Building the Middle East Aerospace Ecosystem
Against a backdrop of new airplane programs, growing passenger traffic globally, low commodity prices, and political uncertainties, the aerospace and defense, industry is going through significant changes, particularly in the Middle East. The industry is facing a range of challenges to address environmental and regulatory issues, and an increased dependence on a global supply chain.
The network of organizations including suppliers, distributors, customers, competitors, government agencies and so on - involved in the delivery of passenger jets, defense products and weapons systems are facing these tremendous challenges both at home and abroad through competition and limited resources.
Supporting the industry’s evolution are countries that are trying to build indigenous aerospace capabilities in exchange for access to markets to help grow economies, gain technologies, provide employment opportunities and eventually to compete on the world marketplace.
Kuwait is emerging as a renewed heavyweight in the region’s aviation industry. Along with strong aviation and aerospace players such as Kuwait Airways, ALAFCO and Kuwait Aerospace Technologies, the country is committed to ambitious infrastructure plans. The project to increase the capacity of Kuwait International Airport (KIA) will develop it into a new regional air hub in the GCC. The first phase of the project will add capacity of the airport to accommodate 13 million passengers a year and between 25 and 50 million passengers a year in the second phase.
Additionally, exciting opportunities are emerging to create “aerospace ecosystems”; In Kuwaityou are starting to see STEM related industries beginning to flourish. To support STEM activities at a grassroots level and help secure the future of science and technology, Boeing has supported many initiatives in Kuwait such as ateacher training program that used NASA content to make math and science fun, as well as supporting the Engineering curriculum at Kuwait University.
Boeing also supported a project involving advanced technology transfer and the provision of specialized aviation and engineering equipment to the Australian College of Kuwait in support of its aviation maintenance and electromechanical engineering programs.
Customers are asking for - if not demanding - value propositions that include education and training programs, skills development, technology transfer, industrial partnerships, and relationships that provide products and services for the entire product lifecycle to keep it relevant for decades.
As a company, Bill Boeing’s philosophy - build something better - drove the innovations that fueled our company’s success through historic challenges; the birth of air travel, the defense of democracy, the space race and moon landing; and the age of mass air travel.
Time and time again, success in aerospace and defense manufacturing compliments efforts in other areas of development and adds to capabilities. Pioneering roles in scientific research and development contribute to building new technologies and capabilities to lay the groundwork for manufacturing, economic growth and employment.
Many companies can provide these assets, but Boeing is uniquely positioned to become ingrained in the fabric of Middle East societies. Boeing provides the region commercial aircraft, including the 737, 747, 777, and 787 Dreamliner, defense products such as the C-17 Globemaster III, Chinook helicopters; F/A18 & F-15 fighter aircraft, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and tanker aircraft; as well as Boeing satellites for telecommunications.