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Unique UAVs shine at Capital military event

Abu Dhabi - The UAE Armed Forces signed deals worth more than Dh291 million with various international and local companies during the first day of Umex.

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The Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (Umex) and Simulation Exhibition and Conference (SimTex), opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) on Sunday and will run until February 27. 
One of the latest drones exhibited at the event includes a new target drone, Mirach-40 (M-40), suitable for a range of training missions including ground-based air defence (GBAD) artillery training and simulation of aerial targets.
The M-40 drone has the ability to mimic a range of enemy aerial threat and by doing so, allows crews to train with weapon systems such as surface-to-air radar-guided missile systems. The target drone is unique in that it is designed to provide medium-to-high performance at a price comparable with competitor's entry-level drones, able to convincingly mimic a variety of aircraft and missiles, including radar, infrared (IR) and visual threats.
"The way the system works is by appearing on sensors, identical to a threat aircraft or guided missile," said Alessandro Voli, MEA regional head of Leonardo Airborne and Space Systems.
"Weapon and radar operators can track the M-40 and fire upon the drone, realistically training for the day when successfully engaging a real threat will save lives. To ensure its performance appears true-to-life on sensors, the Mirach is able to perform very low-attitude sea-skimming missions, tight formation flights and high-G manoeuvres."
Naval Group brought their new air-raid drone VSR-700, a product developed in partnership with Airbus. The VSR-700 can exceed 10 flight hours of operational autonomy and its payload capacity is up to 150kg. The drone weighs 700 kg and optically it can be manned.
Among other military and security weapons at Umex are the multi-mission robots, vehicles and micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from Nextor Robotics. It addresses three main segments of the robotic systems - small multi-missions tactical robots, heavy robotic vehicles for reconnaissance, road opening automatic logistics transportation and the micro-UAVs.
Umex, one of the world's largest military and armed forces event, has attracted 122 companies from 34 nations.  

Military deals worth Dh291m at Capital event

The UAE Armed Forces signed deals worth more than Dh291 million with various international and local companies during the first day of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (Umex) to help strengthen the country's unmanned and aerospace defence sector. 
The announcement was made at a Press conference by Major Pilot Saeed Mohamed Al Yammahi, official spokesperson of the Umex and Simulation Exhibition and Conference (SimTex) 2018.
The deals included the supply of unmanned planes, simulations and for the training of pilots from the UAE Armed forces. 
The companies that won the deals including five from UAE, three from USA and others from South Africa and Switzerland included; UADASI (Dh72 million), Insitu (Dh44 million), Al Tuff International (Dh41 million), Motion Reality Incorporated MRI (Dh31 million), Cubic Defense Applications (Dh47 million), International Golden Group (Dh16 million), Trust International (Dh215,860), Denel Dynamics (Dh25 million), Inovex Simulation and Training Ltd (Dh12 million) and Advanced Media (Dh78,061).
The event has attracted more companies in the unmanned sector which also include those that produce sensor equipment like radars, cameras, lasers and all those things required in the manufacturing of unmanned equipment.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com