News

2019-10-03

Emirati Expertise at the Forefront at DSEI

The UAE recently took part in the 20th edition of the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London. In fact, the UAE Pavilion got landslide attention from the public, media, VIPs and top military corporations that swarmed into the pavilion to take a look at the latest developments of the well-known Emirati companies on the show floor.

The UAE national dress worn by young female Emiratis at the UAE Pavilion commanded visitors’ attention, admiration and appreciation as it reflected the country’s modern and classical repertoires and highlighted national identity. However, the biggest surprise came from knowing that these young participants were career engineers and marketing and maintenance experts who demonstrated the UAE’s success in developing and improving women’s competence in defence industries and creating a highly qualified and professional generation. The Emirati participants expressed their excitement and sense of pride in taking part in this international event, saying “This appreciation will drive us to double efforts in our careers with various defence industries”.

Leading companies such as Al Fattan Ship Industry, Aquila Aerospace, Exechon, Safe City, Al Hamra Group, Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP), Al Rumaithy Establishment, Halcon Systems, ADASI, Rabdan Academy, Nation Shield journal published by UAE Armed Forces, International Golden Group (IGG) and Tawazun Economic Council’s Economic Development Unit highlighted their services at the event. The pavilion also hosted representatives from Emirates Defense Companies’ Council (EDCC), strategic partners, the UAE’s Ministry of Defense and the GHQ of the UAE Armed Forces.

Showcasing Expertise

Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Chairman of the EDCC, which organises and manages the UAE Pavilion at key industry events, expressed the Council’s interest in hosting Emirati corporations at such renowned military and security exhibitions in order to display their military industry capabilities at one of the largest platforms showcasing developed and creative projects in the field of maintenance, manufacturing, repair, overhaul, logistic services, communications, training and technological development.

He added that UAE defence industries have proved themselves in the international arena over the last few years, and have come to acquire a competitive edge to enter a more advanced stage, either in producing new types of weapons and equipment, or gaining access to fresh markets to showcase their high-quality and heavy-duty products. For this purpose, Tawazun Economic Council has always been keen to support these positive developments by offering highly creative and innovative visions/strategies to comply with the next stage requirements and the directives of the wise leadership to boost UAE’s status in defence and security industries, and help maintain a national competitive economy based on knowledge, creativity and future technological applications.

Al Romaithi said: “We believe that for a national defence industry base to develop is a joint responsibility requiring all efforts to translate our wise leadership’s aspirations in boosting UAE’s competitiveness with advanced nations in the defence industry.

“On their part, a number of military sector commanders and officials of national defence and security companies took part in DSEI 2019 and affirmed that the UAE pavilion provided the necessary support for the UAE economic sector and would bring about many benefits to boost future development plans”.

EDCC is based on a plan set collectively by Tawazun, Ministry of Defense and the UAE Armed Forces in order to serve as a form for intensive dialogue with top local and international defence industry corporations by offering streamlined and open channels to meet with top defence company officials and boost opportunities of partnership and UAE’s external commercial projects/programmes through the UAE pavilion at various international events. There are currently 63 members, including EDIC, Mubadala and other private sector companies.

Delivering State-of-the-art Systems

Al Hamra Trading Group (HTG), which was established in Abu Dhabi in 1982, and has branches throughout the region, was present at the show. HTG is primarily focused on delivering defence and security systems, communications and services to the armed forces, law enforcement and civil defence forces, customs and Ministry of Interior (MoI).

Mohammed Ibrahim Al Mana’i, HTG’s CEO pointed out that the company represented a large number of their client’s U.S. and European companies, and that it was committed to participation at DSEI to showcase systems and services in areas of air security, vital facilities protection, harbour and ports monitor and training.

Specialised Entity

Another participant at DSEI was Tawazun Holding Company’s Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP), a leading member of the Emirates Defense Companies’ Council (EDCC), which hosts other members. TIP is a fully integrated industrialisation area to provide services of managing facilities and infrastructure for local and international defence and strategic industrialisation corporations. TIP is currently hosting a large number of local companies such as Burkan Munitions Systems, Caracal International, LLC., Nimr Automotive Company, EDIC Precision Industries, Bari Dynamics Company and Caracal International Company.

Mansour Ahmed Al Rumaithy, CEO, Al Rumaithy Establishment, part of Al Rumaithy Group, said that following UAE’s dynamic development, the Group, which was established in 1972, continues to work hard and diligently to provide world-class technical and flight technologies inside the UAE and outside.

He pointed out that the Group strived over the last three decades to transform itself from a mere bunch of regional companies into a leading chain of unlimited services. The Group’s technical department supplies commercial and military clients with top-notch systems and equipment in addition to local support.

Al Rumaithy noted that the Group was amongst the early companies registered by the Civil Aviation Authority as an entity specialised in civilian and military spare parts.

Mouthpiece of the UAE Armed Forces

Lieutenant-Colonel Yousef Juma’a Al Haddad, Editor-in-Chief, Nation Shield Journal, said the publication was the official mouthpiece of the UAE armed forces, with relentless commitment to participate in all renowned international exhibitions and events.

He pointed out that monthly Nation Shield Journal is focused on publishing the latest defence and academic materials in both English and Arabic and having it circulated by certified agents and proper military channels in addition to public subscription.

Lieutenant-Colonel Al Haddad noted that Nation Shield Journal, which was established in 1971, owed its name to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (May God protect him).

Pioneering Manufacturer

Fadel Al Kaaby, CEO, International Golden Group (IGG), said that the Group is one of the top suppliers of the armed forces, Ministry of Interior (MoI) and defence and security establishment in the UAE and displayed the latest products and services at the show.

He noted that more than 100 production lines were offered by IGG to the commanders and officials in the defence and security areas. IGG is planning to become a pioneering manufacturing company for the latest technological techniques and defence systems.

Latest Tech on Dispaly

On his part, Khalifa Al Tamimi, Project Manager at Halcon Systems, pointed out that this was the first time the company participated at DSEI within the UAE pavilion, and that the company was currently involved in utility preparation to develop and produce the latest technological defense systems. Last February, Halcon Systems signed an agreement with Tawazun Economic Council’s Defence and Security Development Fund (DSDF), which is the official body charged with defence industry development throughout the UAE. DSDF will offer finance to Halcon Systems, which some reports said plans to develop and manufacture smart rockets’ monitoring and guidance panels over the next three years. Al Tamimi noted that Abu Dhabi-based Yas Holding Group owns Halcon Systems.

Spotlight on UAS

While Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi, Program Manager at Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments (ADASI), said the company used DSEI to put on display a large number of services and autonomous systems solutions, starting with joint analysis of end-user needs, through the formalisation of their requirements, to equipment selection and procurement. Based in the UAE, but capable of acting across the SAMENA region, ADASI’s scope includes the acquisition, development, test, operation, training and full-service support of autonomous systems for air, land and sea use. This includes modification and reconfiguration of unmanned systems, in particular identifying and integrating alternative payloads.

Fully-integrated Solutions

Exechon Enterprises L.L.C. is a Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin, Tecgrant AB (formerly Exechon AB), a Sweden-based technology company and Abu Dhabi-based Injaz National. The company displayed the “Parallel Kinematic Machine” (PKM) technology that could transform manufacturing processes, cope with work flow and offer patents to secure fully-integrated solutions that would enable the customers to benefit from the advanced industries and meet their requirements in future. The PKM technology provides machine rigidity with dynamic five axe- technology of the movable articulate arm-robot for easier, speedy and accurate assembly, and augment total performance of equipment.

The XMini robot is the latest equipment developed by the company with a 30 micron precision, which is a force multiplier for current limited rigidity and speed space robots. Unlike the classical, traditional machines, light, carbon-made XMini can be set in any direction, even upside down, to get a five axe- machine.

Shipbuilding Solutions

Moreover, Mesfer Al Korbi, General Manager of Al Fattan Ship Industry, said the company, a leading shipbuilder providing numerous solutions in the military sector, presented their latest boat model at the show. The UAE-established and based company is located at Al Sadr Port in Al Taweelah and specialises in shipbuilding and repair. The technology-driven organisation manned by professionals has over 15 years of experience and is active in the building of metal ships, offshore and onshore services, manufacturing, fabrication, repairs, and maintenance of aluminium marine vessels and fiberglass boats. Some of its products include the 15m fast patrol boat, used by the coast guard for interdiction operations, and the 34m-patrol boat employed in support of homeland security and search and rescue. Al Fattan Ship Industry has also developed, as a private venture, a 16m-catamaran torpedo boat. Its facility occupies an area of more than 300,000sqm and it reportedly intends to develop a capability to handle ships of up to 100m in size.

Tawazun Economic Programme Achievements

Achievements of the new framework of Tawazun Economic Programme were highlighted a day before DSEI commenced. Under the theme "Enabling Innovation and Partnerships", key industry leaders alongside DCC members, including representatives from local and international companies, attended the meeting.

The DCC meeting, organised by the UAE defence and security industry enabler Tawazun Economic Council, examined the major milestones reached since the new framework was launched in February. In his opening remarks, Al Romaithi welcomed DCC members and partners, emphasising the importance of the defence and security industry, which has witnessed tremendous growth in the UAE and the region as a whole.

He said: "The UAE is at the forefront in terms of competitiveness and efficiency across the region, which has led to the establishment of a promising knowledge and innovation-based defence and security sector. It has also resulted in the establishment of strong and solid partnerships that will contribute to knowledge transfer and technology, further strengthening the UAE’s commitment to economic diversification.”

Since the launch of the new Tawazun Economic Programme framework, seven projects have been executed, while 10 other project concepts are currently underway. The new programme allows for the development of technology-driven solutions that extend beyond the defence and security industry to include, aerospace; infrastructure and transportation; education technology; sustainability; environment and climate change; and food and water security.

Abdulla Saif Al Awani, Executive Director of Economic Partnerships at Tawazun, detailed a proactive feature within the programme’s framework, which is aimed at creating more value to Tawazun’s industry partners.

The new feature, called Project Bank, matches technology with strategic priorities identifying gaps and improvement opportunities in the process. Through this feature, Tawazun identifies and develops a pool of project ideas aligned to key strategic UAE government objectives, allowing contractors to select project concepts from a cart of pre-approved concepts.

The DCC members applauded the new value-focused programme and the Project Bank, which offer greater flexibility to Tawazun’s partners.

Ministry of Defence, UAE Armed Forces Discuss Bilateral Relations

A delegation from the Ministry of Defence and the General Command of the UAE Armed Forces, headed by Major General Pilot Mubarak Ali Al Neyadi, Head of the Executive Department of Policy and Cooperation at the Ministry of Defence, attended the show.

The delegation, accompanied by Mansour Abdullah Khalfan Belhoul, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom, visited the UAE pavilion. Seventeen Emirati defence companies participated in the exhibition, and the UAE pavilion was an important platform for the national defence and security industries to showcase their latest defence and security products and independent systems.

Maj. Gen. Al Neyadi and the Emirati delegation toured the exhibition, which included the pavilions of several countries and the stands of regional and international defence companies.

Al Neyadi highlighted the exhibition’s international importance and praised the participation of over 1,600 exhibitors and around 300 official delegations from 84 countries, as well as its level of organisation.

Al Neyadi met separately with Lt. General John Lorimer, Senior Defence Adviser for the Middle East at the British Ministry of Defence, and Mark Goldsack, Director of the British Defence and Security Organisation of the Ministry of International Trade. Their meetings, which were attended by senior officers from both sides, discussed the bilateral relations between the UAE and the UK, as well as ways of developing them in various areas and several issues of common interest.

Safe City Group and AVET Announce Partnership

UAE’s Safe City Group announced a multi-million-dirham partnership with the UK-based company, AVET Technologies. The partnership, which was announced during DSEI, will enhance investigation processes, evidence gathering techniques and data interrogation technologies to support international police, security forces, court and judicial processes.

The signing ceremony took place at the UAE Pavilion. The technology and investment based manufacturing agreement entails dedicated purpose-built evidence recording solutions featuring innovative storage and data interrogation concepts that will significantly augment the role of law enforcement officers whilst conducting interviews.

Safe City Group will also soon launch the next generation of digital interview recorders. Focusing on vulnerable members of the community, the recorders will focus on law enforcement, judicial and education sectors within the UAE. The company is a UAE owned and based company that specialises in innovative public safety solutions for the Middle East.

Boosting Opportunities and Partnerships

The UAE companies’ participation reflected their technical capabilities in various defence and security systems, and highlights the outstanding performance and high-calibre rehabilitation of UAE cadres as the participant companies showcased a large number of advanced technologies of modern systems, which were developed as per international standards in order to shed light on the advantages and features of UAE products.

The UAE defence companies participating highlighted the importance of taking part in such specialised exhibitions and meeting one-to-one with top commanders, officials, experts and decision-makers at DSEI, which hosts top defence and security corporations worldwide to display the most advanced defence systems, military equipment, troop supplies/accessories and defence equipment.

Comments () Views (3954 ) Print

Send To Friend