Finmeccanica at IDEX 2009: high-tech collaboration with aerospace and defence industry in the UAE

Finmeccanica, Italy’s leading high-tech group, will be exhibiting at IDEX 2009, held in Abu Dhabi from 22 to 26 February. The Group will be displaying its system integrator capabilities in aerospace and defence applications including homeland security, border and EEZ control, air traffic management, helicopters, naval guns and turrets, communications and training of military pilots. In recent years Finmeccanica and the UAE have formed many rewarding partnerships, the latest being an agreement for a hi-tech industrial partnership signed in October 2008 between Finmeccanica’s Alenia Aeronautica and Mubadala Development Company to manufacture aerospace composite components for civil aircrafts at the Abu Dhabi-based composites plant.

In the early spring of 2008, SELEX Sistemi Integrati, a Finmeccanica company, signed an agreement in Abu Dhabi with ATS, a local company that operates in the Homeland Security sector. This international agreement will see the two companies jointly bid for tenders relating to the supply of integrated security equipment and systems, particularly for territorial and border surveillance and control. The agreement follows the creation in 2005 of the Abu Dhabi Systems Integration (ADSI) joint venture between SELEX Sistemi Integrati and Abu Dhabi Ship Building. Finmeccanica is keen to develop its relations with the country’s industry to a much greater extent than at present, with the aim of exchanging state-of-the-art technology and creating joint programmes. There are many attractive opportunities for cooperation between Italy and the United Arab Emirates, most notably with respect to Alenia Aermacchi’s M-346 Master, shortlisted for the new UAE advanced trainer. Another important area is the field of ground, coastal and port surveillance, in which SELEX Sistemi Integrati can design and build complete systems. Finmeccanica will be exhibiting at IDEX 2009 with its companies Alenia Aeronautica, Alenia Aermacchi, AgustaWestland, DRS Technologies, Elsag Datamat, Oto Melara, SELEX Communications, SELEX Galileo, SELEX Sistemi Integrati, Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space. All these companies have a long track record as key suppliers of high-tech products to the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region, and are acknowledged as reliable industrial partners in the development of growth strategies in international markets. Alenia Aeronautica is the Italian industrial leader in aeronautical production and one of the world's most advanced companies in this field, with products that range from next-generation defence, transport and ASW/MP aircraft, to commercial and unmanned aircraft, aerostructures and aircraft maintenance, overhaul and modification. Among the products on display on Finmeccanica stand are: ATR72 aircraft in ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) version to perform efficiently anti-submarine, anti-ship, SAR and EEZ patrol roles.

The C- 27J, the only purpose-designed military airlifter in its category, featuring extreme operating flexibility, all-weather day/night operations and able to operate from unpaved and sandy strips. The Sky-Y conceived as a technology demonstrator for a Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) surveillance UAV. Its purpose is to develop enabling technologies that increase the aircraft's performances, the capabilities in autonomous flight and data collection and distribution technologies. Sky-Y has an allcomposite structure, all-electric systems and a diesel engine of automotive derivation giving it up to 12 hours' endurance. Alenia Aermacchi is the leading European company in the design, development and production of integrated training systems. To date, Alenia Aermacchi has sold more than 2,000 trainers to 40 different customer nations. Among the products on display: M-346 Master, which provides the most advanced response to current military training needs by combining top-class performance, high manoeuvrability and limited costs. An M-346 mock-up is on display in the outdoor area. The M-311, the new solution for the basic/advanced fast jet phase of the pilot training syllabus, is also on show. AgustaWestland is a technology leader in the helicopter market with an unrivalled range of rotorcraft products and services designed to satisfy the requirements of commercial and military customers. Many AgustaWestland helicopters operate in the Gulf area. The company’s products range from the innovative 2.8-ton light single-engine AW119 Koala, to the 16-ton three-engine AW101/US101. Other helicopters include the AW109 Power, the Grand, the AW129 combat helicopter, the multi-role Super Lynx 300, the AW139 medium twin, the BA609 tilt-rotor and the 11 ton NH90, in which AgustaWestland has a 32% stake. Among the products on display: AW139, the new standard in the medium-twin helicopter market, which redefines the concept of flexibility and versatility with unmatched performance and operational capabilities. The AW109 LUH has established itself as the world's best selling military light-twin helicopter, able to satisfy a wide range of military requirements. The AW101 is the benchmark medium-lift helicopter, which is now in service with operators around the world. The three-engine AW101 is the most advanced aircraft in its category and incorporates advanced systems to provide outstanding performance.

DRS Technologies, the USA company acquired by Finmeccanica in October 2008, is a leading supplier of integrated products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors worldwide. Among the products on display: Distant Sentry Reconnaissance System is a rugged, autonomous system and provides a long range target detection, classification and dissemination capability, it is well suited for many solutions, including border surveillance, infrastructure protection, dignitary protection, counter drug threats and force protection. Distant Sentry combines reconnaissance systems into a rugged package that can be used in a fixed or mobile configuration. Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE) provides combat and tactical-wheeled vehicle operators with increased driver's vision capability, survivability and mobility during day, night and adverse weather conditions. Improved situational awareness in visually degraded conditions provides critical force protection, continued mission prosecution and operational effectiveness. Elsag Datamat is a centre of excellence for the design and production of systems, services and solutions in the automation, security, transport, defence & space, and information technology sectors. Among the products on display: a suite of three avionics support systems (SAROMS, IAF-MSS, RES debriefing) that cover a wide range of activities like Search and Rescue coordination, mission planning and mission debriefing.

Already in use by the Italian Air Force, this set of systems is showcased with the M-DLP (Multi-Data Link Processor), a system able to provide a total tactical interoperability among different Data Links. In addition, Elsag Datamat displays the PSS, Patrol Support System, the licence plate-reading system that can automatically read up to 20 licence plates a second with an accuracy of 98%. Some 3,000 Carabinieri patrol cars in Italy and many Police Forces in the USA have been fitted with the system. Oto Melara’s land and naval systems, ranging from naval guns to next-generation ammunition, artillery, armoured vehicles and anti-aircraft systems, are currently in service in more than 50 countries around the world. Among the products on display at IDEX: the new 76/62 Super Rapid naval gun and, as part of the Iveco Fiat-Oto Melara consortium, the models of the VBM (Medium Armoured Vehicle) and the Centauro 120 (Armoured Combat Vehicle). SELEX Communications offers a wide range of equipment, systems and services in the field of tactical, strategic, security, professional mobile and naval communications. The product portfolio includes Communications, Navigation, Identification (IFF), Support to Mission, Display and Control Panels. Among the products on display: Elettra Commander, a super fast interceptor with excellent performance, designed for joint operations involving land, naval and airborne forces. GUARDIAN, a range of force protection equipment that delivers Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device inhibition performance. The Italian “Soldato Futuro” Programme, supported by the best available technologies on the market, will allow significant improvement in the five capability areas defined by NATO: lethality, C4I, protection, mobility and sustainability. The system will be inspired to the “tailored mission” principle, which will allow maximum flexibility in configuring the system according to the planned mission. The system will also include a Night Vision Unit and a Target Acquisition Unit for the squad leader.

SELEX Galileo, is a world leader in leader in surveillance, protection, situation awareness navigation & control through battlespace, electro-optics and radar programmes. By delivering integrated sensor solutions and systems, with a market footprint and technology partnerships already in place in the region, SELEX Galileo is strongly committed to pursuing opportunities in surveillance with a product portfolio including Seaspray AESA radar, the Falco UAS (Unmanned Aerial System), the ATOS Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance System and Mobile Surveillance Unit. Integrated electronic warfare and situation awareness systems for land and air applications also offer great market potential. SELEX Sistemi Integrati is a leading European C4ISR and air traffic control supplier, with core competencies in systems integration. SELEX Sistemi Integrati is a traditional industrial partner in the Middle East region, having participated in a number of major projects. In the UAE the company currently participates in the Baynunah naval programme, with the installation of its Combat Management System on the new corvettes built by a local contractor. In July 2008 the company won a contract for the supply and integration of all the equipments for air traffic and meteorological control for the new airport of Doha in Qatar. Products on display: the A-SMGCS console, as a demonstrator of Air Traffic Management system.

The VTMS, an integrated network of Vessel Traffic Management Systems to cover and manage a wide geographical area, such as the Mediterranean basin, its first area of application. RAT 31 DL, an L band/Solid State 3D Surveillance Radar, designed to operate in modern complex military Air Defence and Air Traffic Control systems. Telespazio is one of the main global operators in satellite operation, Earth observation , satellite navigation and the development of integrated communications networks. The company is owned by Finmeccanica (67%) and Thales (33%) and, together with Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67%, Finmeccanica 33%), European leader in satellite systems and cutting-edge manufacturer of orbital infrastructure, comprises the “Space Alliance”. Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space will present their activities in the COSMO-SkyMed, Galileo and SICRAL programmes.

Posted in: Helicopter,IDEX,Training aircraft,transport aircraft,UAE,UAV,USA