Daily news - Day 3
GD launches multi-mission Littoral Combat Ship variant
General Dynamics has used IDEX 2007 to unveil a Multi-Mission Combatant variant of its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) design onto the international market.
20 February, 2007
UAE Awards Contracts
The UAE Armed Forces have announced deals worth Dh775m (US$210m) with local and international companies. According to a summary by Maj Gen Obaid Al Ketbi, Chief of Logistics, the biggest beneficiaries of the forces’ largesse are the International Golden Group, which clinched a Dh390m contract to supply 120mm mortars, and Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), which will provide up to 12 composites patrol boats to the UAE Coastguard.Another local company, Caracal, won a Dh18m deal for 10,000 pistols. Al Ketbi also said the army was in talks with Harris Corporation of the US to buy telecoms equipment worth Dh240m. Good news was also received by EADS. “We have signed an MoU with EADS to purchase three air tankers [Airbus A330],” added Al Ketbi.
20 February, 2007
Protected vehicles launched
Middle East Defence Systems (MDS), a joint venture company formed by the Jordanian King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB, Stand OD710) and the Paramount Group based in South Africa, has launched a new family of mine-protected armoured vehicles. Called Marauder and Matador, they were developed in South Africa, but quantity production will soon start at the facilities of MDS in Jordan.
20 February, 2007
Sikorsky and Gulf sign MoU
United Technologies company Sikorsky Aircraft and Gulf Helicopters of Qatar yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the establishment of an aviation “centre of excellence” in the Middle East region.
20 February, 2007
Fast Supply Vessel makes waves
The first of four 26m Fast Supply Vessels built by Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) for the UAE Navy is being put through its paces at the IDEX marine demonstration site.
20 February, 2007
Sea Keeper shows composites capability
The marine demonstration area is also being used by ADSB to launch the 16m Sea Keeper fast landing craft – the first product to have emerged from the company’s new composites manufacturing facility.
20 February, 2007
Italy bids for trainer crown
Of the contenders for advanced trainer contracts in many parts of the world, Italy’s AleniaAermacchi’s M-346 is increasingly regarded best placed to come out on top. The product of companies with a long tradition in the design and production of military trainers, the M-346 has some design similarities to the Russian Yak-130, with which Italy was partnered for some time, and indeed with the MAKO advanced trainer/combat aircraft, on which EADS tried hard to persuade the UAE to become a partner. But although the Yak-130 is in low-rate production for the Russian Air Force, it cannot be considered a serious contender for exports worldwide, although some countries that have traditionally sourced military aircraft from Russia may place orders.
20 February, 2007
Big cat power
Being shown by the Bin Jabr Group is the MBDA/Rheinmetall Defence Electronics Multi Purpose Turret System (MPTS) integrated on the NIMR (Tiger) (4x4) armoured high mobility tactical vehicle chassis. The consortium is marketing this chassis/ turret combination to potential customers in the Middle East.
20 February, 2007
AGRAB mortar nears production
Under the project leadership of the International Golden Group, an international consortium has developed the 120mm AGRAB (Scorpion) self-propelled (SP) mortar system.
20 February, 2007
Jordan to receive more US trucks
Armor Holdings, Tactical Vehicles Division, is due to deliver another batch of 45 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) M1085A1 5-ton long wheelbase (6x6) cargo trucks to the Royal Jordanian Army in March, to add to 45 delivered last year together with 10 M1089A1 (6x6) 5-ton wrecker vehicles.
20 February, 2007