HelpMarte gets nod for UAE warship use
February 24th, 2009 | IDEX 2009 | Posted by Andrew Chuter
MBDA has secured its first customer for the ship launched version of the Marte missile in a deal with the United Arab Emirates.
Unfortunately though the European missile builder is sworn to secrecy by the military here and is unable to use the IDEX defense show taking place this week to publicise it’s selection.
A spokesman for the company said he was unable to comment on yesterday’s Defense News Show Scout story that the weapon had been selected as the main armament for 24 fast patrol boats being built for the UAE navy. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: MBDA, missile, Procurement
Ships, radar and comms in big UAE purchase
February 23rd, 2009 | IDEX 2009 | Posted by Andrew Chuter
Just as the IDEX defense show was winding down for the day Feb. 23, the UAE military sprung a surprise with the announcement that it intended to spend more than AED 3 billion ($815 million) on a string of projects.
Maj. Gen. Obaid al-Ketbi, chairman of the IDEX 2009 military committee, told a press conference the UAE intended to buy weapons and other equipment ranging from artillery-spotting radars through to warship, communications equipment and helicopters.
Taken together with the selection earlier in the day of Lockheed Martin C-130’s and Boeing C-17 aircraft, this latest batch of announcements will go some way to validating the government’s insistence that defense spending here will not be affected in the short-term by plummeting oil prices.
The general even suggested there was a least one more big-ticket deal to come before the show closes Feb. 26.
Asked whether the UAE intends to announce a winner for the long-running jet trainer battle between the Korean Aerospace T-50 and Alenia Aermacchi’s M-346, the general replied: “We are trying to do our best. Hopefully, we will announce something in the next two or three days.”
Tags: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Procurement, Thales
Mystery unveiled on C-17/C-130 deal
February 23rd, 2009 | IDEX 2009 | Posted by Andrew Chuter
The United Arab Emirates has confirmed it is to purchase Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-130J airlifters.Tags: Airlifter, Boeing, IDEX 2009, Lockheed Martin, Procurement, UAE
UAE to hold steady on defense spending despite global turmoil
February 22nd, 2009 | IDEX 2009 | Posted by Pierre Tran
Abu Dhabi – A United Arab Emirates official rebutted rumors of a possible halving in defense spending due to the global economic crisis, as the IDEX arms show opened Feb. 22.
The UAE official dismissed exhibition rumors of plans to slash funding for existing programs. “There is no intention of cutting existing programs in view of the current financial situation,” the official said.
An executive of Safran group’s Sagem has said there was talk of a potential halving of the local military budget, while MBDA CEO Antoine Bouvier has said the first signs of a waning of defense interest had appeared a few weeks ago.
“Of course there have to be priorities,” the official said. “So far it’s OK, it’s manageable.” The authorities would keep the situation under continuous review. The government naturally recognizes there is a problem and is looking at how to deal with it.
Tags: air defense, economy, IDEX 2009, missile, Procurement, spending, UAE
C-17/C-130 head for big UAE order
February 22nd, 2009 | IDEX 2009 | Posted by Andrew Chuter
The United Arab Emirates could reveal a sweeping upgrade of its airlift capability in the next few days. The final touches to agreements to purchase Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-130J were being completed as the IDEX defense show opened in Abu Dhabi today.
Tags: Airlifter, Boeing, IDEX 2009, Lockheed Martin, Procurement, UAE Air Force