UAE company offers advanced alternative

Emirates Defence Technology unveils ‘Enigma’, a specialised armoured vehicle

One of the highlights of this year’s International Defence Exhibition (Idex) was the showcasing of the UAE manufactured armoured vehicle Enigma, which was unveiled on the opening day of the exhibition by Emirates Defence Technology.

The specialised armoured 8x8 vehicle weighs 28 tonnes, and can carry 11 personnel, making the UAE manufactured vehicle specifically unique, as no other armoured vehicle in the world is as large and heavy as the Enigma according to the company’s Group Finance Director, Joy P. Samuel.

Speaking with Gulf News , Samuel described the Enigma’s advanced capabilities, including the ability to function even in the event of a nuclear strike.

“The Enigma is a specialised armoured vehicle that is built and made in the UAE, it is a very highly advanced vehicle. It can move across several different terrains, and even if it goes into water it can still drive and function. The armoured vehicle is also protected from a nuclear attack.”

According to Samuel, two prototypes have been built so far at a rough cost of Dh100 million, with one of the prototypes on display at Idex, “We have developed two models which roughly cost in the region of Dh100 million, there was a lot of testing done with trial and error, until we arrived at the prototype that you see. Once we begin producing the armoured vehicle on the production line, each one will roughly cost somewhere in the region of Dh15 million. We are going to do some more trials during the summer, and then we will begin the production line for the vehicle.”

Samuel added that the company plans to expand. On the production of the vehicle, he said: It needs a lot of work however, a lot of investments are needed because it is expensive to manufacture and develop the technology. We can say that we have the knowledge and expertise, we have been in the field for a long time. We also have a lot of dedication which important, to have the pride of making and producing this technology in the UAE, so we can say it is UAE made, that gives a lot of motivation.” He added.

The writer is a trainee at Gulf News.

Abdul Rahman/Gulf News Precision weapon Models of Al Tariq missiles made by the Tawazun Dynamics, UAE, at the company’s pavilion. The UAE Armed Forces are looking to invest in modernising equipment.