"We will be investing in the programme. We are in talks with the national banks and UAE Offsets Group to support the programme," Brigadier General Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bu Ainnain of UAE Air Force and Air Defence.
A MoU was signed by UAE with EADS to contribute to the design and testing of various components and systems in the Mako aircraft.
EADS officials had been urging the UAE to invest in the Mako programme apart from supporting the programme through other ways.
As the advanced trainer and light combat aircraft programme enters its third stage, three UAE organisations are joining forces with the Mako team.
Wolfram Wolff, military spokesman for EADS Aeronautics, said that as the programme progresses, an indepth contract between prime partner, the UAE Air Force and Air Defence will be concluded soon.
"We want a commitment in terms of financing from the UAE as we enter the next milestone of producing the prototype. We have spent over e10 billion, and we want to increase the number of risk and revenue sharing partners," he said.
Significantly, most of the other GCC countries have evinced "strong interest" in the Mako programme. "We have met their delegations," he said, declining to name any country.
The Mako programme was launched at Dubai Air Show in 1999, and a second MoU signed at Idex 2001.
Individual MoUs between EADS and UAE Air Force were signed at the Le Bourget Air Show in June this year with companies such as Bae Systems, BGTDiehl, Fairey Hydraulics, APPH Precision Hydraulics, and Snecma Group.
"From now on we plan to increase the momentum of the most advanced trainer aircraft and LCA programme by signing additional MoUs, including those with the Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Co (Gamco), Higher College of Technology and the UAE University, Al Ain," he said.
The partners predict a bright future for Mako due to the unique family concept by offering an optimum solution for future pilot training and the LCA role.
Airframe, general systems, core avionics and the engine concept will have a high degree of commonality for all Mako roles.
Mako, he added, is the only aircraft in fighter aircraft class that will provide air forces with a modern flying weapon system at a low cost of ownership.
EADS is displaying the full-scale twin-seater mock-up and the fully functional Mako cockpit demonstrator at the air show.