25 Feb 21. Tawazun to Manage Procurements, Contracts of UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Police. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has issued two resolutions appointing Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun) to manage the procurements and contracts of the UAE Armed Forces and Abu Dhabi Police. The resolution also mandates Tawazun to enforce the execution of the Tawazun Economic Program in the defense and security sectors.
As part of its new remit, Tawazun Economic Council is responsible for managing the procurement and acquisition process of the UAE Armed Forces and Abu Dhabi Police, covering the administrative, technical, contractual, legal and financial aspects, in addition to following up and supervising their execution. The responsibilities also include approving and awarding projects and contracts, and undertaking relevant executive procedures on contracting and related matters
Tawazun is also in charge of preparing, managing, implementing, and allocating budget for procurement, and appearing before the concerned entities on all matters related to the financial aspects of procurement.
The mandate also includes registering suppliers and reviewing their requests, as well as revising and developing legislations and policies related to organizing procurement to keep pace with the latest industry developments and best practices.
Furthermore, Tawazun is tasked with carrying out quality assurance activities with the aim of continuous improvement and addressing various stakeholder needs, challenges and complaints.
H.E. Matar Salem Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense, said: “This resolution will help us boost our collective efforts to enhance the UAE’s defense capabilities and achieve its strategic priorities through adopting international best practices in contract and procurement management. In doing so, we aim to drive continuous innovation and improvements in our supply chain system, while realizing the country’s strategic objective of building a future-focused defense sector.”
Al Dhaheri added: “To ensure that the UAE’s national defense sector is well prepared to seize the opportunities emerging in the fast-paced security landscape, the country needs to focus on the utilization of its national capabilities and create an enabling operational environment. As part of this priority, the UAE’s Ministry of Defense routinely engages with its partners and stakeholders to shape a sustainable national defense sector that can deliver cutting-edge capabilities to our armed forces, while protecting our national interests and achieving the UAE’s economic diversification objectives.”
For his part, H.E. Major General Staff Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of the Abu Dhabi Police, reiterated the importance of resolution in stepping up the cooperation between Tawazun and the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police in addressing the requirements of the police forces through building an effective contract and procurement management system. Doing so will allow the police forces to employ the latest technologies and innovative solutions to ensure a robust security system.”
He also reiterated the keenness of Abu Dhabi Police in driving local capacity building efforts and creating a favorable environment for the growth of the security sector. This will allow to effectively integrate small and medium-sized companies in the UAE into its supply chain.”
H.E. Tareq Abdulraheem Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun Economic Council, said: “We are proud of the UAE leadership’s confidence and unwavering support to Tawazun Economic Council. Tawazun has come a long way in enabling specialized defense and security companies in the country to adopt the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence to efficiently meet the requirements of the armed forces and the police, in addition to creating multiple job opportunities for talented Emiratis.”
Al Hosani added: “Tawazun will closely work with the Ministry of Defense, the UAE Armed Forces, and Abu Dhabi Police to build on our collective strength and give a strong boost to national defense industries to promote the culture of excellence and competitiveness within the sector. Through drawing the active participation of national companies in the defense and security supply chain, we are set to witness a paradigm shift in the UAE’s defense sector.”
With a focus on economic development, Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun) is a key enabler of the UAE defense and security industry, and a trusted partner of the UAE Armed Forces and Abu Dhabi Police. Since its inception in 1992, Tawazun has been a key contributor to the UAE’s economic diversification activities and in laying the foundation for a sustainable home-grown defense industry.
Founded in 1992, Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun) has enabled the creation of more than 111 companies and investment vehicles within twelve sectors, and now serves as the catalyst for both economic growth and the development of the UAE defense and security industry.
Tawazun drives economic value through the Tawazun Economic Program and the Strategic Development Fund, facilitating ecosystem growth and human capability development through global and local partnerships, and empowering technology & innovation through the defense and security R&D ecosystem. (Source: Al Defaiya)
25 Feb 21. Yahsat Inks Strategic Partnerships with L3Harris and NIMR.
Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite services operator has announced that its dedicated government arm, Yahsat Government Solutions, has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) – one with NIMR, the leading manufacturer of combat-proven wheeled military vehicles and the other with L3Harris Technologies, the global aerospace and defense technology innovator – during the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2021) in Abu Dhabi.
With this announcement, Yahsat has further cemented its leadership as a provider of satellite-enabled Comms-On-The-Move (COTM) solutions for ground defense vehicular mounted systems.
The two separate MoUs with NIMR and L3Harris underpin Yahsat’s commitment to service excellence when fulfilling the needs of its customers and the communities it serves. They pave the way for Yahsat and its technology partners to provide an exclusive suite of offerings for key defense and civil government customers, backed by round-the-clock maintenance and support. Yahsat’s ready-to-deploy solutions unlock countless opportunities for defense users, supporting a wide array of land-based applications, ranging from Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance to Border Control and Beyond Line of Sight (BLoS) operations.
Yahsat’s COTM solutions also enable vehicle asset tracking and situational awareness, closed voice and data networks, tactical radio range extensions over satellite IP as well as secure streaming of full motion video and related information from vehicles to generate real time video footage for multiple applications.
Yahsat aims to provide customized, integrated and interoperable connectivity for civil defense and military clients, through its partnerships with NIMR and L3Harris.
By pre-qualifying its COTM solutions to work efficiently on NIMR’s armored personnel carriers including (APC) JAIS 6×6 and L3Harris’ vehicular mounted combat systems, Yahsat has developed a strong business model and value proposition. This reduces integration and timeline risks, ensures platforms’ structural and design integrity, warrants on-board combat systems and sensor compatibility, and more importantly, optimizes system integration costs. The combined expertise of L3Harris and Yahsat in melding COTM, BLoS and other combat systems on vehicular platforms opens the door to an exciting range of add-ons, creating massive value for customers, while ensuring superior all-terrain performance, reliability and security.
Eisa Al Shamsi, Deputy General Manager of Yahsat Government Solutions spoke of the partnerships: “Through our collaboration with leading industry partners, we are reaffirming our commitment to government customers struggling to gain access to line-fit COTM satellite solutions, combat systems and sensors, which are pre-qualified and ready for deployment on vehicular systems. Today, end users have to approach and manage different system providers and platform integrators to equip, operate and maintain complex vehicular platforms, navigating an arduous procurement and risky integration journey. By partnering with trusted names such as NIMR and L3Harris Technologies, Yahsat has simplified and enriched the process, delivering greater value to the end user.”
Abraham Du Plessis, Chief Executive Officer of NIMR, stated: “At NIMR, we are keen to incorporate the latest technologies in our offerings to guarantee superior protection and mobility. Our collaboration with Yahsat presents us with an ideal opportunity to achieve this objective and we look forward to working with Yahsat and leveraging its expertise to enhance the versatility of our platforms.”
Greg Zoughbi, Director of UAE Business Development, L3Harris said: “As a leading C5ISR systems integrator and provider of state-of-the-art combat systems, we value our partnership with the UAE’s global satellite services operator. Our MoU with Yahsat represents a major milestone in L3Harris’ longstanding association with the company and reflects our ongoing commitment to the UAE and its Armed Forces.”
L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18bn in annual revenue and 48,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. (Source: Al Defaiya)
25 Feb 21. AED20.053bn worth of deals signed over first four days of IDEX and NAVDEX. The fourth day of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2021 has seen the UAE Armed Forces sign 24 new deals, worth AED2.140bn, with local and international companies. The cumulative value of deals signed at IDEX and NAVDEX is now AED20.053bn.
Staff Brigadier-General Mohammed Al Hassani, Official Spokesperson of the IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions, said, “The total amount of deals with UAE companies amounted to AED1.42b, which accounts for 66 percent of the total deal value, while the total amount of deals with international companies amounted to AED720m, or 34 percent of the total deal value.
“18 contracts were awarded to UAE companies, while six deals were agreed with international companies,” he added.
The deals were announced during a press conference held today in the presence of Naval Staff Colonel Fahed Nasser Al Thehli and Lieutenant-Colonel Sarah Al Hajri, spokespersons for IDEX and NAVDEX 2021.
Fahed Nasser Al Thehli commented, “Deals have been put in place with ‘Nexter Systems’, providing spare parts for Leclerc tanks for the General Maintence Corps, at a value of AED 92,947,500. Agreements have been finalised with ‘NORCONSULT TELEMATICS LTD’, providing advisory services for a value of AED 35,525,256.
“Contracts have been agreed with ‘Adil Textiles Private Limited’, purchasing camouflage netting for the Armed Forces, at a value of AED 92,625,824. The UAE Armed Forces have finalised arrangements with ‘NORTHSTAR AVIATION LLC’, purchasing the BELL 407 Multi-role Helicopter for the Joint Aviation Command at a value of AED 224,053,000.
“We have cemented a deal with ‘JUNGHANS T2M S.A.S’, purchasing an FBM21 fuses for the Air Defence Command, at a value of AED 90,564,826. Contracts have been renewed with ‘DIGITAL GLOBE Inc.’ for the provision of satellite photography, as well as maintaining reception systems and training equipment at the Space Reconnaissance Center, for a value of AED 184,369,908.”
Sarah Al Hajri, further commented, “Deals have been agreed with ‘MP3 International Trading Agencies LLC’, purchasing ammunition for the Land Forces, at a value of AED 41,000,000. We have cemented contracts with ‘Barij Munitions’, purchasing MK-82 and MK-81 bombs for the Air Force, at a value of AED 94,868,000.
“Further deals have been implemented with ‘Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments LLC’, purchasing drone systems, launch pads, and ground control units for the Presidential Guard Command, at a value of AED 55,128,014. Agreements have been implemented with ‘International Golden Group IGG’, purchasing weaponry and munitions for AED 485,000,000.
“Contracts have been signed with ‘AMMROC’, purchasing ADTE devices to develop Mirage aircraft for the Air Force, at a value of AED 117,816,761. Deals have been finalised with ‘Lima Aviation LLC’, providing Black Hawk craft with firefighting systems, at a value of AED 52,760,485.
“Further contracts have been signed with ‘Al Fattan’ for the value of AED 22,000,000. Contracts have been finalised with ‘Royal Jet’, managing and operating the International Movements Operations Centre for the Air Force at a value of AED 110,000,000. Deals have been finalised with ‘Al Jasoor’, supplying technical support and repair for the General Maintenance Corps at a value of AED 30,000,000.
“Agreements have been signed with ‘Trust International Group LLC’, purchasing weaponry for the Land Forces at a value of AED 137,129,360. Further deals have been agreed with ‘Emirates General Transport and Services EST’, providing technical support for armed forces vehicles, at a value of AED 56,000,000.
“Agreements were implemented with ‘Al Tuff International Company’ purchasing a range of ammunition at a value of AED 136,669,029. Deals have been finalised with ‘ATLAS ELEKTRONIK LLC’, providing maintenance for underwater craft, at a value of AED 8,500,000.
“Agreements have been put in place with ‘Emirates Advanced Research & Technology Holding’, providing technical support at a value of AED 3,000,000. Contracts have been agreed with ‘Key Information Technology’, purchasing and installing secure network information equipment for the Air Force, at a value of AED 8,040,500.
“There have been further agreements with ‘MBDA UAE Limited’, providing technical support for the Air Force at a value of AED 26,445,000. Further arrangements have been made with ‘Al Badie Trading Establishment’, providing technical support for the General Maintenance Corps for a value of AED 15,000,000. Deals have been finalised for the Al Taif Technical Services Company, providing maintenance for cooling devises and power generators in air defence systems for the Air Defence Command, at a value of AED 21,000,000,” she concluded.
24 Feb 21. SAMI-NIMR Sign First Saudi-Emirati Military Industries Agreement. Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), signed a Teaming Agreement with NIMR, a UAE-based leading manufacturer of combat-proven light- and medium-weight wheeled military vehicles, to supply armored vehicles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The partnership agreement was signed at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi by His Excellency Staff Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the NIMR Board and Eng. Walid Abukhaled, CEO of SAMI, in the presence of His Excellency Eng. Ahmed A. Alohali, Governor of the General Authorities for Military Industries (GAMI), His Excellency Turki bin Abdullah Al-Dakhil, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the UAE, His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director of EDGE, and other leading representatives of the two entities.
Under the partnership, SAMI and NIMR, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of JAIS 4×4 MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles, will work together exclusively to produce the armored vehicles locally in Saudi Arabia. Although completely built units will initially be produced in the UAE by NIMR, the agreement stipulates the transfer of production and technology to the Kingdom and develop its supply chain capabilities to enable the two companies to jointly manufacture all the JAIS vehicles that will be provided to the Kingdom in the future.
Eng. Walid Abukhaled, CEO of SAMI, commented: “With a strong emphasis on the transfer of technology and the creation of employment opportunities for Saudi talents in SAMI’s industry partnerships, we have been working towards contributing to the Saudi Vision 2030 objective of localizing over 50 percent of the military equipment spending by 2030. The new agreement with NIMR represents a major leap forward in our efforts to build a flourishing military industries sector in the Kingdom. This achievement also supports PIF’s efforts through SAMI in localizing cutting-edge technology and knowledge, as well as building strategic economic partnerships. We are pleased that the first-of-its-kind partnership between the two companies marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration in the military sector between the brotherly states of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.”
Speaking on the occasion, His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director of EDGE, said: “Fostering strategic relationships is a key pillar of EDGE’s strategy, and we look forward to building on this commitment with our colleagues at SAMI. This agreement represents the first military collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the UAE and is a major step in boosting the already robust relations between our respective nations.”
The signing saw the first agreement between Saudi and Emirati companies to cooperate in the Kingdom’s military industries sector. With the new collaboration, SAMI will be able to provide the Saudi military forces with a state-of-the-art armored vehicle that has been thoroughly tested and evaluated by military experts in the Kingdom. This will also lead to the creation of new jobs and the transfer of several new technologies in line with the Vision 2030 objectives in the sector.
The JAIS Family of Vehicles brings together forty years of experience in protected optimized mobility. JAIS is the next generation of MRAP vehicles, providing essential balance between firepower and survivability, but with mobility for modern, conventional and asymmetric operations. Crew survivability is centered around a battle-proven ‘crew citadel’ protection system, protecting against mines, IEDs, and ballistic threats. The JAIS vehicle architecture supports multiple mission variants and equipment options, such as a full motorized infantry section, with a manned turret or remote weapon system. (Source: Al Defaiya)
23 Feb 21. UAE Armed Forces sign AED 17.913bn worth of deals in three days at IDEX and NAVDEX. The third day of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2021 has seen the UAE Armed Forces sign 12 new deals, worth AED 5.589bn, with local and international companies. The cumulative value of deals signed at IDEX and NAVDEX 2021 is now AED 17.913bn.
His Excellency Staff Brigadier-General Mohammed Al Hassani, Official Spokesperson of the IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions, said: “The total amount of deals signed with international parties amounted to AED 1.164bn, which is 21% of the total deal value for today, and AED 4.425bn of deals were agreed with UAE companies, which is 79% of today’s total deal value.”
“Six contracts were awarded to international companies, and six agreements have been implemented with UAE based companies. 12 deals were signed in total,” His Excellency added.
The deals were announced during a press conference held today in the presence of Naval Staff Colonel Fahed Nasser Al Thehli and Lieutenant-Colonel Staff Maya Rashid Almazrouei, spokespersons for IDEX and NAVDEX 2021.
Naval Staff Colonel Fahed Nasser Al Thehli, Official Spokesperson for NAVDEX, commented: “Significant deals with UAE companies today include the contract which was put in place with ‘Yas Holding LCC’, purchasing Korean CHUNMOO launchers and missiles, at a value of AED 2,955,292,542. Further deals have included agreements with ‘Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company, providing technical support services for naval vessels and ships, at a value of AED 650,000,000.
“In addition, we have signed deals with ‘Vallo Equipment Spare Parts Trading’, providing technical support and supplying spare parts for the General Maintenance Corps, with a value of AED 60,000,000. We have hired ‘Unilux Heavy Equipment Spare Parts’, providing technical support for the General Maintenance Corps, for a value of AED 30,000,000.
“Further, contracts have been agreed with ‘Abu Dhabi Aviation Company’, providing the operation and management of search and rescue aircraft for the Joint Aviation Command for AED 173,500,000. Deals have also been concluded with ‘Etimad Strategic Security Solutions LCC’, providing technical support for security systems, at a value of AED 556,271,790.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Staff Maya Rashid Almazrouei commented: “Prominent international deals have included contracts have been put in place with ‘HARRIS INTERNATIONAL INC’, implementing automated command and control projects, at a value of AED 651,519,997, alongside a renewed agreement with ‘ELETTRONICA S.P.A, providing technical support for reconnaissance for the Air Defence Command, for a value of AED 289,394,300.
‘We have also signed agreements with THE BOEING COMPANY’, providing maintenance on C-17 simulators for the Air Defence Command, at a value of AED 112,966,788. We have hired ‘THALES LAS FRANCE SAS’, purchasing spare parts for radar systems for the Air Defence Command, at a total value of AED 66,432,037.
“Contracts have also been implemented for ‘Rheinmetall Man Military Vehicles’, providing maintenance and technical consultation at a value of AED 40,700,000. Additional agreements have been put in place with ‘STATE COMPANY UKROBORNSERVICE’, providing training in the realm of cyberspace, for AED 2,938,400.”
22 Feb 21. Who showed up for the in-person UAE weapons show?
In spite of the surging coronavirus pandemic, major arms makers descended Sunday on a convention center in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, hoping to make deals with militaries across the Middle East.
The UAE unveiled $1.36bn in local and foreign arms deals to supply its forces with everything from South African drones to Serbian artillery. Although the figure surpasses the 2019 show’s opening announcement, defense experts anticipate a drop in military spending this year as the pandemic and slumping global oil prices squeeze budgets in the Arabian Gulf.
The biennial trade fair, the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, is Abu Dhabi’s first major in-person event since the outbreak of the virus — a sign of its significance to the oil-rich sheikhdom that has maintained tight movement restrictions in recent months. The videoconferencing program Zoom wouldn’t suffice for the 70,000 attendees and 900 exhibitors who rely on the largest weapons expo in the Mideast to scout for potential clients and hawk their latest wares, from armored vehicles to ballistic missiles.
Top Emirati officials, including Abu Dhabi’s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, were on hand, wandering between displays of rifles, rockets and bombs.
But with hand sanitizer as ubiquitous as sterile drone displays, the pandemic’s effects remained visible. Significant national pavilions were absent, including the United States, the world’s largest arms exporter.
Big American companies turned up but kept a low profile. Lockheed Martin representatives standing beside models of stealth F-35 fighters were tight-lipped amid the Biden administration’s review of several major foreign arms sales initiated by former President Donald Trump, including a massive $23bn transfer of the F-35s to the UAE.
Israeli COVID restrictions also prevented it from joining the expo, which would have been a first after it normalized relations with the UAE last year. A technician at the Israel Aerospace Industries booth spent a good portion of the afternoon turning away disappointed potential customers.
But scores of other countries had no qualms showing up during the pandemic, underscoring how many have boosted their arms exports in the region. The flow of weapons in the Middle East has increased by 61 percent over the past five years, according to a recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, amid grinding proxy wars in Libya, Syria and Yemen.
China, which boasts the world’s second-largest arms-manufacturing industry, enticed passers-by with a real-sized ballistic missile called Fire Dragon. At state-owned Norinco, business manager Luo Haopeng remarked that China had increased its floor space this year. Beyond his company “serving” Emirati ground forces, he declined to elaborate on its ambitions in the Middle East, where China has already has sold armed drones to Iraq, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“This kind of equipment is not like food or clothes,” he said, gesturing toward the giant missile display. “It’s all related to politics.”
At Russia’s pavilion, Chechen regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov inspected a vast array of Kalashnikovs. Not far off, Poland’s WB Group showed glitzy sales videos of its suicide drone plummeting from great heights to blast away armored vehicles. Azerbaijan had shown interest in the system during its border conflict with Armenia last year, communications director Marta Lazewska said, when Turkish drones helped turn the tide in its favor.
At the pavilion for Saudi Arabia, which is ranked as the world’s largest weapons importer over the last five years, officials were trying to promote the kingdom as an emerging defense giant under its so-called Vision 2030. The program, pushed by the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to break the country’s import addiction, diversify its economy away from oil and localize more than half of its military spending.
Despite its radar and U.S. Patriot missile batteries, Saudi Arabia increasingly has been at risk of cross-border attack by Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthi rebels, which earlier this month launched bomb-laden drones that slammed into an empty passenger plane at the country’s southwestern Abha airport. A Saudi-led military coalition has been at war with the Houthis since 2015, after the rebels ousted the Saudi-backed government from the capital. The conflict has created what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
“The threats are obvious lately,” said Walid Abukhaled, CEO of Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company, a holding company owned by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. “You have drones that [are] coming from aggressive countries … you have some missiles fired every now and then.”
Routine aerial attacks and rising tensions with Iran could help fuel military spending in the region even as defense intelligence provider IHS Janes expects such expenditures in the Gulf to drop 9.4 percent to $90.6bn in 2021, a result of the economic destruction wrought by the pandemic.
“We’ve come back to the early part of 2020 where, again, Iran is a potentially big threat,” said Charles Forrester, senior analyst at Janes, referring to a series of escalating incidents that pushed the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war last year.
“If Iran goes into a major rearmament program or starts to flex its muscles, that’s where missile defense and air defense systems come in,” he said. “As we’ve seen, a very simple system can attack you.”
(Source: Defense News)
22 Feb 21. UAE announces $2bn in defence contracts, confirms Saab GlobalEye deal. The United Arab Emirates armed forces on Monday announced at the Abu Dhabi defence exhibition it had signed defence contracts worth 7.293bn dirhams ($2bn) with local and international firms, state news agency WAM reported.
The deals included a 3.74bn dirhams contract with Saab for GlobalEye surveillance systems that was disclosed by the manufacturer in January. It also included a 2.61bn dirhams agreement for Patriot missiles from Raytheon. A day earlier, the armed forces announced 5bn dirhams in local and international deals on the first day of the week-long exhibition.
(Source: Reuters)
22 Feb 21. ZALA AERO GROUP Launches ZALA VTOL UAS at IDEX 2021. ZALA AERO GROUP unveiled a new hybrid unmanned system ZALA VTOL at the IDEX 2021 International Defense Industry Exhibition and Conference, which opened on February 21st in Abu Dhabi. The unique system combines the best qualities of fixed-wing and multirotor types of UAVs and can change the configuration depending on the conditions of the performed task.
The ease of operation of this unmanned system allows the reduction of the role of the human factor, a decrease the number of equipment used when performing a flight mission, and to fully automate the flight processes of the UAV.
The computing power of the ZX1 on-board computer is based on artificial intelligence which makes it possible to process data in Full HD and transmit HD video and photos via encrypted communication channels to the GCS, ensuring the effectiveness of monitoring even before the aircraft lands.
The versatility of the ZALA VTOL design makes it fully compatible with all existing ZALA payloads, and also allows the installation of additional surveying equipment.
The system is an effective solution for performing air monitoring for the fuel and energy complex, search and rescue operations to ensure safe take-off/landing from unprepared sites in urban environments, as well as hard-to-haul routes.
Since 2004 ZALA AERO GROUP is the leading Russian developer and manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems, unique payloads and mobile systems. Starting from January 2015 ZALA AERO is part of Concern Kalashnikov.
The main products are reconnaissance unmanned systems and digital solutions. Currently, more than 2000 of ZALA UAS operate within Russia. Areas of application are the protection of state borders, reconnaissance and rescue operations, monitoring of high-risk facilities, and emergencies.
ZALA AERO is the leader in the provision of air monitoring services in the gas and oil sectors in the Russian Federation. Every year ZALA AERO UAVs survey more than 5 million kilometers of oil and gas infrastructure performing more than 30,000 flights.
ZALA AERO specialized licensed training center for UAV operators. There are also individual courses on software training and tactics for specific application of systems. (Source: UAS VISION)
22 Feb 21. Aeronautics Group – a leading provider of integrated turnkey solutions based on unmanned systems platforms, payloads and communications for defense and HLS markets – will participate for the first time at IDEX 2021, presenting its Orbiter 4 STUAS and Orbiter 1K Loitering Munition UAS.
Orbiter 4 STUAS is an advanced tactical UAS, multi-mission platform with versatile payloads, optional BLOS operation and extraordinary endurance for all weather conditions. Built on the successful system design of the Orbiter 3 STUAS – in use by many customers around the world and accruing vast operational experience – with its advanced avionics, communications, ground control features and applications, Orbiter 4 retains the legacy capabilities of the combat-proven Orbiter UAS family.
Delivering top mission performance with its highly-versatile covert platform – the most advanced available today – the Orbiter 4 STUAS is suitable for both land and maritime operations. The system can simultaneously carry multiple payloads, extending its ISTAR capabilities. Easy to use, with a low logistical footprint and a small crew, the runway-free Orbiter 4 STUAS aircraft suits all operational needs.
Measure for measure, Orbiter 4 delivers higher capabilities than other tactical platforms in operation today, with greater endurance, serviceability, operational flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Thanks to Aeronautics’ advanced technology, it also has intelligence capabilities usually reserved for large UAVs on a lightweight, tactical and covert platform.
“We are delighted and proud to participate in and present at this important exhibition for the first time,” says Matan Perry, Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Aeronautics. “The recently signed peace agreement with the Emirates opens up many avenues for regional cooperation, and our company sees this as an opportunity to strengthen relations and business collaborations with other countries in the Gulf region.”
The main applications of Orbiter 4 include: land and maritime ISTAR, target acquisition for precision-guided weapons, artillery fire management and BDA, communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), electronic warfare (EW), communications relay, border patrol and reconnaissance, ISR envelope for strategic facilities security, search and rescue, and emergency response.
At the show, Aeronautics will also feature its Orbiter 1K Loitering Munition UAS. Designed for loitering attacking missions, Orbiter 1K has advanced guidance capabilities that ensure high precision, lethality and low collateral effects. Based on the mature, combat-proven Orbiter 2
Mini UAS, Orbiter 1K delivers outstanding performance in terms of endurance and mission range, and is the perfect solution for the “Sensor to Shooter” concept of operation. Once launched, the 1K loiters and searches for targets, and, when it finds one, attacks it precisely, causing little collateral damage. The 1K is a combat-proven system with vast operational experience, providing a high level of operational flexibility, with extraordinary operational advantages for its category.
“Backed by continuous research and development, our systems are built on decades of technological and operational experience,” says Matan. “Thanks to our in-house capability as a UAS integrator, we are able to meet the growing demand for full turnkey solutions that are easy to install, operate and maintain, and give autonomy to soldiers. We are continually moving towards smaller platforms and drones, providing solutions for the entire spectrum of HLS – aerial, maritime, coastal and border security, sensitive infrastructure such as pipeline monitoring, oil & gas security or environmental monitoring. We intend to maintain our legacy, remain a significant player in the market, and continue to be pioneers in an ever-changing landscape.”
Today, Aeronautics and its subsidiaries, together with Rafael, offer an extensive portfolio of technologies and capabilities for border protection, both land and sea. The two companies provide advanced multi-layered defense solutions to maintain national security. These include ISTAR aerostats, persistent surveillance payloads for tactical UAS, integration of autonomous tools with ground systems in a computerized decision support system, and more.
About Aeronautics Group
Aeronautics Group, a global leader of defense and security solutions customized to client needs for multiple applications in the defense and HLS markets, including: unmanned systems, multiple sensors, big data exploitation and mission critical communications.
As a leader in the field of unmanned aerial systems, Aeronautics provides comprehensive, innovative solutions based on an autonomous multi-mission operational concept. The Group’s broad product portfolio offers comprehensive solutions for ISTAR and HLS missions, with demonstrated excellence in performance and operability. Backed by continuous research and development, these systems are built on decades of technological and operational experience. As part of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Aeronautics utilizes the technological synergy between the two companies – Rafael’s advanced air, land and naval defense capabilities and Aeronautics’ proven technologies – to strengthen its own status as a leading unmanned and autonomous solutions integrator.
For more information on Aeronautics Group, please visit the company’s website: www.aeronautics-sys.com
22 Feb 21. Over AED 7bn worth of total deals signed on second day of IDEX and NAVDEX 2021. The UAE Armed Forces signed 11 deals, worth AED 7.29bn, with local and international companies on the second day of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2021.
The two exhibitions will run until 25th February.
Staff Brigadier-General Mohammed Al Hassani, Official Spokesperson of the IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions, said: “The total amount of deals signed with international parties amounted to AED 6.98bn, which is 95 percent of the total value of deals. Meanwhile, the value of deals signed with UAE companies reached AED 310m, or 5 percent of the total value of deals.
“Nine contracts were awarded to foreign companies, and 2 contracts were awarded to companies based in the UAE,” He added.
The deals were announced during a press conference held today in the presence of Naval Staff Colonel Fahed Nasser Al Thehli and Lieutenant-Colonel Staff Maya Rashid Almazrouei, spokespersons for IDEX and NAVDEX 2021.
22 Feb 21. Global Aerospace and Technology company Paramount Group and India based Engineering & Technology conglomerate Bharat Forge Limited, announced a cooperation that will see them join the technologies, capabilities and expertise of both groups in order to manufacture Armoured Vehicles in India.
An agreement to this effect was signed by both companies during the International Defence Expo (IDEX 2021) held in Abu Dhabi.
The Kalyani M4 is a multi-role platform, designed to meet the specific requirements of armed forces for quick mobility in rough terrain and in areas affected by mine and IED threats. It offers best in-class levels of ballistic and blast protection – up to 50kg TNT side blast or IED/roadside bombs due to its innovative design, built on a flat-floor monocoque hull.
It is intended that the ‘Kalyani M4’ will see service with the Indian Armed Forces in the very near future. The Kalyani M4 successfully completed a series of extreme vehicle trials in some of the toughest environments in India.
Mr. Amit Kalyani, Deputy Managing Director, Bharat Forge Ltd said, “We are very pleased to partner with Paramount Group. This collaboration brings together the manufacturing and technology excellence of two leading companies, which have matching synergies and complementary capabilities. The Kalyani M4 is a fantastic new generation vehicle, and we want to position it as the ‘future of protection’ in all markets world-wide.”
Mr Ivor Ichikowitz, Chairman of Paramount Group stated: “All of our technologies have been developed with portable production in mind. We believe this model of world-beating innovative technology is fundamental to enhancing any country’s contemporary defence, and technology capabilities. The Kalyani M4 is based on one of our flagship armoured vehicles designed specifically for in-country production in India with our partners the Kalyani Group. We are proud that it will be made in India.”
About Bharat Forge Limited
Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), the India based multinational, is a technology driven global provider of high performance, innovative, safety & critical components and solutions to various industrial sectors including Automotive, Railways, Power, Construction & Mining, Defence, Aerospace, Marine and Oil & Gas. In its Defence profile, BFL has a wide product portfolio with expertise in design, development, engineering and manufacturing of systems and sub-systems for Artillery Guns, Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Protected Vehicles, Ammunition, Air Defence solutions, Defence Electronics and Small Arms.