Page 30 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)
P. 30
Intel
Report
UAE’s
modernisation drive
m od e r n i s a t io n d r i v e
In the face of a perceived
increasing Iranian threat,
the United Arab Emirates’
military continues to
modernise, as Alan
Warnes witnessed at this
year’s Dubai Airshow.
F or a week in mid-November, was among the
Saab
Dubai was the focus of the
military aerospace industry.
statement from UAE spokesmen
On the eve of the airshow, the Dubai winners at Dubai, with a surprise
International Air Chiefs Conference on November 20 for acquisition of
on November 16 provided two additional GlobalEye airborne
an insight into the important early warning and control (AEW&C)
themes for local commanders. aircraft valued at US$1.018bn. They
Al Maktoum International Airport add to the three already ordered
then hosted the biennial Dubai in two separate contracts revealed
Airshow from November 17-21. in November 2015 and February
Many of the deals signed were 2016 and worth a combined
part of wider efforts to modernise US$1.5bn. Appropriately, the
the local aerospace industry GlobalEye made its public debut
and bolster the capabilities of at the aerospace show in Dubai.
the UAE’s military. Iran is still More surprising was the
considered a major threat to the November 21 disclosure of the
UAE, which is part of the Saudi- US$620m deal for the UAE to
led coalition in Yemen. The UAE acquire 24 Calidus B-250 turboprop
also supports Field Marshal trainer/light attack aircraft. A
Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National UAE Air Force and Air Defence
Above: The UAE’s announcement, that it will acquire two additional GlobalEyes, Army (LNA) against the Turkish- (UAEAF&AD) spokesperson told
seemed to catch even Saab executives by surprise. All photos Alan Warnes unless backed Government of National reporters: “It’s a UAE platform for
stated Top: A UAEAF&AD Mirage 2000-9 in the flying display. Waqas Shah
Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli. the UAE.” The delivery schedule is
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