Latest news with #AhmedHashim
Arabian Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Dubai prepares for launch of world's first commercial flying taxi service
Dubai is set to become the first city globally to introduce a commercial air taxi service, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of urban mobility. This groundbreaking move follows the successful completion of full-scale test flights by US-based Joby Aviation, a company leading the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The service is planned to roll out in 2026, making Dubai a frontrunner in shaping the future of urban air transportation. The launch of the air taxi service has been confirmed by local authorities and Joby Aviation, who have been collaborating since 2021 on the ambitious project. Ahmed Hashim, a senior official involved in the Dubai Air Mobility Initiative, stated that Dubai aims to be a global leader in shaping the future of transportation and that this project is a step toward achieving that vision. The service will initially cater to high-demand corridors within the city, providing a fast, eco-friendly, and efficient means of travel for residents and visitors alike. Joby Aviation's eVTOL aircraft is at the forefront of a new era in aviation, with zero-emission, quiet, and highly efficient designs. The aircraft, capable of carrying four passengers, will be powered entirely by electricity, reducing the city's reliance on traditional transportation methods and helping to address growing concerns about pollution and traffic congestion. With a top speed of 200 miles per hour and a range of 150 miles, the eVTOL promises to offer both a sustainable and cost-effective solution to the increasing urban mobility challenges facing cities worldwide. ADVERTISEMENT The development of the air taxi service in Dubai is part of the city's broader strategy to embrace cutting-edge technologies in transport, aligning with its vision to become a global smart city. The Dubai Air Mobility Initiative, launched by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, is a comprehensive plan that incorporates aerial taxis, autonomous vehicles, and drone technology to address urban mobility needs. This initiative aims to reduce road congestion, lower carbon emissions, and improve accessibility. Dubai has long been at the forefront of adopting advanced technologies, from its extensive use of autonomous vehicles to its pioneering infrastructure developments. The introduction of the flying taxi service represents a natural next step in the city's ambitions to be a global leader in innovation. The government has already invested heavily in building the necessary infrastructure, including takeoff and landing hubs strategically located throughout the city. The Dubai air taxi service is expected to attract significant interest from global aviation companies, transport authorities, and investors, looking to replicate the model in their own cities. The city's decision to spearhead the project is a calculated move to position itself as a leader in the burgeoning air mobility market, which is forecasted to grow rapidly in the coming years. Experts in the aviation and transport industries have expressed their optimism about the potential of flying taxis. They see Dubai's initiative as a catalyst for future developments in urban air mobility. 'Dubai is creating a blueprint for the rest of the world to follow,' said Andrew Parsons, a consultant specialising in future transport technologies. While the air taxi project has generated excitement, it also raises a number of regulatory and safety challenges. As flying taxis will operate in crowded urban environments, the need for robust air traffic management systems is critical. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has been working closely with Joby Aviation and other stakeholders to develop the necessary airspace regulations to ensure the safety of these aircraft and passengers. Additionally, infrastructure for charging and maintaining the eVTOLs will need to be built in line with the rapid expansion of the service. The transition from prototype to commercial service is expected to take several years, with full-scale operations set to begin in 2026. Joby Aviation has already completed a series of test flights in collaboration with the RTA and other partners to refine the design and ensure the eVTOLs meet safety and performance standards. As the project progresses, further trials and demonstrations will take place to address any technical or regulatory concerns that may arise.
ABC News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
What video can tell us about Iran and Israel's military strategies
Analysis of video and images showing Israeli and Iranian strikes on each other's territory reveals two very different strategies being employed in the conflict. ABC NEWS Verify has looked at the vision and images of missile and drone strikes across Iran and Israel, assessing the type of munitions used and what it could mean for the length of the armed engagement. They reveal Iran's strategy appears to be one of overwhelming Israeli defence capabilities, in the hope its ground-launched missiles will breach the country's missile defence systems. Israel, meanwhile, has employed a strategy using more targeted strikes, launched from fighter jets or drones, to hit infrastructure and personnel. Expert in war studies in the Middle East for Deakin University, associate professor Ahmed Hashim, said the conflict so far has been solely aerial — fighter jets, drones and missiles launched from silos or the backs of trucks. "[This is] an aerial war between the most advanced air force in the region and the most advanced ballistic missile capability in the Middle East," he said. Video shot in Beirut, Lebanon, shows some of the ballistic missiles Iran has launched from its territory, but Dr Hashim said it would be a fraction of the country's stockpile. "[They have] the most extensive range of ballistic missiles, no other country in the Middle East and very few other countries in the region have that," he said. When the missiles get through Israel's missile defence systems, as they did in the city of Haifa, Dr Hashim said he believed hypersonic missiles such as Iran's Fattah-1 were being used. "It is an extensive capability that has given them considerable power, but Israel still has an air force second to none." Anti-missile systems such as Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow have a reported 90 per cent success rate, but Dr Hashim said Iran's retaliatory strategy has been to overwhelm the defences. "They're using a mixture of hypersonics and solid- and liquid-fuel ballistic missiles, and basically what they're trying to do is to create a concept of operations to deceive the Israeli defensive systems." Dr Hashim also disputed Iron Dome's claimed success rate. "We also have to be a little bit wary of both sides making bombastic claims, and you know these are quite often for propaganda," he said, noting that Iran also makes unverifiable claims about its missiles. In Iran, video shows smoke rising from a city. Dr Hashim said it was evidence of strikes launched from fighter jets, rather than missiles launched from sites within Israel. Israel uses a modified version of the F-35 fighter jet, the F-35I, Dr Hashim told ABC NEWS Verify. Missiles launched from an F-35I can hit a target many kilometres away from the aircraft's airborne position, he said. This image of Haifa's oil refinery, taken on June 16, shows a large damage zone. Dr Hashim said ballistic missiles tend to be used on larger targets like power plants and oil refineries that don't require precision. This image, taken in Tehran, which first appeared online on June 13, shows a small puncture in the side of a building near Nobonyad Square, a likely missile attack, he said. Separately, an Israeli security source told Reuters that Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, had deployed weapons from within Iran, including drones and precision-guided weapons systems. Grainy footage released by the agency showed two camouflaged figures crouched in desert terrain. The video could not be independently verified. Dr Hashim told ABC NEWS Verify that Iran had let its air force age in recent years. "Iran's Air Force is largely an antique museum piece. Because it's largely 40-45 years old," he said. "Iran was hoping to revitalise its air force when sanctions were off. "But basically, they've put their eggs in the basket of ballistic missiles. And they've developed a whole generation of ballistic missiles, including the hypersonic Fatah 1 and Fatah 2." Israel, Dr Hashim said, is looking for total regime change, and for that, they'll need time. The key site inside Iran in the coming days will be the Fordow nuclear facility, according to Dr Hashim. Fordow is an underground uranium-enrichment facility about 30km north-east of the city of Qom. "If you destroy Fordow, you're actually hitting a major element of the legitimacy of the regime," Dr Hashim said Satellite imagery makes it clear that Israel has already done significant damage to Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. Dr Hashim told ABC NEWS Verify that Israel was trying to wear Iran down. "This is a war of attrition," he said. "It could go from, 'OK, we'll degrade its capabilities for as long as possible that the regime falls,' or enough chaos happens, or they essentially surrender."
