UAE orders Seeker 400 UAVs

The Presidential Guard of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces have ordered a Seeker 400 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system.

On the first day of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi on 21 February, the order was announced by Staff BrigadierGeneral Mohammed Al Hassani, Official Spokesperson of the IDEX and

NAVDEX exhibitions.“The UAE Armed

Forces confirmed deals with Denel SOC, trading as Denel Dynamics, to provide an unmanned drone system, Seeker 400

UAE, to the Presidential Guard Command with a value of AED 50 000 000 (R204 million),” he said. The UAE is a repeat customer for the Seeker 400, having most recently ordered AED25 821 190 (R105 million) worth of Seeker 400s in March 2020.

The Seeker 400 can carry dual imaging electro-optical / infrared payloads with gimbal diameters of up to 530 mm. Sensor combinations can include a colour daylight camera with zoom lens; infrared thermal imager with step fields of view; day colour or monochrome spotter camera; night spotter camera, laser designator and laser range finder. An electronic intelligence (ELINT) payload is available for detection and location of radar emitters.

To provide for multi-mission and multi-roles, optional sensors and specific payloads like synthetic aperture radar (SAR), communications intelligence (COMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT) and satellite communications can be integrated. The Seeker 400 has up to 16 hours’ endurance and can carry two sensor payloads (weighing a combined 100 kg) at the same time, or alternately guided weapons.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s Arms Transfers database, the UAE bought several batches of Seeker II aircraft in the 1990s and 2000s, Seeker 200s

in 2017 and six Seeker 400 armed UAVs in 2018.