IDEX UAE 2013: News, Updates & Discussions

[Al Bhatti]

Feb 17, 2013

UAE and Italy navies boost cooperation

The Italian and UAE navies will increase cooperation and joint partnerships after the delivery of the first UAE Abu Dhabi Class Stealth ship today at Idex.

The Italian navy's chief of staff, Adm Giuseppe De Giorgi, said yesterday on the sidelines of the Gulf Defence Conference, that the two militaries were looking to create partnerships in the development of maritime weaponry technologies.

"We have several things that we will be discussing with the UAE navy. We are thinking to develop together weapons systems and embarked aviators like helicopters that are used on ships like the one the UAE just acquired," he said.

The new Abu Dhabi Class Stealth ship's main missions are long and medium-range patrols, primarily for surveillance but also for combat.

The unique design of its hull and superstructure has reduced its thermal and electromagnetic signatures, giving it stealth capability.

The design incorporates low radar and infrared signatures, and it has a flight deck with access to a hangar.

The reduction to the craft's radar signature allows it to carry out a variety of tasks, ranging from surveillance to checking sea waters for illicit traffickers.

The ship was built after a transfer technology agreement between Italy and the UAE to conceive Etihad Ship Building in Abu Dhabi, which is a joint venture between Italian giant Fincantieri and Al Fattan Ship Industries.

The ship operates with a crew of 80 and eight officers and has an overall length of 88.4 metres. The full load displacement is 1,520 tonnes, and it has a range of 3,500 nautical miles.

Adm De Giorgi hopes to sign an agreement to secure military training for Emirati sailors in Italy.

"What I hope is to start joint programmes to train our crews together in Italy at the training centres that are optimised to train crews of these kinds of ships. The UAE navy crew can really benefit," he said.

According to Adm De Giorgi, the stealth ship features new technology that enables small-calibre guns to cause surgical damage to the opposition.

"In the old days you could use only big guns, but now these new technologies can provide coastal fire support from the sea with the 76mm Automilara guns," he said. He added that guns present in the new ship could saturate an entire area with fire, with each mount having its own guidance system that is developed to reduce collateral damage due to precision targeting.

UAE and Italy navies boost cooperation - The National

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Feb 17, 2013

UAE defence exhibition doubles in size

Exhibitors will use up every square metre of the National Exhibition Centre when doors to the International Defence Exhibition and Conference open today.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, described Idex yesterday as "among the world's most important defence shows", and expressed his pride in the event's ability to constantly expand.

Since its launch in 1993, Idex has recorded steady year-on-year growth to become the biggest regional exhibition of land, sea and air defence systems. "We are pleased to announce the exhibition has nearly doubled in size since the previous edition," said Idex director Saleh Al Marzooqi.

Eighty companies representing 15 nations have registered to take part, and 5,000 visitors are expected at the 73,000-square-metre venue.

In addition, the quay at the centre has been extended to accommodate six vessels, compared with three before. "Ensuring the exhibition has the facilities needed to meet growing demand, we have expanded the quay wall by 50 per cent and installed escalators facilitating easier movement between Idex and Navdex, the Naval Defence Exhibition," said Mr Al Marzooqi.

Sheikh Mohammed said Idex should not be seen as an arms market, but rather a platform to promote the latest innovations.

"States do not send delegations to exhibitions in order to buy arms," he said.

"They do so to expand their knowledge, learn and view what is new. Armies do not determine their weapon systems within days or weeks, rather they take enough time to study, test and compare between alternatives before they take a decision. Deals that are concluded at such exhibitions are preceded by a decision that is made over months or even years," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"For the UAE, the exhibition offers its Armed Forces an ideal opportunity to update their information and to test new weapons and equipment to help increase their capabilities and readiness."

The UAE will host the largest country pavilion at the exhibition, testament to the growth of its local defence industry.

More than 147 UAE companies will be exhibiting, taking up more than 12,500sqm of exhibition space.

Tawazun will have the largest exhibition space (2,918sqm), and Mubadala has reserved 1,870sqm.

The Ministry of Interior will showcase its "most advanced e-services and some of its latest projects using geographic information systems, which will lead the way in the region", said Maj Gen Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, director general of central operations at Abu Dhabi Police.

"Idex is a real opportunity to stay updated on the latest innovations in information technology," he said.

This year's exhibition growth follows the 12 per cent growth of country pavilions at the last Idex event in 2011.

China, Ukraine and South Africa increased the size of their exhibition space by 77, 53 and 46 per cent respectively, according to Al Ittihad, The National's Arabic-language sister newspaper. The country pavilions of Bulgaria, Austria and the United States expanded by 38, 35 and 28 per cent respectively.

The defence industry is growing significantly worldwide and regionally, and Arab countries' demand for cutting-edge defence products from regional and international suppliers is among the highest rates worldwide.

Defence spending in the Middle East is projected to exceed US$100 billion (Dh367.3bn) by 2015, according to the consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, and the defence budgets of the GCC countries and Jordan is expected to be around $80 billion by the same year.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Middle East and North Africa accounted for 8 per cent of the world's military expenditure in 2011.

Data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showed the volume of worldwide conventional arms transfers in 2007-2011 was 24 per cent higher than in 2002-2006.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the value of arms-transfer agreements with developing nations in 2011 was about $71 billion - more than double the figure of 2010.

Against this backdrop of this fast-growing arms industry, worldwide and regionally, the value of transactions during the present and future editions of Idex are forecast to increase.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/uae-defence-exhibition-doubles-in-size

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Feb 17, 2013

Idex 2013: Tomorrow's systems today

The security risk of costly trips between prison and court could be a thing of the past thanks to the Remote Trial system.
The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior teamed up to create the system, which will allow evidence to be given by video conferencing rather than have the accused transported to and from court.

Remote Trial will be on display at the exhibition along with land, sea and air-defence systems from about 80 companies.

Abu Dhabi Police will showcase their mobile operations room, known as Meydaniya. It is fitted with the latest technology for use at accident scenes and other situations, providing centralised communication with everyone in the field, and streaming video and audio to the command centre at police headquarters.

Police will also display special surveillance equipment, from a digital camera that can be fitted to rescue dogs, to the Sniper radar and monitoring system to catch drivers who jump red lights.

Among international exhibits will be Raytheon's unique communications unit, TransTalk, a portable two-way device that automatically translates speech and can be configured for any language pairing.

It is designed to ease the exchange of information between battlefield allies across language barriers.

AgustaWestland will exhibit its new range of commercial, government and military helicopter types - including scale models of the GrandNew, AW169, AW139, AW189 and AW101.

About 25 per cent of the world fleet of AW139s are in the Middle East region.

"We are confident that the concept of our family of new-generation helicopters will also find significant success in the region," said Bruno Spagnolini, AgustaWestland's chief executive.

Also on display is the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 aircraft, the latest version of the MB-339, which is used by Al Fursan, the UAE's national aerobatics team.

"Since more than 40 years ago our jet trainers, basic trainers and transport aircraft have been in service in several countries in Mena," said Giuseppe Giordo, chief executive of Alenia Aermacchi.

Selex ES will be exhibiting its range of radar and airspace-surveillance systems.

"In Idex's Navdex area, the Baynunah, Falah 2 and Abu Dhabi class naval vessels are displaying Selex ES naval combat-management systems - just part of our portfolio of advanced sensors and systems," said the company's chief executive Fabrizio Giulianini. "We're proud to be putting our most advanced technology on show in Abu Dhabi."

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/idex-2013-tomorrows-systems-today

 

[Al Bhatti]

Feb 17, 2013

Idex: Made in the UAE military machines find favour with UK

The Nimr armoured vehicle which is made by Tawzun in the UAE, products such as this have a big future says a UK defence minister.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks during the opening of the INEGMA (Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis) at the Gulf Defence Conference on February 16, 2013, in Abu Dhabi.

Britain is ready to purchase UAE-made military products, according to the British minister for defence equipment, support and technology.

Philip Dunne said that Britain was not restricted to only procure defence capability from within the UK or selected partners.

"We recognise your vision to develop indigenous capability, and I look forward to seeing this innovation and expertise on display over the coming days," he said.

"Even more than this, we recognise that in the years to come, the supply of defence and security equipment will become increasingly two-way traffic.

"Our market is open to your growing defence industries."

Last year, he said, the British ministry of defence published its open procurement philosophy.

"We stand ready to procure much defence equipment through open competition and greater international collaboration," he said.

The UAE developed its military industrial capability in 2007 with the establishment of Tawazun Holdings, which produces armoured vehicles, sniper rifles, assault weapons, handguns and ammunition as well as other military technologies.

Mr Dunne also said that he understood the need to work in the region and deal with the issues that affect the Arabian Gulf's security and he added that it was in Britain's national interest to strengthen its defence relationships with Gulf nations.

"It is important to identify the right partners for equipment, training and operational needs," he said.

His comments came as Britain and France said at the Gulf Defence Conference that they had prioritised the Arabian Gulf's security and had a long-term commitment to the UAE and the region's security.

Mr Dunne stated that his country may be increasing their military presence in the region within the next few years.

"Over the next two years our whole military posture will adjust as we redeploy from Afghanistan and move towards Future Force 2020 - the blueprint for our future armed forces, where flexibility and adaptability will become our guiding principle. Our capacity to undertake activity in this region will increase."

He highlighted that the strategic importance of the Arabian Gulf's energy producers was only likely to grow as global demand increases.

"The Gulf states are key partners for the UK in the fight against terrorism, especially countering the threats from within the Arabian Peninsula," he said.

The French defence minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, reiterated the importance of the Gulf to France.

He highlighted that France's role in the Gulf was a long-term strategic priority "to deepen a military cooperation that is already quite mature, and which has been reinforced over the years by joint military exercises, not to mention our close operational cooperation during more recent conflicts and, naturally, given the fact that both our armies are equipped with similar systems".

In 2009, France established its first military base built outside of French territory since the process of decolonisation began more than half a century ago.

"Our military base here is a reflection, as you might have gathered, of a long-term commitment," Mr Le Drian said.

"We are pleased with the exemplary defence relations between our two nations. And I take the opportunity of my presence here at Idex to note that, besides its military cooperation, France is willing to broaden its partnerships with the UAE with regard to various cutting-edge technology platforms."

He continued: "I think that our record in recent years shows that, for us, commitment is not a hollow notion. When one of France's friendly nations needs a hand, France is there to help."

Mr Le Drian said that there were big crises that gave a clear idea about the threats that the globalised world would have to face, and to which defence and national security strategies had to be adjusted.

"Nuclear proliferation, international terrorism, chemical threats, potential destabilisation of entire regions - these are the challenges we are looking at and these three big crises involve Iran, Syria and Mali," he said.

Idex: Made in the UAE military machines find favour with UK - The National

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

@Al Bhatti
Where were you man, we miss you here.

 

[Al Bhatti]

February 17, 2013

The delegates from various countries tour the pavilions during the opening of Idex 2013 at Adnec in Abu Dhabi.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed met with French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian on the sidelines of Idex.

Lt. General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior at Idex.

Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurates the Naval Defence Exhibition (Navdex) during the opening day of Idex.

AMMROC to earn 45% of revenue from Middle East after 2015

Defence-related firms to export products, services to the region in the next three to five years

Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company, said it aims for its defence-related companies to begin exporting products and services to the region within the next three to five years.

Seven defence-related companies under Mubadala participated at Idex yesterday covering the aviation, maritime and technical services.

“Within three to five years, we will become more independent and export to the region. Then we can say that we achieved significant progress and become solid,” Homaid Abdullah Al Shemmari, Mubadala’s executive director of business development at the Aerospace Unit, told Gulf News.

As part of this plan, the Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Company (AMMROC), part of Mubadala’s defence-related network, should begin to earn 45 per cent of its revenue from the Middle East markets after 2015, he said. It currently provides about 90 per cent of its services to the UAE Armed Forces.

AMMROC is the fastest growing company of the seven defence firms, registering 75 per cent growth year on year in 2012, he said.

Al Taif, which provides life-cycle support for defence systems in the UAE and the Gulf, will also make a greater push into the Gulf market in 2013-2014 as part of the regional growth strategy, he said. The company registered 15 per cent growth year on year in 2012.

Idex is a major platform for Mubadala to promote its defence exports in the regional and international markets, he added.

“We are talking to a lot of local entities and will focus our talks with international companies that can market our services outside the UAE, in Europe and the US,” he said.

Mubadala will announce five deals during Idex, he said, but would not reveal any details.

“Idex to us represents the perfect platform. Every year it gets bigger and has more attention…to have such a world-renowned exhibition in our backyard is the perfect opportunity…it’s the perfect platform to say ‘here’s the local content’,” he said.

The local defence industry depends on a “strategic alignment” with the government that places its orders from them, he said.

Also participating under Mubadala’s defence companies at Idex were Bayanat for mapping and surveying services, Injazat Data Systems, Horizon Flight Academy, Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) and Abu Dhabi Ship Building.

AMMROC to earn 45% of revenue from Middle East after 2015 | GulfNews.com

 

[Al Bhatti]

Feb 18, 2013

Get a chance to blow up your Dad's house at Idex

I blew up the Heysham 2 nuclear power plant in Lancashire, England, yesterday.

It was a bittersweet moment as I unleashed the BK-27 Mauser cannon mounted on my Typhoon Eurofighter and remembered that the strategically important atomic facility was only about 8 kilometres from my father's house, which would certainly have been destroyed in the blast.

Not long after this somewhat emotional realisation, I ditched the US$60 million (Dh220.3m) Eurofighter, and the cutting edge heads-up display helmet that comes with it, into a farmer's field. The auto-ejection system saved my skin though, and I apparently floated down to land somewhere off Morecambe Bay.

This unusually personal flight of fancy in fact took place in the middle of a crowded Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on the first day of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2013 (Idex).

The Eurofighter simulation was a popular attraction and probably the most technologically advanced piece of kit on display at the event. It was certainly among the most expensive.

Sitting in the cockpit wearing a Typhoon Helmet Mounted Symbology System, it was remarkably easy to get the hang of flying a jet at the speed of sound, barrelling and rolling around the skies, tracking an enemy jet with nothing more than a turn of the head and destroying it with the mere twitch of an index finger.

But there were countless examples of similarly sophisticated and technologically advanced equipment at every turn throughout the vast exhibition hall.

Most prominent were the dozens of examples of unmanned vehicle systems. From tiny propeller-driven airborne drones that look like they could land in the palm of your hand to big glider-sized aircraft produced by Abu Dhabi's Adcom Systems, such drones were clearly among the stars of the show.

Abu Dhabi's Al Tuff Industries also had on display a complete unmanned navy with waterborne drones capable of patrolling ports and coastlines. The sleek black naval robots looked as if they had sailed straight off the set of a Star Wars movie, with Darth Vader at the controls.

Farther afield, in the Australian defence industries area, another group of robots lurked. The Marathon Smart Targets - the torso and head of a tailor's dummy mounted on a four-wheel-drive vehicle - looked less Star Wars and more Metal Mickey.

Each one wore a sweatshirt, face mask and baseball cap for authenticity. But for all their clunkiness and unkempt appearances, the Smart Targets are just as cutting edge as any drone.

The target robots react autonomously to noises and other stimuli, giving soldiers the ability to train shooting at targets that behave like people without actually having to kill anyone.

Raytheon, the American defence giant, had a huge array of weapons on display but perhaps its most interesting piece of technology was a translation device ripped from the pages of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Douglas Adams novel. Adams imagined a creature called the Babel Fish that, once inserted in the ear, would simultaneously translate all the languages it heard allowing free communication throughout the universe.

Raytheon's TransTalk isn't quite that good but it does a pretty good job. The United States army has been using it at checkpoints and in villages across Afghanistan with impressive results.

The technology is housed on an Android phone that displays two flags, one to represent each language to be translated. The user simply touches one flag, speaks and the phone translates.

Not all the technology on display at Idex this year contains microchips and fibre-optic cabling, however. A German company called Blücher had on display remarkable underpants that were said to be "ballistic protective".

"The material matrix of the extreme lightweight pants meets soldiers' requirements both in highly active and relaxed situations," the publicity material said.

But it was the Russians who claimed to have the most reliable weapon in the whole exhibition. The Kalashnikov rifle - otherwise known as the AK-47 - has been firing off rounds with regular precision since 1949.

"When there is no war countries invest a lot of money in these very advanced weapons systems that we see here," said Andrey Baryshnikov, the director of international sales for Izhmash, the company that makes the Kalashnikov.

"But what an officer and a soldier needs is a weapon that he knows will fire and hit the target when he wants it to. Kalashnikov does that."

Get a chance to blow up your Dad's house at Idex - The National

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Feb 18, 2013

UAE companies take spotlight at Idex

From the Nimr armoured fighting vehicles sporting 20mm and 30mm automatic cannons standing guard over Tawazun's vast display area to the model of a 900-tonne Baynunah-class corvette decorating Abu Dhabi Ship Building stand - and standing in for the real ship moored across the road - the evidence was everywhere that the UAE's defence industry has come of age.

Idex 2013 opened yesterday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre with an emphatic display of local military hardware and technology.

All the big companies were out in force, with Tawazun occupying the largest display area at the expo, and Mubadala coming a close second. UAE defence companies were taking up almost a third of the 43,000 square metres-plus stand space.

From ammunition manufacturers to military maintenance companies, their wares were on show at the expo, which runs until Thursday. What really caught the eye was the military hardware, made in the UAE.

The major players had just completed a highly successful year, in aviation, fighting vehicles and warships.

Last February at the launch ceremony for the Mezyad, the fourth ship in the Baynunah class corvettes, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) announced it was in talks to secure orders for the new multipurpose missile ship from other regional navies.

"The Baynunah class is a unique and very sophisticated warship and it has attracted the attention of a number of navies in the region and around the world," said Mohamed Salem Al Junaibi, the ADSB chief executive.

Who they were talking to was classified, but it was already known that the Saudi Arabian navy had embarked on a US$20 billion (Dh73.46bn)-plus expansion programme; the Kuwaiti navy was also understood to be a potential customer, according to Defense News, a publication based in the United States.

The Mezyad was one of six corvettes ordered by the UAE Navy in 2004 and expected to be in service by next year. The programme, worth Dh4bn, was the largest and most important contract for ADSB to date.

The first of the class was designed by both ADSB and the French shipbuilder Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie and built at its yard in Cherbourg. The five remaining ships were being built by ADSB at its yard in Mussafah.

"The Baynunah Corvette Class, which is the largest warship construction programme and a first-of-its-kind project in the region, will significantly boost the arsenal of the UAE Navy and enable it to effectively fulfil its duty of protecting the UAE's maritime territory," Mr Al Junaibi said.

In July ADSB launched the first Ghannatha class missile boat for the UAE Navy. Al Muroom is the fourth ship in the new class; the first three vessels were built by ADSB's partner, Swede Ship Marine.

Under the Dh935 million contract, ADSB will build nine missile boats and retrofit the 12 existing ADSB-built Ghannatha troop carriers into gunboats and mortar boats.

ADSB operates the most modern naval shipyard in the Arabian Gulf, and is the only shipyard in the region with the capability to build, refit, repair and upgrade complex naval warships.

Tawazun Holding, the UAE's industrial manufacturing and technology group signed a joint venture in July with Direction des Fabrications Militaires to establish a factory in Algeria capable of producing up to 200 armoured vehicles a year for the Algerian military.

Nimr Automotive, one of Tawazun's 12 subsidiaries, will transfer the necessary technology for the manufacture of two versions of its four-wheel-drive armoured vehicles.

"As the defence manufacturing industry becomes increasingly competitive globally, it is vital for manufacturers to seek out new ways of expanding their business," Saif Al Hajeri, the chief executive of Tawazun Holding, said at the time of signing.

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/economics/uae-companies-take-spotlight-at-idex

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Feb 18, 2013

Local defence industry comes of age at Idex

In an ideal world there would be no defence industry, nor defence spending. In the world we have, however, these are essential and so the challenge is to make this expenditure as useful as possible.

This week's International Defence Exhibition (Idex) and the related naval show Navdex remind us that sound military spending entails more than just buying maximum "bang for the buck".

Ever since the first steel sword was forged, military needs have been a prime driver of technological progress. Even the internet, ubiquitous in daily life, has its roots in a US defence agency.

It follows that leveraging defence expenditure to advance the country's high-tech know-how, and its engineering and manufacturing skills, is a self-evidently sound policy. And as we are seeing at Idex, that policy is being pursued vigorously by the UAE - and by others.

But the first role of defence industries is still defence. A strong military posture is essential to the UAE, which has resources others might covet, in a region not exactly conflict-free. For a country this size the appropriate policy is sometimes called the "poison shrimp" doctrine, as once articulated by Singapore: we may be small but we would prove indigestible for any would-be aggressor.

This means the UAE needs not only its alliances but also national armed forces that are well-trained and equipped, for military needs as well as for relief work in any natural disaster. This in turn means we need a domestic military industry. And while some aircraft and other big-ticket items will continue to be bought from abroad, there is sound logic in the move towards joint ventures with foreign firms, deals that can start to move UAE companies into these fields - military-plane maintenance, for example.

The UAE's defence industry is fully aware that in weapons systems, as in other manufactured products, foreign sales permit longer production runs, cutting unit costs. Meanwhile, it also makes sense for allied nations to benefit from "interoperability" of gear and best practices. And when local defence firms don't tailor their products to the needs of the local armed forces, the industrial side of the equation gets short-changed.

For these reasons the flurry of announcements at Idex is welcome. A pact with Italy to step up naval technology cooperation; plans by defence group Tawazun to buy a controlling stake of Al Jaber Land Systems; Mubadala's joint venture in military-aircraft support with Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin and other such accords will all provide jobs, increase skills and add capability across our economy.

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/editorial/local-defence-industry-comes-of-age-at-idex

 

[Al Bhatti]

The delegates from various countries tour the pavilions during the opening of Idex 2013 at Adnec in Abu Dhabi.

The Multi-Mission Persistent ISR on display at the Naval Defence Exhibition (Navdex) during the opening day of the Idex.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed met with French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian on the sidelines of Idex.

Visitors look at the latest pistols from Sarsilmaz, on display at the Turkish pavilion on the opening day of Idex 2013.

The soldiers conducting the defence-related demonstrations during the opening of Idex 2013 in Abu Dhabi.

An exhitor showcases his companyfs products on the opening day of Idex.

Live demonstration wows the crowd at the opening day of the 2013 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC) in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday February 17, 2013.

Lt. General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior at Idex.

 

[Al Bhatti]

Trade exhitors and visitors at the opening day of the 2013 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC) in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday February 17, 2013.

Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurates the Naval Defence Exhibition (Navdex) during the opening day of Idex.

Performers wow the crowd at the opening day of the 2013 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC) in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday February 17, 2013.

A Eurofighter Typhoon on display at Idex in Abu Dhabi. A senior British official said the aircraft meets the long-term defence and security needs of the UAE.

Performers wow the crowd at the opening day of the 2013 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC) in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday February 17, 2013.

The crowd at the opening day of the 2013 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC) in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday February 17, 2013.

Live demonstration wows the crowd at the opening day of the 2013 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC) in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday February 17, 2013.

Emiratis ride a horse with the National Flags at their parade during the opening of IDXEX 2013 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi yesterday.

 

[Al Bhatti]

The traditional folklore troupe performed during the opening of IDXEX 2013 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi yesterday.

The traditional folklore troupe performed during the opening of IDXEX 2013 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Trade exhitors and visitors at the opening day of the 2013 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC) in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday February 17, 2013.

The soldiers taking part in the demonstrations during the opening of IDXEX 2013 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi yesterday.

The soldiers taking part in the demonstrations during the opening of IDXEX 2013 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi yesterday.

The UAE Air Force team perform during the opening of IDXEX 2013 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi yesterday.

The UAE Military Band perform at their parade during the opening of IDXEX 2013 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi yesterday.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

- Atılgan, ASELSAN mounted on Nimir:

Shibil, KSA:

Nimir, Jordan/UAE:
http://www.uaeinteract.com/news/article_pics/50272.jpg

Nimir 2, UAE:

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Nimir 2, UAE:

UNITED 40, UAE:

 

[Inspector Spacetime]

Anyone know the name of the following weapon:

And this one:

 

[revojam]

Excellent thread but we need more photos

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

 

[proka89]

Serbia to produce sophisticated missiles for UAE

ABU DHABI -- Serbia will produce highly sophisticated missiles for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Serbia's First Deputy PM and Defense Minister Aleksandar Vučić says.

He met with Crown Prince and Head of State Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

He told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) that he had agreed with the sheikh on all agreements of the two countries, especially in relation to investments in the defense industry.

It was agreed that the UAE's company Emirates Advanced Research and Technology Holding (EARTH) and Serbia's Yugoimport SDPR will sign a contract on mutual development and supply of ALAS missile systems at a defense trade show on Sunday.

The two countries are also due to sign an agreement on mutual protection of investments, and a basis for all these contracts will be an agreement on interstate cooperation which will also be signed in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the RTS has reported.

Vučić began his two-day visit to the UAE on Saturday.

ALAS (Advanced Light Attack System)

http://www.edepro.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ALAS_technical-information.pdf