defence system equipment and spare parts, at the show.


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12 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

Jennifer Christiansen, Vice President, Busi-ness Development Operations, Oshkosh Defense, told Nation Shield, “We are show-casing our M-ATV family of vehicles. The vehicle we have on display here is called M-ATV Assault variant. It is an extendable M-ATV that can hold up to 11 troops. There is a lot of interior volume that we have added and the vehicle is also configurable into five variants.”The different variants of the vehicle in-clude the utility, command and control, the assault, and the patrol variant for spe-cial-forces. Plus, it’s an all-terrain vehicle and has a very high capability suspension system that allows it to travel off road and achieve many missions. “The vehicle that we are showcasing here

Oshkosh Defense vehicles serve a full spectrum of military and security missions

is fully integrated so it has a full suite of C4ISR in the vehicle,” said Christiansen. “Also, we are showcasing a very modern weapon system called the Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP), from Moog. What’s unique about is it that it has multiple systems built in to launch a jave-lin and can shoot both at long and short range. So it’s a very sophisticated weap-ons system that we have integrated into the vehicle.”She highlighted that although the M-ATV was on display at the previous edition of IDEX, this year what is new is that the com-pany is showing how the weapon system and all of the C4ISR is integrated. “There has been a lot of interest for the ve-hicle, especially for the extended wheel-base M-ATV as it is longer and has more troop holding capacity so they can either put more equipment in the vehicle or more troops. That additional interior vol-ume is driving a lot of interest with our in-ternational customers,” she added. Exceptional off-road mobilityOshkosh is also displaying its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), which has been chosen by the U.S. military to replace Hummer Humvees. It has exceptional off-road mobility and an independent sus-pension system, which allows it to travel 70 per cent faster off road. Another impor-tant feature of the JLTV is the network ar-

chitecture, which is called Net-Ready.Christiansen highlighted, “It allows the ve-hicle to serve as a command and control center, and all of the integration needed for plugging in radios and surveillance systems is built into the backbone of the vehicle. So in some ways you can say it is a computer on wheels. The vehicle on dis-play here is fully integrated with the weap-ons system.”Furthermore, the company offers a full spectrum of training, spare parts and training kits. “So when our customers buy our vehicles they have a very robust sup-port infrastructure ready for them. We like to be the easy button for our customers,” she added.Currently, Oshkosh is doing the Low Rate Initial Production for the JLTV for the United States. According to Christiansen, there is a lot of interest in the vehicle and they are hoping to take orders for the JLTV, which will be delivered in the late part of 2018, which is when the U.S. Government plans to achieve the Full Rate Production milestone. Christiansen concluded by saying, “IDEX is our most important international show. We work with a lot of customers in the Middle East and have been serving the market for over 30 years. And there is a lot of interest in the region for the M-ATV and the JLTV as they serve different missions.”

Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation com-pany, is showcasing its MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV), the U.S. military’s JLTV solution, at booth 02-B11.

Jennifer Christiansen, Vice President, Business Development Operations, Oshkosh Defense


13

BAE Systems wants to partner with UAE in space missions

With the world class systems and expertise, BAE Systems can give a major lift to UAE’s space ambitions

The UAE is on the threshold of being a space power from the Middle East and BAE Systems can provide expertise and equipment to help UAE realize its space ambitions, according to Gregory Knapp, Manager, Business Develop-ment, ISR Solutions at BAE systems.

“The biggest thing we can do is that with our proven mission performance and re-liability, we can help the UAE succeed in its space projects. We have a track record of having delivered over 900 space com-puters and over 300 satellites with a com-bined operational life of over 5000 years. That definitely puts us in a position to

partner UAE in this segment,” he said in an interview with Nation Shield.Knapp said he was excited with the op-portunity IDEX gives BAE systems to showcase its multipurpose microproces-sors and space computers as well as other systems. Among the products are BAE’s family of radiation hardened computer

There is no com-pany that has more radiation hardened micro-computers and systems experi-ence on Mars than BAE Systems.”

products which are popular with satellite makers the world over. “The most impor-tant thing is that with over 35 years of ex-perience in this, the quality level we go to, to make these systems reliable in all the harsh environment in space is unmatched. So our customers are really looking for our very sturdy products for their critical space missions.”He noted that the UAE, in the last couple of years, has undertaken major initiatives in space including announcing a UAE mission to Mars and the signing of a sig-nificant Outer Space, Aeronautics Coop-eration Agreement with NASA. “I think UAE can collaborate with BAE systems in a number of ways by using BAE Systems products in its space projects including Mars Mission. Every Mars mission in the last 20 years has invariably flown a BAE Systems product.He said BAE Systems could consider joint ventures with UAE with long term intent as a key component of the UAE’s effort is a focus on developing in-country space mission capabilities. He said BAE systems had core strengths in radio frequency sys-tems, antenna design, synthetic aperture radar processing, and mapping software. “We definitely believe we can be strong partner for the UAE in its space missions sharing capabilities and expertise. Regard-ing joint collaborations, in fact, we are open to preliminary discussions with the UAE in this regard.“In addition to the computers and chips, we have a number of sensors useful in a variety of space applications. I think there is focus on Mars for UAE.


14 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

What are Boeing’s goals and priorities for the Middle East this year?

We are here to highlight Boeing’s robust and diverse product line delivering trans-formational strike, surveillance, mobility, support and communication systems. In addition, we’re committed to our partner-ships in the Middle East that support re-gional plans for economic diversification and efforts to become an aerospace hub.

We will continue to foster Boeing’s ongo-ing commitment to partnership across the region and showcase Boeing’s products and roles in humanitarian and peacekeep-ing missions. We also want to reinforce that the Middle East region is a critical, strategic market for Boeing’s international growth. Boeing is working closely with Arab governments and defense forces to take a key role in enhancing safety and se-curity in the Middle East.

Why is it important for Boeing to be present at IDEX?

International sales currently represent roughly 37 per cent of Boeing Defense, Space & Security’s business and we see continued opportunities for growth, particularly in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific regions. We continue to work closely with the United Arab Emirates and other government and defense forces in the region who are present at IDEX, and play a key role in enhancing security in the region. We are committed to long-term

Boeing’s robust portfolio on display

partnerships and to being a good corpo-rate citizen. This is fundamental to Boe-ing’s philosophy.

What are you exhibiting this year at IDEX?

We are excited to be exhibiting many of Boeing’s innovations and advanced ca-pabilities that meet the security and mis-sion requirements of our partner coun-tries in the Middle East. Our services and sustainment capabilities in the region are second-to-none with regard to the C-17 Globemaster III, AH-64D Apache, and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. We are also high-lighting the AH-6i, Multi-Role Fighters (F-15, F/A-18), and ScanEagle / Integrator UAV’s, which are all key platforms in the Gulf region.

How have you seen the show evolve over the past years and how important do you think it is for the Middle East?

IDEX has evolved into a very significant de-fense and security trade show for the Mid-dle East. It is becoming one of the most strategically important tri-service defense exhibitions in the world. IDEX provides us with the opportunity to showcase the lat-est products and services across the land, sea and air sectors of defense. It is a unique venue to establish and strengthen rela-tionships with government departments, industry and armed forces throughout the region.

What kind of trends do you see emerg-ing in the defense industry that we

might see at this year’s IDEX?

Customers around the world demand val-ue in defense and security products. In ad-dition to the right capabilities, they need the right training at the right price and they’re interested in the long-term oppor-tunities for services and support for these products. Boeing is committed to devel-oping affordable solutions for customers that meet their needs now and into the fu-ture. At the same time we are looking for opportunities to partner with local indus-tries and create sustained relationships as we grow our global business.

What are the effects of lower oil prices and defense procurement in the Middle East?

While the price of oil has become more stable, the long-term effects may have not been fully realized. There is still a high demand for Boeing products for humani-tarian and security missions throughout the world. Boeing will continue to moni-tor these price fluctuations and the effects they may have on our customers.

What is the status of the fighter sales to Qatar and Kuwait?

In the coming months, Boeing will work with the U.S. Government and both coun-tries to finalize the agreements. These sales, which include F-15E Strike Eagles for Qatar and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets for Ku-wait are an important part of the future of Boeing’s fighter lines.

Dennis Swanson, Vice President, Global Marketing for Defense, Space & Security (BDS) leads a marketing team spanning 40 offices around the world that support business growth. Global Marketing responsibilities include leading customer engage-ments for all of BDS, cultivating customer partnerships for the future as well as ongoing activities related to program execu-tion and product sustainment. Excerpts from the interview.


15

The OXE Diesel outboard engine is setting new standards for durability, fuel efficiency, and emissions. It fulfills the NATO’s “single fuel” directive and is an ideal solution for naval, military, rescue and commercial applications. Diesel is less flammable fuel and therefore safer to work with in hazardous environments. Robust design and crash stop capability leads to safe operation in fierce conditions. The OXE Diesel is designed to be safe in any environment, and still offers emission levels that comply with: EPA TIER 3, IMO TIER 2, and RCD. The reduction in fuel consumption and hydrodynamically optimised lower housing significantly increases range and allows for extended operational time between refueling and considerably reduces fuel costs. The OXE consumes 42 per cent less fuel than a comparable modern 200HP 2-stroke outboard. Cimco Marine, the manufacturer behind OXE, has further extended the availability of the outboard engine by naming Exalto Emirates as the exclusive regional distributor in early 2015. Exalto Emirates has been in this market for over 20 years and distributes an array of electrical and mechanical parts and equipment from over 70 international manufacturers. From three locations in the UAE and a dedicated service center Exalto Emirates is supplying throughout the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent as well as providing installation and troubleshooting support, technical advice and commissioning services to their customers throughout the region.You can see the Oxe outboards displayed at the Exalto Emirates stand C-006, as well as demonstrated on several vessels in the water.

Boeing continues growth in international training portfolio

Reflecting continuing momentum in its international training business, Boeing has received a two-year, $18.7 million contract from the UAE to provide C-17 Globemaster III logistics support and training simulator maintenance. Boeing will support the UAE’s inventory of realistic, motion-based training devices used to train aircrews and support personnel for the country’s fleet of airlifters. Boeing originally designed and delivered the simulators and has previously supported C-17 training for the UAE. This most recent award is the first standalone prime contract for Boeing to perform this work. “With this new UAE contract, Boeing will continue training the Emirati C-17 students through each phase of their careers,” said Larry Sisco, C-17 training program manager.In addition to the UAE, Boeing provides C-17 training to India, United Kingdom and NATO’s Strategic Airlift Capability. Boeing is unique in its ability to tailor its training devices and course materi-als to each customers’ specific C-17 fleet.

OXE Diesel: Designed to be safe in any environment


16 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

DCNS is a French state-controlled military shipbuilder, partially owned by Thales. It’s history dates back to the 17th century when Louis XIII ordered the construction of naval dockyards to strengthen France’s maritime power. Today DCNS’ presence stretches across the world from Malaysia to Egypt, and Brazil to India with DCNS serving the strategic missions of over 50 navies. The shipbuilder’s relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) goes back to the 1980s when DCNS began do-ing business with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Jean-Luc Thouvenel, GCC Regional Del-egate, addressed some of the challenges which the GCC militaries are facing and

how DCNS is serving them. “The main challenge is the size of young navies. Those young navies have embarked on major new developments because they have new threats to address and they must have new ships to put at sea. At the same time, they must train, modernize the education of their crews, and recruit a new generation. It’s a major challenge because human resources in this part of the world have limits in numbers. That’s why propos-ing a ship with a limited size of basic crew to put the ship at sea is a major asset for us.” According to Thouvenel, IDEX is an ab-solute must for DCNS and others in the global defense industry. “It’s a major ex-

hibition. We are meeting customers from all over the world. We have been partici-pating for at least 15 years and each year we see more participation. The quality of meetings we have with UAE and other countries’ officials underscores the inter-est in this exhibition. We are here to con-vince customers of the importance of buy-ing DCNS.”

IDEX 2017 is “mandatory” for France’s DCNS

Al Marakeb Boat Manufacturing Company Announces Agreement with Dubai Civil Defense

Al Marakeb Boat Manufacturing Company confirmed an agreement with Dubai Civil Defense to initiate a project to provide them with an Unmanned Surface Vessel.

Al Marakeb confirmed to signing a Memo-randum of Understanding (MOU) with Dubai Civil Defense to provide them with a fire fighting vessel which can be operat-ed remotely in an environment that would be difficult or dangerous for conventional approaches.

Dubai Civil Defense has been on the search for a firefighting system that has fast re-sponse and is easy to maneuver, while Al Marakeb is in the business of providing the technology to serve this purpose. The vessel will be capable of fighting fires being operated from the Al Marakeb’s

Ground Control Station which can receive visual images from the USV in normal, low light or nil visibility.This announcement follows Al Marakeb’s participation at IDEX/NAVDEX 2017 where their pavilion showcases both the B10, a 10 meter USV and the Ground Control Station (GCS), a fully functioning room for the purpose of operation controls of an unmanned boat or fleet, built within a 20 feet container.Business Development Manager Mubarak Ahmed Buosaibah said, “We are very proud to present this agreement with Dubai Civil Defense, an entity that is al-ways seeking the latest and most ad-vanced technologies and are particularly excited to take on this project.” He added, “As a local company, it’s always a priority to serve our nation.” Major General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Directorate General of the Dubai Civil Defense said, “This agreement enlists the expertise of Al Marakeb Company to de-velop the fire extinguishing services of the Dubai Civil Defense and to increase the speed of responses for marine accidents. We seek to eliminate the human factor, and we look forward to seeing this hap-pen with the implementation of this col-laboration with Al Marakeb in the near future, exclusively for Dubai.”


17

Rafale’s F3R standard due to enter service next year

Dassault Aviation and its partners are cur-rently developing the F3R standard which will significantly increase the Rafale’s of-fensive/defensive capabilities for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. Due to be delivered to the French Air Force and French Navy in 2018, the F3R standard will include the Meteor missile, the Talios new generation targeting pod, an IFF Mode 5, a transponder Mode S, an improved GPS and a fully automated AGCAS (Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System). Nu-merous current systems will be improved too, including the Spectra electronic war-fare suite and the RBE2 electronic scan-ning radar.With the advent of the ramjet-propelled Meteor, Rafale aircrews will have the reach to defeat any known and future threats

in all weathers: fighters, AWACS, tank-ers, UCAVs, helicopters and even stealth cruise missiles. The futuristic ramjet pro-pulsion system provides the missile with the thrust needed to engage hostiles at unprecedented ranges, at very high or very low levels. To destroy the biggest air targets, the missile is fitted with a power-ful blast fragmentation warhead triggered by either impact or proximity fuses. Its advanced, long-range active radar seeker will prove extremely difficult to jam and decoy. When used in conjunction with a Rafale fitted with an AESA (Active Elec-tronically Scanned Array) radar, the Me-teor will prove to be the most lethal air-to-air weapon anywhere.The Talios targeting pod and its new gen-eration of high-performance, high-reso-

Thanks to the Rafale’s open architecture, new soft-ware releases or upgrades are introduced every two years on average to avoid obsolescence and boost operational efficiency, all the aircraft already in the inventory being updated to the latest version thanks to the plug-and-play concept adopted to ease configuration and fleet management.

lution sensors will offer Rafale aircrews new capabilities, allowing them to pre-cisely identify pinpoint targets at stand-off ranges, day and night, in severe weather conditions. Thales engineers have used the latest technologies to boost the op-erational efficiency of the Talios, notably in demanding close air support scenarios in urban environment, a traditionally chal-lenging milieu.With the entry into service of the F3R standard, the Rafale will be ideally equipped for air dominance missions and for precision strikes. The omnirole fighter will become an even more lethal asset that will stand ready to perform the whole spectrum of defensive and offensive mis-sions, from land bases or from the deck of a carrier.

Photo credit: © Dassault Aviation - A. Pecchi


18 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

A highlight on their stand is the com-pany’s Palletized Weapons System (PaWS) offered by Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group. The PaWS is a rapidly reconfigurable roll-on/roll-off gun sys-tem for medium- to heavy-lift aircraft. The system includes enhanced electro-optical/infrared targeting sensors and a trainable 30 mm MK44 Bushmaster® Chain Gun®. Other highlights include the company’s precision guidance kits (PGK) for artillery and mortars, Hatchet (a miniature precision glide weapon), the complete Bushmaster® line of Chain Guns® and automatic cannons that support 7.62 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm applications. The company will also display its full line of small-, medium- and large-caliber ammuni-tion.Also on display are the company’s inno-vative line of customized special mis-sion aircraft and weaponized gunships that provide allied nations with intelli-gence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. The company also will dis-play its ability to provide defensive air capabilities with the ShotFinder Acous-tic Threat Warning System and the AAR-47 Missile Warning System and flares. Orbital ATK’s Space Systems Group is one of the world’s preeminent satellite technology providers, offering a broad portfolio of products for international, military, civil and commercial space customers around the world.

The “Sultan Rifle” was manufactured by the best designing teams of professionals and international experts in the field of assault rifles. The Armed Forces was contracted to supply more than 80.000 Rifles under the name of CAR816. This Rifle was displayed with the same specifications by the new title of “Sultan” with the addition of an engraved logo of the name “Sultan”. The Martyr Colonel Sultan Mohamed Bin Hu-wiedan Al Ketbi, was the highest military rank to participate in the military opera-

tions in Yemen and Caracal’s decision to name one of its rifles after him is an honor.The new Caracal rifle named after the martyr Sultan Mohamed Bin Huweidan Al kitbi, Is the CAR 816 and it is a center-fire, gas operated, and rotating bolt system as-sault rifle, chambered in NATO 5.56 x 45. The CAR 816 is an assault rifle designed for the high-end use of law enforcement and military applications. The weapon is available in semi-automatic and select fire configurations.

Caracal International, an EDIC com-pany, has decided to announce the “Sultan Rifle” in honor of the martyr Sultan Mohamed Bin Huweidan Al Ketbi. The martyr bravely passed away in the line of duty while taking part in the Arab Coalition’s Opera-tion “Restoring Hope in Yemen”.

Orbital ATK shows wide range of defense, aerospace and space capabilities

Orbital ATK is showcasing a variety of de-fense products, services and integration ca-pabilities at the show.

Honouring martyr Sultan Mohamed Bin Huwiedan Al Ketbi


19

Al Hosn Armored Systems, a subsidiary of Tawazun Holding, announced a new project to produce ‘Armored Room, an in-novative protection solution for (troops, personnel, etc.).The “Armored Room” will be designed and built to international standard specifica-tions with the possibility for re-sizing ac-cording to customer’s needs and uses.Al Hosn which was officially launched at the International Exhibition of National Security and Resilience, held in Abu Dhabi in 2015, specializes in production of ballis-tic vests and protection solutions. The company’s key operations focus on the development, production, import and export of protection solutions. It also pro-duces stand-alone hard plates, which are entirely developed and tested in the UAE. The technology used by the company could also be utilized to armor and protect light and heavy vehiclesAl Hosn’s flagship product is a protective sheet for individuals against lead, which the company uses for various products, and most importantly the ability to stop third level bullet ++ by the US measure NIJ 0101.04. Al Hosn products are made to withstand humidity and high temperatures, us-ing ceramic with hybrid materials during manufacturing as well as polymers to en-sure best performance.Commenting on these recent develop-ments, Al Hosn General Manager, Eng. Mohammed Al Tenaiji said, “Over the last two years, since Al Hosn Armored Systems was established, we have been actively involved in researching and producing products that are in high demand in the local, regional and international markets.” “Our team have worked tirelessly to have in place state of the art armory and protec-tive gear that ensure safety and protection of all who use our products. The Armored Room is the latest creation for Al Hosn and we intend to create more products like this in order for Al Hosn to be specialized in the defense market ensuring that we stand out, not only regionally but globally as well,” added Al Tunaiji.

Al Hosn Reveals Latest “Armored Room”

Atlas Telecom, a full service communi-cations technology integration and se-curity solutions company, is throwing the spotlight on its newest and most advanced range of Vessel Identification System (VIDS) solutions during their participation at the show. The company, which also serves as the regional tech-nology arm of veteran UAE telecommu-nications firm Atlas Group, is sharing the new breakthrough range of solutions’ key advantages and benefits, while also highlighting its significance in the ef-forts to enhance coastal surveillance and protection of UAE and GCC marine territories. According to the company’s senior ex-ecutives, Atlas Telecom’s participation

Atlas Telecom launches breakthrough coastal surveillance and protection systems for UAE and GCC Security authorities

at this year’s IDEX proves to be both timely and strategic as the launch of the ground-breaking VIDS will help address the need for a strategic all-to solution for local coastal protection and con-stant monitoring of naval territories. The complete network infrastructure of VIDS includes key software and infrastruc-ture like radars, long range cameras, E-Passport trackers, location & correlation servers and command & control systems. With the use of VIDS, Atlas Telecom high-ly contributes to the UAE’s move to in-crease maritime domain awareness and improve naval security measures, which is an important element to national se-curity.


20 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

A world leader in Electronic Defence Equipment (EW), Elettronica says its family of mobile stations for ELINT activity (ELT-888) owed its huge success in the region to their experience with UAE customers in the ground segment, says the President and CEO, Enzo Benigni. “We developed the product based on con-crete operational needs and that gave us the chance to establish trust-based coop-eration and very solid product improve-ment policies all along the life cycle. The combination of customer knowledge with Elettronica’s high-end technology led to the very successful solution currently in operation,” Benigni told Nation Shield in an interview.“For more than half a century Elettronica has successfully developed strategic and tactical Electronic Warfare capabilities for a broad range of platforms. Beyond the variety of EW solutions we can provide, I think our greatest strength lies in the true partnership relations we have been able to establish with customers. He said Elettronica is finding ways to in-crease the value it adds to the process, especially through our ability to deliver integrated, turn-key solutions. “We export to over 28 countries worldwide. That kind of success depends on the ability to truly place the customer at the core of our pro-cesses,” he said.On electronic systems for search, intercep-tion, analysis, identification and localisa-

Elettronica: Offering integrated solutions in electronic defence

tion of electromagnetic emissions (ESM/ELINT), Benigni said his company has provided ESM/Elint solutions for fighters and other aircraft, ships, submarines and special vehicles. He added, “We’ve recently validated a new capability called SEI (Spe-cific Emitter Identification) that enables new Customer features for surveillance of any type of communication and radar emissions.”Benigni said Elettronica’s EW counter-measure systems (ECM) has especially dis-tinguished itself in the ECM area. “We‘ve developed our own solid state technology and are certainly leading the jammer mar-ket in global competition. Our jammers combine advanced technology with sys-tem engineering capabilities offering truly excellent transmitted power, threat man-agement and installation features.”Referring to Elettronica’s key strengths in avionics, he said: “Our avionics products are at the cutting edge of the EW mar-

ket. We’ve developed solutions able to live in the most demanding environmen-tal conditions as well complex scenarios from an electromagnetic standpoint. Key strengths lie in our proprietary technolo-gies and in our engineering system capa-bilities. The first aspect leads to compact and reliable solutions, vital factors in avi-onics. The second means our products can be fully integrated in all mission and avionic systems, while tailored to the most demanding operational requirements.Referring to Elettronica’s range of techni-cal solutions like MAW Tx, RF Source etc., he said: “We are delivering our equipment to a global fleet now numbering around 600 platforms, with hundred of thousands of operational hours and deployment in wide range of geographical areas. These technical solutions have become building blocks for a capabilities portfolio that is to-day our winning factor for all of Elettroni-ca’s customers.”

Elettronica President and CEO, Enzo Benigni


21

‘UAE demands the highest standards when it buys equipment for Armed Forces’ : Samira Harib

Excerpts from an interview with the Vice President Marketing and Sales, Director Military Programs, Saab Middle East

As an Emirati, how do you feel working for SAAB, handling such a demanding job?

Saab is a Swedish company based in Eu-rope and is established as Saab Middle East in the UAE. As an Emirati, I feel a great responsibility not only as a Saab team member, but also because I represent my country, the UAE. I am able to make peo-ple from different parts of the world aware of our Emirati traditions and cultured.

Do you feel UAE offers increasing op-portunities to working women?

Yes, of course. Women at work get the same opportunities as the men based on their experience and qualifications. There is no gender discrimination in the UAE and women are encouraged to participate openly in the workplace. We have a lot of successful women in different fields. For example, Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Ali Sa-

lem Al Maskari, Chairperson of Al Maskari Holdings, is the best example in the pri-vate sector. Pilot Mariam Al Mansouri, the first female fighter pilot in the UAE, repre-sents a good example in the government sector.

You have worked with the UAE Armed Forces before. Did that experience help you in your current role?

Definitely. I am able to think in a manner similar to the Armed Forces officials and so understand their requirements and pri-orities. This assists me in performing my current role to the highest standards. The positive reputation and relationships that I built while working at the Armed Forces I have sustained to this day, and these have helped to make me more effective in my current role both with regard to Saab as my employer and the UAE Armed Forces as one of the company’s priority partners.

What are the challenges you face as Di-rector of Marketing?

The defense market is very competitive with global companies all trying to win business here. Also the UAE demands the highest standards when it buys equip-ment for the Armed Forces. My job is to ensure that the benefits of Saab solutions are seen and heard in the UAE and to make our work together a success for everyone.You have worked in both government and private sectors. How do they compare?Every sector has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, working for the government gave me the opportunity to work and learn about the Armed Forces. The experience I gained in government prepared me for the transition into the private sector to the benefit of both.However, there are different challenges in both sectors. In the private sector, one can exchange information and thoughts and that adds to your experience. gives you an opportunity to learn new things. I believe that by working whether in gov-ernment or business, we are serving our country.

What is your advice to Emirati women starting on a career?

I would advise them to have full confi-dence in their skills and talents but never be over-confident. As our rulers have taught us, nothing is impossible in achiev-ing our goals. The need for education nev-er stops, so I would advise them to edu-cate themselves as much as they can, even if they are working. One of the most important things, howev-er, is that we always “start small and grow bigger.” No job is small or shameful! I start-ed my career in an entry-level position and have worked hard to reach the position I am in today.


22 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

All over the world, the risk of hazardous Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nu-clear (CBRN) incidents in military or civil scenarios is real and potentially devastat-ing for people and the environment.Chemical weapons have been used in the Syrian civil war and it is still unclear how many people have lost their lives. The threat is just as real, present and danger-ous for civil society. In 1995, a Japanese cult released sarin nerve gas in the Tokyo subway. Thirteen people were killed and more than 2000 injured. If disaster was to strike at a chemical factory or a nuclear power plant then a potential catastrophe is a distinct possibility, with the incident at Fukushima a recent example. The consequences of CBRN emergencies

are likely to stretch national capabilities to their maximum extent. Responsibility for first response remains with individual states and it is essential that they build up their resources to respond and mitigate the consequences of an emergency situ-ation to lives, property and the environ-ment. A shared vision between countries on how to respond is also important since CBRN incidents stretch over national bor-ders.A CBRN incident affects the whole society and it is extremely important that police, military, government and health care services are well trained and coordinated before any incident happens. One of the best ways to do that is to set up a monitor-ing and Automatic Warning & Reporting

Thales is a partially-state owned French defense giant with a presence in five continents. The company secured its first major contracts in the Middle East in the aftermath of the oil crises of 1973 and 1979. Today, Thales is most involved in the following five key sectors: Aerospace, Defense, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Marc Darmon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, spoke about what Thales offers its customers in the Arabian Gulf as well as the importance of IDEX 2017.

Can you talk about Thales’ work in the Middle East and North Africa?

We have been involved in the region for more than 45 years. We have more than 18,000 people here in the region, in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Bah-rain. We plan to have almost 500 more people in one or two years, so we’ll have more recruitment to have an even strong-er footprint here. We are involved in aero-space, defense, security, and transporta-tion.

We have been in the major programs in the region such as security of the airports in Doha and Dubai, as well as Mecca secu-rity systems. Of course, in aerospace we’re working on inflight entertainment sys-tems for big airlines in the region like Qa-tar Airways. In defense systems, we are in most of the different systems throughout the Middle East with telecommunications, component control, weapons systems, and radars.

What are some of the impressive ser-

CBRN - The importance of being prepared; it makes all the difference

Thales continues to impress with cutting-edge technology

(AWR) system and with Saab’s CBRN AWR system sensors deployed on stationary units, vehicles and personnel, CBRN ef-fects are minimised. For emergency re-sponse personnel to perform at their best, training is required on a regular basis.

vices that Thales is showcasing at this exhibition?

We are exhibiting the new tactical radio system, the backbone of communications on the battlefield. In fact, we’re in front of a real revolution because it’s exactly as GSM to 4G. We are increasing the data rate so that these communication systems can give much more capability for the smart combat and cooperative engagement. Secondly, there is a hybrid drone-satellite system. In fact, it’s a balloon in the strato-sphere. It can make a fixed observation almost 20 kilometers ahead. It’s quite an impressive system.

What are your thoughts on the future of IDEX?

It’s clearly one of the largest exhibitions in the world. It’s quite impressive. It’s increas-ing and growing every other year. I’ve been in this show for at least ten years. The booths are full. I’m very booked every day and I’m very confident about IDEX’s future.

Marc Darmon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Thales


23

MBDA has been awarded a contract by the UAE Navy to supply additional Marte MK2/N anti-ship missiles.This is a follow on to the contract signed in February 2009 for the supply of Marte missiles. Each high speed multi-role com-bat vessel will be equipped with four box launchers for MBDA Marte Mk 2/N guided missiles, able to strike targets at ranges in excess of 30 km, flying a fire-and-forget sea-skimming profile using mid-course inertial guidance and active radar homing.Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA, com-mented: “I am delighted that the UAE has confirmed the trust placed in MBDA for its defence requirements. MBDA is one of the country’s leading defence suppliers and will continue to show our long-standing commitment and support for the UAE Armed Forces.”

MBDA awarded additional Marte anti-ship missile contract by UAE

Nexter is showcasing its mature 8x8 VBCI Infantry Fighting Vehicle at the show.The VBCI is designed as an 8x8 armored frontline combat vehicle that can deliver an infantry section onto a heavily de-

Nexter’s 8x8 combat proven reference VBCI in the spotlight

fended position. As a result of the plat-form’s flexibility, it is also able to perform a full range of missions effectively—from high-intensity combat to peace-keeping. The VBCI provides the perfect balance be-

tween protection, fire power and payload. Over 600 units have been delivered, and the VBCI has earned an enviable reputa-tion as the French Army’s principal combat platform during all its recent expedition-ary campaigns. From Afghanistan to Mali and Central African Republic, the VBCI’s reliability, protection, mobility and crew comfort have stood up to the test posed by the most demanding of operational environments. As part of Operation Ser-val, the VBCI spearheaded the projection of French Forces into Mali over a distance of 2,400 km in 4 days. It was recently de-ployed in the UAE during the Gulf Falcon international military exercise led by the French Army. The VBCI now features key technology evolutions on the VBCI platform currently in service with the French Army, notably in the areas of protection, engine power, payload and supportability. “The VBCI is today one of the most reliable and mature 8x8 Infantry Fighting Vehicles on the market. It also spearheads Nex-ter’s offering in the Middle East” said Mike Duckworth, Vice President Marketing & Sales. He added “This unrivalled fighting vehicle provides our customers with the ability to dominate the battlefield—not just today but will also do so for decades to come. The combination of the VBCI and the T40 CTA turret with AntiTank Guided Missiles is a real game changer that sets a new pace for the toughest operations”.


24 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

Safran Electronics & Defense is showcasing its new-generation technologies and solu-tions, at the show, which will bring the ex-tra performance boost needed for armed forces to successfully carry out their mis-sions. This capability is clearly reflected in Paseo, a latest-generation integrated and modular optronic (electro-optical) system specially designed for armored vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, reconnaissance and artillery observation vehicles, and battle tanks. With Paseo, users can now call on a single product that addresses the

needs of both wheeled and tracked vehi-cles, including air-land surveillance, artil-lery observation and fire control.Paseo consolidates Safran’s offering for vehicle-mounted optronic systems. This is a highly demanding market, and Safran brings to the table a number of advantag-es, including unrivaled experience over more than 30 years in optronics and in-ertial technology, used on both domestic and export defense programs, a favored relationship with both command and field units at many different armed forces, to quickly address their operational needs, state-of-the-art development and pro-duction capabilities and more, all of which underpin Safran’s contribution to today’s leading multinational and multidiscipli-nary programs.Paseo combines very-high-resolution dig-ital optronic sensors with high-precision stabilization of the line of sight. Featur-ing innovative operating modes, this new system delivers unrivaled performance in terms of surveillance, detection, identifica-tion and engagement at very long range,

Just last month, India joined the U.S., Canadian, and Australian forces in gain-ing the proven pedigree of BAE Systems’ M777 towed artillery system. With unsur-passed tactical and strategic mobility, the M777 is the world’s first 155mm Howitzer weighing less than 10,000 lbs. Highly portable by land, sea and air, M777 features a minimal logistical footprint alongside maximum reliability. This means that it can be frequently moved and re-de-ployed – maximising survivability, without encountering the IED risks that self-pro-pelled systems face.And with this latest contract between the governments of India and the United

even under the harshest conditions of to-day’s air-land theaters of operation. The system also offers coupling between its optronic and inertial navigation functions, the only feature of this kind, enabling it to address geolocation requirements in tactical situations. This capability is rein-forced by a unique real-time panoramic and sectoral surveillance function. Paseo’s modular design and versatility also meets the standardization requirement for to-day’s armed forces. Another strong point is that the new system integrates intelli-gence gathered during the deployment of a large number of Safran-equipped vehi-cles operating in a wide range of theaters.Displayed on Safran’s stand at the show, the Paseo sight has been in production since 2016. It was chosen as standard equipment on the future combat vehi-cles in France’s Scorpion modernization programme. Safran has already signed contracts in both France and international markets for more than 2,000 Paseo sys-tems – a clear sign of customer confidence in Safran.

Safran’s Paseo: New-generation optronic system for armored combat

Proven M777 lightweight howitzer to support global forces

States for 145 guns, BAE Systems is ideally positioned to deliver these superior towed artillery systems to additional customers. “M777 will remain at the forefront of ar-tillery technology well into the future through the use of technical insertions, long-range precision guided munition developments, and flexible mobility op-tions,” said Joe Senftle, Vice President and General Manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems.The gun system was first selected by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army as their next generation Medium Force weapon and designated it the M777, a core stra-tegic artillery system. With close to 1,100

systems in service with U.S, Australian and Canadian Armed Forces, the effec-tive M777 has become the benchmark for 155mm Lightweight Towed Artillery Systems.Through BAE Systems’ innovative use of titanium and aluminium alloys, the M777 is rapidly deployable and consistently ac-curate with decisive and responsive fire-power in sustained combat conditions, while also remaining easy to operate and maintain under field conditions.


25

Q: What are some of the political and economic forces driving sales of aero-space and defense products in the Mid-east region?

Irby: Countries including the GCC na-tions continue to be focused on regional stabilization. With many nations actively involved in counterinsurgency conflicts, they and neighboring countries are prior-itizing border security as well.

Dalrymple: Falling oil prices in the past several years have lengthened new pro-curement and modernization program cy-cles, but we see re-emerging interest and emphasis on the highest-quality products for total life cycle value and the best mis-sion outcomes.

Q: How have these trends impacted re-gional vehicle requirements, and how is Marine & Land Systems responding?

Dalrymple: Applications include direct fire, convoy, reconnaissance, command and control, ambulance and patrol. Our customers need vehicles that are proven in three key performance areas: survivabil-ity, mobility and lethality.

Our COMMANDOTM line of vehicles has

Emphasis in GCC is on high quality products

been optimized based on more than 40 years of regional experience with cus-tomers including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. Hundreds of our vehicles are in use today throughout the region.

Q: How do these trends impact regional customers’ unmanned systems require-ments?

Irby: We are seeing renewed emphasis on high-quality systems with a long life cycle. For some time, we have observed many regional markets being inundated with low-cost offerings that drastically un-derperformed their performance claims. However, we know that the best un-manned systems put rigor into material selection, safety, and the most proficient data links and payloads. Q: Is this true on the vehicle side as well?

Dalrymple: Yes, absolutely. We have cus-tomers around the world still using vehi-cles they procured from us in the 1970s and 1980s. The total value solution comes over time, when one considers training, sustainment, and modernization as part of total system cost.

Q: Unmanned Systems is the prime con-tractor for the U.S. Navy’s first unmanned surface vehicle (USV) program of record. Is this technology applicable in the Mideast region?

Irby: We are further maturing our Com-mon Unmanned Surface Vehicle, or CUSV™, as part of the Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System program, for which it will primarily be used in mine countermeasure missions. As our GCC customers look to the Gulf as part of their holistic counterinsurgency and border security efforts, I foresee similar mission needs for USVs in the region.

Q: Why is unmanned C2 important?

Irby: The most robust C2 systems create a multi-tiered squadron of unmanned air-craft systems, with common control from the smallest to largest. This operational concept has clear tactical benefits, but also has significant economic benefit in the areas of training and sustainment.

Q: To wrap up, how is Textron Systems staying close to customers in the region this year?

Irby: We are at IDEX, which provides a tremendous opportunity for govern-ments and the defense industry to come together, and we plan to attend other key regional events throughout 2017. We maintain representatives across the GCC as well, to provide consistently high levels of support.

Bill Irby, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Unmanned Systems, and Jonathan Dalrymple, Vice President Business Development of Marine & Land Systems, Textron Systems, discuss the Mideast regional market.


26 4Day 22 Feb. 2017

European Defence Agency selects Défense Conseil International and Diginext for UAV training

The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce is participating at the show and the Bra-zilian Defense and Security Industries Association (ABIMDE) is hosting 18 lo-cal companies to throw the spotlight on their products and services at a dedicated 312-square meter pavilion. The Ministry of Defense of Brazil along with Embraer, one of the world’s largest aerospace compa-nies, is also attending the event.Brazil is a leading supplier of lethal and non-lethal weaponry, vehicles, armoured vehicles, and aircrafts in the Middle East. Its participation in IDEX 2017 will further strengthen its presence in the region as it showcases domestic solutions such as command and control systems, un-

Défense Conseil International (DCI), the reference operator of the French Ministry of Defence for the transfer of French mili-tary know-how to international partners, has won a contract to lead a partnership with Diginext following a call for bids by the European Defence Agency (EDA). The contract covers the development, deploy-ment and delivery of a simulation demon-strator for training medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV operators in the training centres of nine European Union Member States.Excellence in UAV trainingThis project, which recognizes DCI’s train-ing expertise in the UAV sector, confirms

the quality of the partnership between DCI and Diginext. The EDA was convinced by the technology deployed in their joint proposal, which has already been proven with the support of the UAV Centre of Ex-cellence of the French Air Force, and by the competitiveness of their bid. By the end of the programme, equipment will be in place in nine European countries among those already possessing, or plan-ning to acquire, the most advanced UAV technology: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK.The aim is to offer the nine partner coun-tries in the programme a distributed simu-

lation system allowing for joint exercises and training, using flexible scenarios as close as possible to the reality of the thea-tres of operations.A relation of trust“We are very proud of this new project, which marks the culmination of long-term work with the EDA and its MALE UAV user community. We met them when they held a meeting at the UAV Centre of Excellence in October 2016, which gave us the oppor-tunity to present DCI’s Diginext simulator and our activities,” declares DCI chairman and CEO Jean-Michel Palagos.The EDA thus confirms its cooperation with DCI, which started in 2011. Alongside studies for the EDA relating to helicopters, military diving and naval training, DCI is delivering a number of courses, including “Train the trainers course for naval opera-tions rooms”, covering technical knowl-edge and the Law of the Sea.

manned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, and armour plating. Brazilian companies will also look to establish partnerships with regional firms to further penetrate the market. According to a recent report by the Minis-try of Industry, Trade and Services of Brazil, the country exported USD 146.7 million worth of defence and security products to the Arab World in 2016, registering an increase of 14 per cent over 2015. With im-ports of USD 65.5 million last year, the KSA remains Brazil’s largest market in this seg-ment in the region. The UAE trailed close behind with USD 36 million worth of de-fence imports at an increase of 89 per cent over the previous year.

Dr. Michel Alaby, Secretary General and CEO, Arab Brazilian Chamber of Com-merce, said: “The Middle East has been a key market for defense and security solu-tions for Brazil and therefore, the presence of Brazilian companies at IDEX will enable them to establish new partnerships with companies from the region. It is a perfect platform to meet new clients, give live product demonstrations, and get insights on the latest technology and products that are in demand in the region. We are confident that Brazilian firms will cater to unmanned systems and technologies re-quirements and secure deals with some of the leading players in the region.”

Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce upbeat on presence of Brazilian companies


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