Abu Dhabi: The UAE signed 19 defence contracts totalling Dh4.9 billion on Tuesday with three more expected to be signed, a top official said.
Major General Obaid Al Ketbi, chairman of the organising committee for the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex 2013), announced that the UAE in particular focuses on encouraging local firms which proved that they have international standards.
“Our local companies are well established and they produce products that are of high quality at the international level. We are diversifying our economy in line with our strategic vision for the UAE,” he said.
With this, the total value of deals signed at Idex 2013 rose to Dh15 billion in three days.
Yesterday’s signed deals include a Dh1.8 billion agreement with AMMROC, a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, to maintain aircraft, a Dh430.7 million deal with Raytheon, to buy GBU12 and GBU58 bomb integrators.
Analysts say that the deals are crucial for building the defence capability of the Arab world’s second biggest economy as the country plays an increasingly important role in the regional and global affairs.
The UAE Armed Forces has signed a Dh829.8 million deal with Caracal Company to purchase light ammunition while in a separate deal worth Dh27.8 million, it signed with the US-based Airborne System to buy GPAD which are guided umbrellas controlled by Satellites.
The UAE Armed Forces has also signed a Dh209 million agreement with Darwish Bin Ahmad, a local company, to supply vehicles while it has assigned Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company to maintain the Baynounah fleet in a deal worth Dh265 million. International Golden Group, a local company, has been assigned by the UAE Armed Forces to supply ammunition, in a deal worth Dh378.1 million. UK-based Rockwell Collins has been assigned to supply and install Firestorm System for shooting, worth Dh146.9 million.
Al Fahd Smart Systems, a local company, will install security systems and devices at certain locations for Dh45.9 million while the UAE Armed Forces signed a Dh119.4 million deal with ADASI, a local company, to supply MX-10 Cameras.
