UAE testing latest technology

The UAE Air Force is testing and developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at its UAV Research and Technology Centre in Abu Dhabi.

These are being developed and assembled in collaboration with Swedish, German and Korean companies, said a company spokesman at the show.

The APID 55 a fully autonomous multipurpose vertical take-off and landing UAV at the airshow has been designed and built by CybAero and is being assembled in Abu Dhabi, said Harvard Gullbekk, CybAero test manager.

Some of its components such as the fuselage has been made by Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO) in Abu Dhabi, he said.

GAMCO officials confirmed the company was making some components for the UAVs but declined to comment further.

The control station for the APID is being provided by Ucon Systems, a South Korean company.

On display next to the APID is the Schiebel Camcopter, which has been called a next generation vertical take off and landing UAV.

Edward Kennedy, engineer, US Department of Defence, said the UAV's had wide applications both in civilian and military sectors. He said UAV's have many civilian applications, for example, the agricultural sector uses it to determine the soil conditions and so on. The more basic military applications include border surveillance, he said.

"Many countries are now beginning to make UAVs used for intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR). These are fitted with cameras and other surveillance equipment which are commercially available and hence relatively easier to manufacture," said Kennedy.

"UAVs which are weaponised need a more sophisticated technical manufacturing capability since they have to take heavier payloads.

"Fewer countries are into the development and manufacture of the UAVs with combat facilities. More countries are doing the UAVs with civilian applications," he said. DefenseNews in its recent issue has reported that the UAE Air Force has been working with GAMCO for three years to develop UAVs for surveillance, target practice and other missions.

It has quoted Major General Khaled AlBu Ainain, Commander of UAE Air Force and Air Defense, saying that UAE now has a local UAV programme.

"The UAV will be produced locally in partnership with a foreign company," he was quoted by Defense News.

He told the newspaper the UAVs under development include miniature, rotary-wing and tactical models.

The air force is particularly keen on a UAV to fill the ISR role as part of the military's push for total battlefield information awareness, Al-Bu Ainain told DefenseNews. The DefenseNews also quoted an unnamed western military officials based in Abu Dhabi who said the UAE's attempt to build a UAV locally was infact a premature and costly move.

The officials said that there were many advanced UAVs available in the market and it was a waste of time and money to develop the cutting edge planes from scratch.