UAE to buy drones, missiles, military vehicles for Dh5.2 bn

On the second day of the International Defence Exhibition (Idex-2013), the region’s defence conference, on Monday, the UAE Armed Forces announced it had signed 17 contracts with several local and foreign companies to procure modern weaponry, including laser-guided missiles, rockets and naval defence systems.

Announcing the deals, Staff Major General Obaid Al Kitbi said the most sizeable contract had been awarded to United States firm Oshkosh to procure MATVS 750 all-terrain armed military vehicles, amounting to Dh1.4 billion alone.

A raft of local firms also picked up lucrative contracts.

The forces will purchase Dh722 million worth of drones, known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Predators, from Abu Dhabi security and defence company International Golden Group (IGG). However, Major General Al Kitbi did not disclose the number of UAVs to be procured. IGG also won a Dh350 million contract to provide Information Technology system for the joint logistics system. International defence contractors SAAB, IBM and ID Systems would carry out the IT work, Gen. Al Kitbi said.

The General said that the Laser Guided Rockets would be purchased from Abu Dhabi-owned Tawazun Holding along with the launch platform and fully integrated logistics support. The total value of the contract is Dh720 million.

A Dh375 million contract has been signed with the Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company, which will acquire and install the naval defence system RAM on the naval ships.

Another deal has been inked with local firm Knowledge Point to provide strategic consultation to the UAE Armed Forces, at a cost of Dh345 million.

The armed forces chose to award a major Dh157 million contract to Al Ain-based AMMROC, a Mubadala unit which provides maintenance, repair and overhauling of the aircraft. AMMROC will upgrade the transport aircraft C-130s and install modern avionics.

Other local firms to emerge victorious include Air Falcon, who will supply sniper rifles, binoculars and accessories to the tune of Dh67 million; Atlas Communications Company who will supply communication equipment and its spares in a contract worth Dh27.2 million; Al Waqaia, who will provide anti-chemical warfare gear and equipment valuing Dh11.7 million.

Meanwhile, missiles worth Dh472 million will be purchased from Russia’s IPB company.

And a contract valued at Dh215 million was awarded to the leading consultancy firm Booz & Co to provide consultancy on a joint logistics programme.

Other million-dirham contracts went to firms in South Korea and France.

haseeb@khaleejtimes.com