EDGE Group showcasing latest technologies at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) 2021
ABU DHABI: Amid strict safety measures, Abu Dhabi kicked off its defense shows, promising they would be no less striking than previous editions unburdened by quarantine, COVID-testing, global travel restrictions and all the other challenges of the COVID era.
The bi-annual five-day events, International Defense Exhibition and Naval Defense Exhibition (IDEX and NAVDEX 2021), feature more than 900 exhibitors from 59 nations with 35 national pavilions. Among the new countries participating are North Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg and Portugal; Israel backed out a week ago due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
“84% of companies exhibiting will be internationally based, while 16% will be UAE based entities which demonstrates the vast international interest in IDEX and NAVDEX,” said Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, managing director and group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), the shows’ organizers.
As part of the naval exhibition, 17 maritime units from 10 countries are stationed at the pier of ADNEC Marina and dedicated areas in Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s port area. Units include the American guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones, and the UAE’s Shouty coast guard boat, among others.
On opening day, the UAE armed forces signed 19 defense contracts with local and international firms, with the larger part going to domestic companies.
“Worth $1.37 billion, 22% of the deals were signed with seven international firms while 78% went to 12 local companies,” Staff Brig. Gen. Mohammed Al Hassani, official spokesman for IDEX and NAVDEX, said in a press briefing.
Among the deals: 12 B-250 light attack aircraft by UAE-based Calidus to the armed forces; armored vehicles by UAE-based Nimr to the land forces; seeker 400 unmanned aerial systems by South-African Denel SoC lTD to the command of presidential Guard; and the production of the GATRT-T air communication system by French Thales to the UAE Air Force and Air Defense Command.
The show hopes to support the growth of UAE’s defense industry and forge new relationships with major international companies.
“These conferences will contribute to our continued development and complement the UAE’s wider story of success over the next 50 years, helping build a competitive national economy based on knowledge and innovation,” Maj. Gen. Staff Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee for IDEX and NAVDEX, said.
Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director of UAE-based EDGE Group, told Breaking Defense his company is adapting its research and capabilities toward a more agile, bold and disruptive advanced technology centric defense sector.
“We are forging more meaningful partnerships with international defense contractors, and welcome the opportunities that IDEX and NAVDEX create for us to engage in trade as we mark our first-year anniversary,” he told me.
The company is launching more than 10 new products and exhibiting some 50 core capabilities from missiles to cyber defense to electronic warfare and intelligence and mission support.
NIMR, part of EDGE’s platforms and systems division, unveiled the second-generation of its AJBAN 4×4 and HAFEET 6×6 platforms. Other divisions, Al Jasoor and Earth, joined forces with Raytheon Emirates to integrate high-energy laser systems onto RABDAN 8×8 armored fighting vehicles.
Saudi firms are also taking part under the slogan “Invest in Saudi Arabia”, underlining their commitment to spending of 50 percent of the kingdom’s military and security spending within its borders.
Under the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), 12 major defense companies are introducing developments in military technologies, including Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and its affiliate Advanced Electronics Company (AEC).
SAMI is highlighting its military products and comprehensive defense systems across its land systems, aeronautics, defense electronics, missiles, and emerging technologies divisions. AEC will cover the fields of electronic warfare, C4ISR and cyber security.
Boeing on the other hand is looking to underscore its commitment to the region, expecting projects growth for aerospace defense industry.
“We are happy to safely regain in-person customer engagement and continue discussions with our partners in the Middle East,” Jeff Shockey, vice president of Boeing’s global sales and marketing for defense, space & security and government services said at a pre-IDEX press briefing I attended.
“The discussions will focus on a wide range of key services in the region including the T-7A Red Hawk pilot training system, KC-46A tanker, AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook, and laser weapon systems, among others,” he added.
For Torbjorn “Turbo” Sjogren, vice president of international government and defense at Boeing, “the Middle East countries are very much top of mind as a growth market”, he said at the briefing.
Although Boeing does not expect to make major announcements at IDEX, the company will mainly highlight its continuous “world-class sustainment and support services to the installed base of platforms in the region as well as our local partnerships with Mideast companies,” Shockey told Breaking D.
Boeing expects the government support and services market for 2020 to 2029 to be worth $1.4 trillion. Of that, the Middle East represents $195 billion of the services market, with more than 50 per cent of that dedicated to defense and security services.
For its part, Raytheon Technologies will be exhibiting in its new identity for the first time since last year’s merger.
“We are looking forward to demonstrate how we’re in a position to immediately address the priorities of our commercial and defense customers in the UAE and the region faster and more efficiently than ever before with our added scale,” Alan Davis, chief executive of Abu Dhabi-based Raytheon Emirates, told me.
The French defense industry is focusing on innovation.
“At IDEX 2021, we aim to highlight Naval Group’s capacity to provide customer-centric innovation and differentiating technological responses to the most critical naval capability needs, such as information superiority, combat superiority and ability to last at sea,” Eric Papin, the company’s executive vice president and chief technical and innovation officer, told me.
However, safety and precautionary measures remain the top priority.
“We have implemented a wide range of precautionary and preventative measures that ensure the health and safety of visitors and participants alike. These have been developed in close co-operation with relevant health and regulatory authorities,” Al Dhaheri added.
PCR tests were mandatory at arrival to Abu Dhabi’s airport and visitors must retest 48 hours ahead of the show. At the event, participants are geared up with their masks and sanitizers while social distancing is strictly enforced. Thermal scanners are also placed at all entrances and isolation rooms should anyone require treatment.
