Latest news with #Idex
The National
21-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Idex 2025: UAE awards $6.8bn in contracts at region's biggest defence expo
The UAE awarded 55 defence contracts worth Dh25.15 billion ($6.8 billion) during the five days of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, the largest defence and security expo in the Middle East. Up to 68 per cent of the deals were awarded to local companies at Idex, which runs from February 17 to 21 this year. On Friday, the UAE Armed Forces awarded 11 contracts worth Dh766.3 million to local companies. International firms landed four deals valued at Dh661.6 million, said officials at Tawazun Council, the defence and security regulator and acquisitions authority. The total value of deals on day five of the event reached Dh1.43 billion. On the first day, the UAE awarded contracts worth Dh3.97 billion , while on the second, third and fourth days, deals totalled Dh5.8 billion, Dh10.18 billion and Dh3.77 billion, respectively. More to follow...
The National
21-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Idex 2025: Ukraine defence firms woo foreign buyers in hope of deals when export ban ends
Ukrainian defence companies are wooing potential foreign buyers with "combat-tested" weapons at the Middle East's biggest defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi, in hope of capturing new markets once a government-imposed ban on arms exports is lifted. Ukraine's defence industry stands, housing both state-owned and private companies at the International Defence Exhibition (Idex), were packed with visitors keen to know more about products on display, from drones to ammunitions and military technology and weapons systems that exhibitors say have proven their capabilities on the battlefield during the three-year war with Russia. "It's reliable, it's battle-proven, it's a reasonable price and one of our advantages is that we can produce them in big volumes,"Sergii Goncharov, chief executive of National Association of Ukrainian Defence Industries (NAUDI) told The National on the sidelines of Idex. "We have a growing army ... and we always need to increase our capacity." The Ukrainian government has imposed a ban on exporting weapons during its war with Russia as Ukraine defends itself against a much larger enemy. The country has pushed to accelerate the domestic weapons production to better arm its soldiers on the frontline to confront their well-equipped adversary. Ukrainian companies have transformed processes at their manufacturing facilities since the invasion, rapidly stepping up production of drones as well as other weapons. This week Washington and Moscow began talks aimed at ending the war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. US President Donald Trump cut Ukraine out of negotiations and appears more sympathetic to Russia, in an about-face in US policy that has rattled Ukraine and its European allies. NAUDI is showcasing 20 defence companies at Idex, mostly focused on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Exhibitors said they are at the defence expo primarily to update international buyers about their latest products and encourage foreign sales of military equipment and spare parts to Ukraine. Although an export ban remains in place, defence deals can take years to conclude and Ukrainian companies said they want to get a head-start on talking to prospective customers so that they are ready to speed up negotiations once the ban lifts. "We also have a diplomatic role to show that Ukraine still exists, still fighting, still providing high-end technology," Mr Goncharov said. Ukrspecexport, a state-owned company for export and import of defence products, is showcasing about 40 products at its stand, including laser-activated munitions and AI-driven drones. Ukrainian defence companies are mainly targeting buyers from Nato member countries, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. Touting the latest Ukrainian UAVs, GPS-jamming systems, rockets and armoured vehicles that have been used in the war with Russia, the NAUDI boss said there has been "huge interest" at Idex. Ukrainian defence manufacturer UKR Armo Tech also unveiled its latest armoured vehicle, the GYURZA-O2, at the expo this week. The company, established in 2022 with 30 workers, now employs 1,500 people as it has boosted production capacity to meet orders from Ukraine's armed forces. "It's not allowed to export Ukrainian [arms] product now but we are looking at the future, we want to show potential customers our products and after our government allows us to sell abroad, these customers will know us," Mykola Riabyi, financial director of UKR Armo, told The National. The company is ready for international sales and partnerships and has received positive feedback in discussed during Idex, where it is targeting customers from the Middle East and Africa, he said. NAUDI's chief executive expects the Ukrainian government's ban on arms exports to be lifted this year following discussions with officials in 2024. "I'm pretty sure that the decision for opening up the exports will be made because 2024 was the year of high-intensity discussions that we need to start exporting our production," Mr Gonchorov said. "Starting from 2022, we launched new segments, technologies and export potential for prospective companies." Ukraine's defence companies can produce €30 billion ($31.5 billion) worth of weapons every year, but Kyiv can only afford to spend €7 billion to €10 billion, according to NAUDI. The solution to fill this gap is to start exporting Ukrainian military equipment or to encourage partner countries to buy Ukrainian products for the Ukrainian army, Mr Gonchorov said. Earlier this week, the UAE and Ukraine formally signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as they seek to boost trade and investment ties. President Sheikh Mohamed and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks in Abu Dhabi as part of the Ukrainian leader's visit to the Emirates. The two leaders explored ways to strengthen partnerships in key areas such as the economy, investment, renewable energy and food security. The Cepa deal is a "good step for further co-operation and to discover each other's countries," even if the announcement does not include military equipment, Mr Gonchorov said. The UAE knows Ukraine as a reliable and high-tech partner who is "ready to start joint ventures and ready to share technology", he said. "If we increase our agriculture exports to the UAE for example, it will lead to growth in our economy, an increase in taxes from our companies and as a result, an increase in our defence budget." NAUDI is also urging Ukraine's partners is to "purchase from Ukraine for Ukraine". "One of our messages for our partners is that if you want to support Ukraine, you can easily order Ukrainian defence solutions for the Ukraine army, so that you're not only supporting the Ukrainian army, you're also supporting the Ukrainian economy, so you kill two rabbits with one stone," said Mr Goncharov. Exhibitors said their products are undergoing constant upgrades and modifications in response to the real-time requirements on the battlefield. "For example, the GPS jamming system has hugely evolved during the last three years because it's like a competition between the UAV and the jamming system and the counter-UAV," said Mr Goncharov. "This war is extremely technological for us. It's a mix between the First World War with trenches and fortification, and Third World War with artificial intelligence and high-precision weapons ... for us it's a huge challenge, for Ukraine it's a huge tragedy." At the opposite end of Ukraine's pavilion, Russian defence companies were out in full force with a massive exhibit of 200 products from companies such as Kalashnikov, UVZ and Shvabe. Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport featured armoured vehicles, combat modules, artillery, ammunition, anti-aircraft systems and small arms. One of the products on display was the T-90MS 'Breakthrough' tank that has been upgraded based on the what Russia calls its "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine. Russia's arms exports are continuing to its foreign customers, despite the Ukraine war, one of the industry's top officials said. "We see great demand for our equipment. The portfolio [of exports] is more than $60 billion. We understand that in the current situation we have to supply a lot to the Russian army, but at the same time, the production capacity in increasing," Sergei Chemezov, the head of Russian state industrial conglomerate Rostec, said at a media briefing during Idex. "We increase our potential for exports to our foreign partners."
The National
21-02-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Italy's Leonardo optimistic about partnership with UAE's Edge Group
Lorenzo Mariani, co-general manager of the Italian aerospace and defence sector giant Leonardo, sat down with The National at the Idex defence expo in Abu Dhabi to talk about the company's expanding ventures in the Middle East, including the "strategic agreement" announced this week with the UAE's Edge Group. Leonardo and the Edge Group, a technology conglomerate with a reputation for advanced unmanned air and ground systems and armoured vehicles, share similar visions, Mr Mariani said. Both organisations showcased a range of new military capabilities at Idex, from Leonardo's next-generation AW249 attack helicopter, which is designed to be paired with drones, to Edge Group and Milrem Robotics' joint project Havoc, an eight-wheel drive uncrewed vehicle that can carry nearly five tonnes up to 600km. Both machines are at the leading edge of what is sometimes called manned-unmanned teaming, which envisions networks of ground and aerial drones disrupting enemy positions while keeping the assaulting force in relative safety. 'What really excites me is that Edge Group is really enthusiastic about technology. They really want to develop new technology and to be a reference point, not only for the UAE, but also for other countries in the region in terms of exports, so bringing concrete benefits to their country and the whole area,' Mr Mariano said. 'Secondly, they have a real spirit of co-operation. And I think this is key, because in today's world, that is moving very fast, unfortunately, due to external events and conflicts, changing from day to day, co-operation is key. That's not just relating to new threats but new technologies too.' The Leonardo-Edge agreement will focus on "the design of cutting edge, complex systems in disruptive sectors with significant market potential", a press release said. Hamad Al Marar, Edge Group managing director and chief executive, said it was a "win-win" and would build "on the strong relationship between the UAE and Italy". The Leonardo industrial group, which traces its history through decades of ambitious Italian and European technology ventures, has deep experience in multinational, multi-company projects including the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Airbus A380 and the International Space Station. But there are equally important breakthroughs it can point to, from working on next-generation radars to hyperspectral sensors in space, which can examine the chemical composition of different parts of the Earth's surface from orbit. More recently, it has expanded into what is arguably the most complex field of innovation, semiconductor fabrication, where progress is measured at the near-invisible nanoscale. 'Traditionally we've been focused on co-operation in Europe, sharing our missile activities with Airbus and BAE Systems, now recently sharing our tank competencies with Rheinmetall. But I think now in key fields such as air defence, artificial intelligence, cyber and such domains, we have to find alternatives and more agile ways of co-operation. Edge is really on the same frequency,' he said. In December, Leonardo formalised a joint project with BAE Systems and the Japanese aeronautical company Jaiec to work on the Global Combat Air Programme, an ambitious project to field a next-generation fighter jet, sometimes referred to as a sixth-generation jet. These are typically imagined to be enabled by a high level of autonomy, or AI, operating as control aircraft for fast, stealthy attack drones. They are often characterised by powerful electronic warfare capabilities that can be rapidly upgraded or even reprogrammed in-flight. To secure this high-tech vision, defence planners are increasingly focused on supply chains of the best microchip or semiconductor technology. The UAE is a massive investor in AI, the brains of which are the world's 'leading edge' chips. Last week, France and the UAE announced a partnership for joint AI-focused data centres. In modern warfare, chip technology has often trailed behind civilian tech but increasingly this is no longer the case. The best chips are required for autonomous systems – drones which use computer vision – rapidly processing vast amounts of data to fly and find targets on their own. Other leading edge chip applications in war involve using AI to help quick decision-making under fire, in environments where soldiers could come under attack from fast-moving drones, while monitoring multiple sources of data such as video feeds and early-warning systems. Some projects in the US envision entirely AI-led dogfights. A key concern is that the supply chains for these chips are contested by world powers, and that in the next big conflict there may not be enough raw materials and manufacturing capacity for the best semiconductors. One material often mentioned in the defence sector is gallium nitride, a critical material for building energy-dense semiconductors with high heat tolerance and high efficiency. Gallium nitride semiconductors are vital for Active Electronically Scanned Array radars – essentially 'smart' radars that can shape and rapidly move multiple radar beams at once, taking on different tasks, and even deceiving or jamming enemy radar. Leonardo was one of the first companies to work on Aesa technology in the 1990s. Right now, the defence sector accounts for only about 15 per cent of the demand for gallium nitride, but that is set to change. 'Semiconductors are a key element that is crucial for defence and civilian industry. Let's remember that a good portion of the issues facing the automotive industry during the Ukrainian conflict and Covid were related to the free movement of ships and supply chains. Demand for semiconductors in the civilian market is much higher than for defence, but defence is strategic, of course," Mr Mariani said. 'For semiconductors Leonardo has always considered the foundry activity as a core one, we traditionally have our internal foundry, at least to manage at design level, key elements of our radar, key elements of our electronic warfare equipment, and even in the UK, for the infrared detectors. So we were really taking care of the in-house component.' Like the UAE, Italy is making its own strategic investments in securing its share of the semiconductor supply, chain and last year the government announced $10.7 billion to boost local manufacturing and related processes such as advanced packaging, which refers to the highly delicate process of integrating and protecting tiny chips into systems. 'We have in place key investment already and in progress, in order to ensure that a basic capacity, and a basic sovereign capability and secure supply is guaranteed to Leonardo for key equipment,' Mr Mariani said. 'Of course, the quantities for production often demand larger installations, larger equipment, and in that case we still rely a lot on Taiwan, for example.' Mr Mariani is optimistic on the combined vision of Leonardo's partnership with Edge. 'It's important to identify practical elements for the collaboration. For sure, we want to always be strategic in our collaborations, so as to find the long-term goal. But then the key for the success of the collaboration is to also find short-term projects, short-term products, short-term customers, to apply the fruit of this collaboration. And that has always been our strength,' he said.
The National
20-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Idex 2025: UAE awards contracts worth Dh24bn in first four days of region's biggest defence expo
The UAE awarded 40 defence contracts worth Dh23.72 billion ($6.45 billion) in the first four days of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex), the biggest defence and security expo in the Middle East. Domestic and international companies clinched 12 deals worth Dh3.77 billion on Thursday, carrying forward the momentum built over the previous three days, said officials at Tawazun Council, the defence and security regulator, and acquisitions authority in the UAE. UAE Armed Forces awarded contracts worth Dh3.97 billion on day one, while on the second and third day, the value of deals was Dh5.8 billion and Dh10.18 billion, respectively. Domestic companies were awarded seven deals worth Dh1.25 billion, on day four, while international contractors clinched five deals, valued at Dh2.51 billion. The US-based defence conglomerate Lockheed Martin won the biggest deal among international companies worth Dh764.6 million to provide technical support services and spare parts for Black Hawk helicopters. Nexter Munitions was awarded a deal valued at Dh766 million to provide spare parts, repair and technical support for Leclerc tanks. Other major international deals were a Dh753 million contract with Swedish defence company Saab to provide maintenance services for G6000 SRSS early warning aircraft, as well as a Dh219.1 million contract with Leonardo to procure Augusta helicopters. Rohde & Schwarz landed a deal valued at Dh10.8 million to procure wireless surveillance systems with accessories. Among the domestic companies, International Golden Group was awarded a Dh488 million contract to procure ammunition, while Trust, an arm of Edge Group, won a Dh487.7 million deal to purchase fire support systems. Other big deals among domestic companies were a Dh233 million contract with National Factory for Safety and Security to purchase military grade shoes and a Dh22.5 million deal with Itqan Al Khaleej Computers to provide technical support services. Emirates Motor Company, Bayanat and AM Industries also won contracts valued at Dh10 million, Dh6 million and Dh4.54 million, respectively. The Arab world's second-largest economy, is focusing on boosting its defence manufacturing capabilities as part of its overarching economic transformation agenda to cut its reliance on hydrocarbons sector. The UAE's Operation 300 Billion strategy seeks to increase the contribution of its industrial sector to the country's GDP from Dh133 billion in 2021 to Dh300 billion by 2031. Separately, Trust, an Edge entity, which provides advanced equipment, technology and services for national security and defence forces, is teaming up with Leonardo DRS, a US-based defence contractor, it was announced on Thursday. The two companies will collaborate in the procurement and systems integration of cutting-edge technology with a focus on 'situational awareness systems for vehicle integration". 'This initiative aligns with the country's vision of enhancing local defence capabilities and fostering partnerships that bring advanced technologies to the region,' Edge said. Trust also signed a preliminary agreement with Australia's Point Trading Group for the supply of night-vision goggles, as well as a deal with Germany's Diehl Defence to strengthen UAE's defence capabilities. In another agreement, Edge unit Al Taif will be collaborating with FNSS to modernise UAE Armed Forces' infantry fighting vehicles to boost their performance. FNSS is a global company that specialises in designing and producing wheeled and tracked armoured combat vehicles, among other products. 'We are looking to integrate advanced technologies to extend the lifespan and effectiveness of the UAE Armed Forces' armoured fleet, ultimately enhancing their mission readiness and performance," said Rashed Al Kaabi, chief executive of Al Taif. Meanwhile, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and Ammroc, a military aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul services provider, announced a partnership to boost collaboration in aviation training and skills development. Edge Group is also teaming up with Australia's Codan Communications to strengthen military radio communication capabilities in the UAE as part of a separate agreement signed by the company on Thursday.
CairoScene
19-02-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Abu Dhabi to Become Key Hub for Earth Observation Satellite Production
Abu Dhabi to Become Key Hub for Earth Observation Satellite Production Abu Dhabi is set to become a key centre for Earth observation satellite production, following a AED 378 million agreement aimed at expanding the UAE's capabilities in space technology. The contract, awarded to AI-powered SpaceTech company Space42 by Fada, a subsidiary of military contractor Edge, will be executed over five years to enhance geospatial data collection and analytics. As part of the agreement, Space42 will utilise its Foresight constellation of synthetic-aperture radar satellites to provide geospatial insights to government entities. The data is expected to support urban planning, environmental monitoring and national security efforts. Space42 was formed through the merger of Bayanat, a geospatial analytics company, and YahSat, making it one of the most valuable publicly listed space firms. Fada, launched in September as Edge's dedicated space-focused subsidiary, has been working to establish a strong foundation for the UAE's growing space sector. The announcement of the contract followed plans unveiled at the Idex defense fair, where both companies introduced an initiative to build an industrial-scale Earth observation satellite manufacturing center in Abu Dhabi. The facility will produce satellites for both commercial and defense applications, handling design, procurement, deployment, and operation. Beyond manufacturing, the project will oversee the entire lifecycle of satellite systems, including deployment, ground infrastructure, and data processing. Engineers at the facility will construct payloads, the components responsible for data collection, with the capability to produce multiple satellites, each weighing hundreds of kilograms, simultaneously.
