UAE Armed Forces sign contracts worth Dh775m

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Armed Forces yesterday signed deals worth Dh775 million with local and international companies participating at Idex 2007.

Major General Obaid Al Ketbi, chief of logistics at the UAE Armed Forces, said in a news conference yesterday that the Armed Forces signed a deal for 12 fast patrol boats - 34 metres long worth Dh127 million with the Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company (ADSB).

"We have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EADS to purchase three air tankers," said Al Ketbi.

"We signed an MoU with EADS, but the negotiation's door with Boeing still open."

A Boeing spokesperson told Gulf News that company will hold a new round of negotiations with the UAE's Armed Forces for the KC-767 Advanced Tanker," he added.

We had received the full contract of 80 F16 jet fighters from Lockheed Martin, and we are receiving continuous support from the suppliers," said Al Kutbi.

The Idex official spokesman said that Caracal, a local UAE company which specialises in defence products has also won a Dh18 million deal to supply the Armed Forces with a total of 10,000 pistols.

Another local company, International Golden Group, won a contract from the Armed Forces worth Dh390 million to supply 120mm mortars.

General Al Ketbi also told reporters that the army was in talks with American communications supplier Harris to purchase telecommunication equipment worth Dh240 million.

We also signed a contract with PriceWaterHouseCooper (PWC) as the consultancy for evaluating the present condition of the military medical services and the studies for the new Zayed Military Hospital under the supervision of Mubadala Development," he added.

The new National University for Science and Technology and Research will be finished by September 2008.

Al Ketbi told Gulf News that the UAE Armed Forces is highly cooperating with the GCC armies to enhance the role of Al Gazeera Child Forces.

When he asked about the country's military industry, and cooperation with the foreigners companies, he said that the UAE forces is encourage the local companies to make alliances and cooperate with international companies.

"There are some joint projects with regional and international manufacturers especially in the technology and defence systems... we will announce more deals for the UAE Armed Forces in the coming days," he added. The day also saw the official inauguration of the naval berthing demonstration. 15 ships representing seven countries are berthed at the Free Port in Abu Dhabi.