Gulf News

UAE Armed Forces sign deals worth Dh2.53b

Equipment related to aircraft maintenanc­e, unmanned systems, spares and sensors

- By Senior Business Reporter

Contract 18 Dh m Deal with Thales to buy spare parts for signalling devices.

Anumber of new deals were announced at the Internatio­nal Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) in Abu Dhabi yesterday as the UAE’s Armed Forces emphasised the modernisat­ion of their equipment and upgrade of facilities.

The deals totalling about Dh2.534 billion were related to aircraft maintenanc­e, unmanned systems, spare parts and sensor systems for the UAE army.

The UAE Armed Forces signed Dh2.3 billion contract with the Advanced Military Maintenanc­e, Repair and Overhaul Center (Ammroc), an Abu Dhabi-based company to provide maintenanc­e, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for the Joint Aviation Command of the army.

Spare parts

They also signed a contract worth Dh24 million with Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment­s Company (Adasi) to provide spare parts for unmanned vehicles.

Other deals announced yesterday included Dh18 million contract with Thales Advanced Solutions to purchase spare parts for signalling devices and a Dh192 million deal with ATK, an American company to purchase and install the Hostile Fire Induction aircraft military systems.

The five-day event will come to an end today. A number of dignitarie­s visited the exhibition since it began four days ago. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited Idex on Tuesday.

Major General Obaid Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Idex committee, said there is a sort of cooperatio­n between the UAE and Ukraine in defence.

“We have a lot of interest in their products and they do have an interest in our products. There are opportunit­ies for both countries. We will see more progress in future.”

The Ukrainian President also met His Highness Shaikh

Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during his visit.

Conflict

Media reports said that Ukraine is keen to buy defence weapons from the UAE. The country is involved in a conflict with Russia.

The visit of the Ukrainian president follows the visit of the Russian Trade and Industry minister, Denis Manturov, to the UAE a few days ago.

Al Ketbi said defence products manufactur­ed by UAE companies are competing on the internatio­nal market. “This indicates the quality of products in the UAE. There is a strong desire on the part of internatio­nal companies to enter into partnershi­ps with local companies and export their products.”

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