Daily news - Day 4
Tanker MoU tops up EADS
The memorandum of understanding between the government and EADS for three Airbus A330 MRTT multirole tanker/transports for the UAE Armed Forces, announced on Monday, appears to have settled one of the most hotly contested military procurements in the region.
21 February, 2007
Lord Drayson commits the UK to partnership
UK defence procurement minister Lord Drayson has told the IDEX Show Daily that UK industry is looking to strengthen its relationship with the UAE in the defence field, and affirmed a commitment to greater collaboration across the region. Lord Drayson, who attended IDEX 2007 in support of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO), said he had been extremely encouraged by the number of UK suppliers – more than 70 in total – exhibiting at the show.
21 February, 2007
Boeing seeks more regional co-operation
Since creating its Integrated Defense Systems group in 2002, Boeing (USA Pavilion) has seen it grow to a thriving unit that generated revenues of $32.4bn last year. Giving an overview of the group’s activity in the Middle East, Jeff Johnson, VP Middle East Business Development, noted the success of the partnership in Saudi Arabia utilising Alsalam’s infrastructure to set up a subsidiary incorporated in the Kingdom.
21 February, 2007
Dozor is put through its paces
The Ukraine is demonstrating two new armoured vehicles in the mobility demonstration at IDEX – the Dozor-B light 4x4 armoured personnel carrier (APC) and the heavier BTR-3E1 8 x 8 APC. Both have been developed by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau for the home and export market and where possible proven parts have been used in their design.
21 February, 2007
Great expectations for Hoefyster ICV
Show Daily sources indicate that Denel Land Systems (Stand 4620) will soon be awarded a contract for the South African Army’s new
Hoefyster infantry combat vehicle (ICV). This will be the replacement for the current Ratel ICV that has been in service for well over 25
years. It will be the largest armoured fighting vehicle programme carried out by South Africa and will extend for a period of about 10 years.
21 February, 2007
Lasting co-operation
A broad spectrum of skills forms the core of its defence presentation at IDEX, said Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of EADS Defence Electronics and head of international marketing at EADS Defence and Security Systems (DS). Within this framework, “we are highlighting specific solutions that could be of interest to the Middle East region”.
21 February, 2007
Coastal collaboration
Northrop Grumman (Stand 3107) and Aluminum Chambered Boats (ACB) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore future combat system requirements and capabilities for the US Navy’s anticipated Riverine/Coastal Warfare programme.
21 February, 2007
Thales sight completes trials
Thales Optronics (Land and Joint Systems) is demonstrating its latest gunner’s sight, STAG Dual Axis (DA), on Outdoor Stand 170, which is being marketed at a number of new and upgrade armoured vehicle applications in the Middle East and
elsewhere.
21 February, 2007
Thales extends customer support in the Middle East
Thales has announced the opening of a customer service support centre in the UAE for Air Systems Solutions. The centre, in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, consolidates Thales’ local presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries as well as in Egypt, Iran, Pakistan and Yemen. To further enhance the quality of service for Thales’ customers, engineers from this centre will be permanently based in Egypt and Kuwait.
21 February, 2007
HITFIST punches for more export orders
With an order book of more than 300 units, Italian company Oto Melara (Stand 1506) is now targeting other potential chassis suppliers with its latest generation HITFIST 30mm light turret. This two-person turret is normally armed with an ATK Gun Systems 30mm MK44 cannon that is being adopted by an increasing number of customers with a growth path to 40mm.
21 February, 2007