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2019-03-01

IDEX, NAVDEX 2019 End on a High Note

The 2019 editions of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) held during February 17-21, 2019 ended on a hugely successful note with deals worth over AED20.05 billion signed by the UAE Armed Forces.

Sixty-five per cent of the deals signed over five days of the dual events were awarded to international companies, while the remaining 35 per cent were bagged by national companies.

The expo attended by high level delegations from several countries and the world’s top defence companies was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attended the opening of IDEX.

Also present during the opening were Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Ibrahim Kasuri Fofana, Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea; Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan; and Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic.

The event had the participation of His Excellency Major-General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al Balushi, Deputy Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of IDEX and NAVDEX 2019, General Mohammed Al Hassani, Official Spokesperson of IDEX 2019, Naval Staff Colonel Fahad Nasser Saif Al Thehli, Official Spokesperson of NAVDEX 2019, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), and Saeed Al Mansouri, Director of IDEX.

HE Staff Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of IDEX and NAVDEX 2019, told a press conference on the last day of the event: “Bringing together international and national decision-makers, experts and specialists, IDEX and NAVDEX 2019 further reinforced the UAE’s leading global status in attracting and hosting major defence and marine conferences and exhibitions. Both exhibitions demonstrated the nation’s best-in-class defence, security and military capabilities that seamlessly integrate advanced technologies.”

HE Major-General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al Balushi said the IDEX and NAVDEX platforms have helped review and better understand the latest defence and security technologies.

Exhibitor highlights

Mohamed bin Zayed Inaugurates Ajban Vehicle

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, inaugurated the ‘Ajban 447A’, a 4x4 ballistic and blast protected light tactical patrol vehicle.

The new Abjan 447A incorporates the latest technologies with off-road capabilities designed for harsh environments. Its modular nature allows it to be configured to suit a variety of operational roles.

He said he was delighted to see local industries capable of providing advanced military mechanisms.

Patria Exhibits Armoured Wheeled Vehicles

Patria featured the Patria AMV product family that combines a high payload capacity with the latest technology. These features enable simultaneous integration of a high level of protection with heavy weapon systems without compromising mobility of the vehicle.

Another innovation included Patria Nemo, a turreted, remote-controlled 120mm mortar system. It is an indirect fire support system that can also be used for self-defence thanks to its direct fire capability.

The system can fire Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) fire missions where up to five grenades hit the target simultaneously. Patria also showcased CANDL, a compact data link for air-to-air and air-to-ground applications requiring high reliability, dynamic networking with several members and long communication ranges, such as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) operations, Intra-Flight Data Links (IFDL) and Live Virtual Constructive training (LVC) systems.

ARIS is a remote operable Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) system used to intercept, record and analyse radar signals. With ARIS, customers can master strategic ELINT in today’s complex signal environment and make fast updates to ELINT databases.

BAE Systems Commits to Upgrades

At IDEX, BAE Systems highlighted its selection by Lockheed Martin to modernise head-up displays (HUD) on F-16 aircraft for the UAE Armed Forces. The HUD, which sits directly in a pilot’s line of sight, is a see-through display that presents real-time, flight-critical information without obstructing the view of the outside world.

The fully digital system reportedly has the potential to reduce life-cycle costs by 20 per cent and offers at least four times the reliability of legacy analogue systems. The DLE HUD features high-resolution symbology that is viewable under any flight condition, and it is designed to accommodate future advancements in symbology and video.

BAE Systems has been a leader in HUD development and production for more than 60 years, a position gained through continuous investment in technology and innovation.

Al Jasoor Highlights SAFA Tracked IFV

Al Jasoor’s tracked vehicle SAFA is a new generation multipurpose platform with superior mobility and high level of protection, capable of operating in a wide range of challenging terrains and climatic conditions.

SAFA is a multi-role tracked armoured vehicle with superior features. Accordingly, SAFA can be used for various missions, performing as a medium tank with 105 mm weapon system, or as an infantry fighting vehicle for troops operating in a high-treat environment.

With its superior mobility features, SAFA operates in challenging terrains and difficult climate conditions and can also serve in urban and peacekeeping missions, high and low intensity conflicts, counter attack operations, counter insurgency operations, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and unconventional warfare on different terrains.

Collins Aerospace’s Virtual Reality Training Settings

With more than 50 years’ experience in simulation systems, and near-eye products, Collins Aerospace brought decades of expertise in engineering, manufacturing, implementing and supporting training technologies for military and commercial applications worldwide to the show.

Integrating the components of a mixed-reality system for military and commercial training environments is no easy task, according to Collins Aerospace.

The Collins Aerospace vision is for a flexible, cost-effective system capable of fully immersing students into virtual-reality training scenarios across air, land and sea domains that also simultaneously enables users to interact with real objects and people.

With its new coalescence mixed reality system, Collins Aerospace also moves away from the traditional need for large bespoke training device facilities and allows the use of classrooms and easy deployment.

Collins Aerospace is one of the leaders in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defence industry.

PAL Aerospace: Force to Reckon With

PAL Aerospace featured its newest long-range on demand Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft dubbed the ‘Force Multiplier’. The Special Mission platform is equipped with two full mission system suites from CarteNav and Thales, which will accommodate a diverse range of ISR applications utilising the Thales Searchmaster radar and other ISR sensors.

PAL Aerospace has operated over 250,000 flight hours for Special Missions over 40 years of Fixed Wing Operations and Surveillance Experience. This operator knowledge of surveillance missions uniquely qualifies PAL to bring this new platform to market with a focus on client needs and future requirements.

PAL Aerospace Services Aircraft Maintenance LLC is an Emirati-owned company based in Abu Dhabi and is part of the PAL Group of Companies.

GA-ASI’s Signature Maritime ISR Takes Centre Stage

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) showcased its innovative products at the show. This includes SeaGuardian, the maritime version of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian. MQ-9B is an advanced Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and has been selected as a sole source RPA for the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) as the Protector RG Mk1, as well as for Belgium.

Countries such as Italy and France also have GA-ASI MQ-9A systems in their inventory, and the UAE operates the Predator RPA. Spain and the Netherlands have MQ-9 systems on order, and discussions are ongoing with several other countries.

Jim Thomson, Regional Vice President of International Strategic Development for GA-ASI said: “Providing greater endurance at lower operating cost, SeaGuardian is ideally suited to complement manned maritime patrol aircraft in performing wide area maritime surveillance.”

Elettronica Exhibits High Tech Solutions

Elettronica can be considered one of the main EW providers of the UAE, having supplied sophisticated strategic surveillance capabilities as well as self-defence and electronic attack systems for decades.

Massimo Antonio de Bari, Head of UAE Office and Business Development Gulf, Elettronica, said the company represents a major success story in the UAE. Bari highlighted that one of the new solutions is the Group’s ADRIAN (Anti Drone Interception Acquisition Neutralization). This anti-drone system, specifically designed to manage mini and micro drone threats, is intended primarily to counter the growing security risks posed by lightweight civilian micro-mini drones at public events and in civil airspace.

MUROS (Multirole Operations Support Vehicles) are another recent development. They are modular, fully-integrated Sensor Suites for stationary and mobile platforms designed to enable tactical operations and special missions.

Embraer is Driven by Innovation

As Embraer prepares to mark its 50th anniversary this year, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Jackson Schneider, spoke to Nation Shield about its focus at IDEX. Driven by innovation and excellence, Embraer is bracing itself for the next 50 years, with an array of advanced, state-of-the-art capabilities, set to revolutionise the transportation aircraft sector.

While Embraer has capabilities across the defence sector, the focus for IDEX and the region was the new KC-390. Embraer’s KC-390 is a tactical transport aircraft setting new standards in its category while presenting the lowest life-cycle cost of the market. It can perform a multitude of missions, such as transport and deployment of cargo and troops, air-to-air refuelling, medical evacuation, SAR, and aerial fire fighting. Capable of operating in all weather, 24 hours a day, and even on unpaved runways, this multi-mission tactical airlift is fast, reliable, rugged and affordable to operate and maintain.

Leonardo’s Advanced Aerospace, Security and Defence Systems

Leonardo exhibited its wide portfolio of aerospace, security and defence capabilities at the show. It promoted its new generation pilot training systems that cover the entire flight training syllabus: from basic training, with the new M-345 – which will replace Italian Air Force MB-339s starting from 2020 – to advanced and lead-in fighter training, with the M-346, which was presented in its Fighter Attack version.

For the first time in the region, Leonardo presented its Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) capabilities based on an ‘open systems’ architecture, which enables the selection and integration of an appropriate sensor and effector mix for a specific scenario.

Leonardo C-UAS capabilities are already operational with the Armed Forces of Italy and the UK, and they are available to be quickly and easily deployed in a civilian context at airports or major events all over the world.

Defence is another sector in which Leonardo showcased its systems, for both land and naval applications. These include the HITFACT MkII lightweight, modular turret, which can be configured with either a 105/52 mm rifled gun or a 120/45mm smoothbore low-recoil-force gun.

At NAVDEX, an interactive display of a ship’s bridge demonstrated Leonardo’s innovative ‘naval cockpit’ showing the capabilities of a fully-integrated naval operations and combat system.

Hensoldt Showcases Sensor Solutions

Hensoldt presented its wide range of sensor technologies and for the first time displayed its newly developed PrecISR airborne multifunction radar, as well as the extended portfolio of its Xpeller counter-UAV system.

The software-defined airborne radar named PrecISR (derived from ‘precise’) translates latest achievements in active array and digital receiver technology into a scalable high-performance sensor, which can be installed aboard helicopters, UAVs and fixed-wing mission aircraft. Its superior precision and target accuracy make it the sensor of choice for surveillance of large sea and coastal areas against piracy, trafficking or illicit intrusion.

Together with this airborne radar, Hensoldt displayed its latest developments in land-based and naval radar. The TRML-4D is a land-based multifunctional radar ensuring rapid detection and tracking of approximately 1,500 targets in a radius of up to 250 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km. It uses the latest AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar technology, which enables the acquisition of targets after just one rotation of the antenna, thus improving the response time and hit probability. The naval radar TRS-4D belongs to the same product family. It is designed to support anti-air and anti-surface operations.

Hensoldt also presented its TwInvis passive radar, which analyses the echoes of signals from radio or TV stations so as to create a recognised air picture (RAP) within a radius of more than 200 kilometres in real time. Another exhibit was the Xpeller counter-UAV system, whose mission is to detect small drones so as to protect critical infrastructure, large events or military facilities.

In addition, the company showed its ARGOS-II HD multi-sensor system to be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions from the air. The MILDS (Missile Launch Detection System) self-protection sensor for helicopters and wide-body aircraft detects attacking missiles and initiates countermeasures.

ADSB and Leonardo sign MoU

Abu Dhabi Ship Building and Leonardo signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance their collaboration in the naval sector, at the show. Building on years of positive partnership for the development of UAE naval capabilities, under the new MoU, Abu Dhabi Ship Building and Leonardo will jointly work to create a Combat Management System (CMS) Integration Laboratory capable of testing, maintaining and evolving the software of Leonardo’s CMS system operational on many of the UAE’s ships.

This marks an important step in the path to deliver to the country the necessary expertise and know-how to ensure operational availability of its fleet as well as better serving other regional customers. The new MoU will also explore the development of a joint logistic support solution for preventive and corrective maintenance and a local spare parts inventory for Leonardo naval systems.

Calidus Signs MoU with GDC on Light Attack Aircraft

Calidus LLC of Abu Dhabi has signed an MoU with GDC Middle East of Riyadh to establish a joint corporation to explore the market in the MENA region for the Calidus B-250 light attack aircraft and to develop in-house capabilities.

The B-250 has multi-role capabilities including close air support (CAS), Counter-Insurgency (COIN) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) for modern and asymmetrical warfare. It can also serve as a trainer.

Its innovative frame is made entirely of carbon fibre, reducing weight and operating costs while increasing manoeuvrability and service life. Major General (retired) Abdulla Alsayed Alhashmi, Calidus senior vice-president, said: “Our agreement with GDC Middle East is another important step in extending the capability of the regional defence sector. We look forward to working together to build the market for the B-250 across the Middle East and North Africa.”

Calidus LLC is a defence-technology development and manufacturing company founded in 2015.

Hawkei, Designed for the Digitised Battlefield

From inception Hawkei was developed as a protected tactical vehicle designed for the digitised battlefield. This was no “box on a truck” design but a purpose built, true 5-seat, 4x4 military tactical vehicle conceived from the outset to provide class leading protection, mobility, payload and C4I capabilities.

The Hawkei design is unique in a number of ways: The engine and transmission sit side-by-side in a parallel configuration. This approach compartmentalises the entire power-pack forward of the cabin negating the need for any transmission tunnel to intrude into the crew cabin. This provides better protection, more internal volume and a lower overall profile. This approach also allows for the crew cabin to be optimised for both protection and space.

The Hawkei cabin utilises a sophisticated belly design that both absorbs and redirects blast energy away from the crew. Along with the internal floating floor and blast mitigating seating arrangements, these design elements all work in synergy to minimise the effects of under-belly mine and IED blasts.

WesCom Defence Makes Show Debut

WesCom Defence, part of WesCom Signal and Rescue, a specialist in pyrotechnic products for signalling, illumination, minefield breaching and training and simulation, was at the show.

WesCom Defence displayed a selection of key products from its current range, showcasing the highest quality of specialist pyrotechnic products for the defence industry and latest developments in pyrotechnic technology. These include the ManPAD Simulator, MERS Illumination Rocket and the first fragment-free impact simulator, MECoSt Simulator Impact/ Thunderflash. Key personnel briefed visitors about the company’s capabilities in a variety of solutions from pyrotechnic flares for illumination to Portable Explosive Minefield Breaching Systems.

Looking Forward To Next Edition

For his part, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC, said: “ADNEC has played a crucial role in developing the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector in the UAE and the wider region. This is evident in the hosting and organisation of the distinguished defence and naval exhibitions over several years. In realising the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, ADNEC’s world-class facilities, services and infrastructure supported the success of the latest editions that drew the participation of international, regional and local exhibitors.”

Al Dhaheri added: “Coinciding with the silver jubilee of IDEX, the current edition of both exhibitions witnessed record-breaking numbers of national and international exhibitors and visitors. Over the five days, IDEX and NAVDEX attracted more than 118,000 visitors, as well as 1,213 media representatives from 42 countries, or an increase of 16 per cent compared to the 2017 edition.” Al Dhaheri said bookings for the 2021 edition have already reached 70 per cent.

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