UAE Order 40 K11 Airburst Rifles from South Korea

The United Arab Emirates has placed an initial order for 40 K11 dual-caliber air-burst weapon during the Special Operations Forces Exhibition Conference 2010 earlier this month in Jordan. This is first export order for the K11 airburst rifles. Contract for this sale is likely to be signed within next few months. Unit price of K11 dual-caliber air-burst weapon is estimated at $14,000.

Information about the development of a dual-caliber air-burst weapon by South Korea was available since about 2006 and K11 was first revealed to public in 2009, in DSEI military expo . This is developed by the Agency for Defense Development and S&T Daewoo.K11 is similar to the ill-fated American XM-29 OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon. Weapon is believed to be in service with South Korean army.Last year, it was reported that some of the South Korean troops deploying to Afghanistan will be armed with the Daewoo K11 dual-caliber airburst weapon.

K11 dual-caliber air-burst weapon is proposed for infantry squad support role, multiplying soldiers capabilities to engage enemy personnel in defilade and soft-skinned vehicles and equipment, using 20mm air-burst grenades with pre-programmed fuse and 5.56mm ammunition for short- to medium range direct fire. K11’s 20mm grenade launcher weapon carries a 5-round magazine. K11’s 20mm round can track its target and explode three to four meters above it by using a self-detonation system.

K11 dual-caliber air-burst weapon consists of three major units, linked into one weapon.

• 
  
  20mm multi-shot grenade launcher which is a manually operated and is fed from detachable box magazines. It is built in bullpup layout. K167 HE air-burst grenade and K168 TP target practice grenade can be fired from the grenade launcher.

• 
  
  5.56mm automatic rifle component is similar to US-made M16 or Korean-made K2 rifles which allows it to use NATO-standard 5.56mm ammunition.

• 
  
  Eelectronic fire control unit includes laser rangefinder, environmental sensors, ballistic computer, and day (optical) and night (IR) sighting channels.

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO + 20 mm
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt for 5.56mm and manually operated for 20mm
Overall length: 860 mm
Barrel length: 310 mm (5.56mm); 405 mm (20mm)
Weight: 6.1 kg (with optics and battery but less magazines)
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds of 5.56mm and 5 rounds of 20mm

Read More

Chief of Staff of UAE Armed Forces Visits South Korea

Lt. Gen. Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, chief of staff of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) armed forces, arrived in Seoul on Feb. 22 for a four-day visit, the Ministry of National Defense said.The visit by the UAE military leader comes amid high expectations here that the two countries could resume talks on the sale of the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet, jointly built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin.Last month, it was revealed that the Emirates had reopened talks with KAI on the T-50 after failing to finalize an agreement on the purchase of Italy's M-346 trainer jet.......................................Full Story

Read More

UAE want Rafales to be armed with SLAM ER instead of AM-39 missile

France's Dassault Aviation, desperate to find the first foreign customer for its multi-role Rafale fighter, is concentrating on a potential sale of 60 of the jets to the United Arab Emirates.But Abu Dhabi has thrown a wrench in the works by demanding that the Rafales be armed with Boeing's SLAM ER/2 missile instead of the European-made MBDA AM-39 they are fitted to carry.................... United Press International

Read More

First of Baynunah Class Corvette to be Delivered to UAE by Mid-2011

Baynunah has proved her good sea keeping qualities. The Baynunah Corvette First of Class, which has been launched end of June 2009 in CMN shipyard, has carried out mid-January 2010 her first sea trials in Cherbourg roads, with sea states up to 4 which proved her good sea keeping qualities. Further tests and trials will be performed later on and the Vessel is due to be delivered by mid-2011 to the UAE Navy..........Defense-Aerospace

Read More

UAE Reopens Talks To Buy South Korean Built T-50 Jet Trainer

By tom kington

The United Arab Emirates has reopened talks to acquire the South Korean built T-50 jet trainer after discussions to buy its rival, Italy's M-346 trainer, stalled, an Arabian Gulf defense source said Jan. 27. The United Arab Emirates selected the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 in February 2009 to fill a 48-aircraft order, including 20 in the light fighter version. Alenia Aermacchi is a unit of Finmeccanica. The M-346 beat out the T-50, which is built by Korean Aerospace Industry (KAI), teamed with Lockheed Martin. .................Defense News

Read More

South Korea to Transfer UAV, Missile Technologies to UAE

By Jung Sung-ki

Korea promised to transfer technology for its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following its successful bid to build four nuclear reactors in the Middle East nation, a government source said Thursday. Defense Minister Kim Tae-young made the commitment during his visit to the UAE in November to discuss bilateral defense issues as well as to support the landmark $20 billion deal, the source told The Korea Times.

Kim also offered to provide key arms technologies related to the homegrown Hyunmoo ballistic and cruise missiles to the UAE as part of efforts to expand defense cooperation between the two countries, he said on condition of anonymity.Technology on an electromagnetic pulse bomb (EMP) is among the key items for cooperation promised by Korea, said the source.

The state-funded Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has been pushing to develop the bomb capable of neutralizing an enemy's command-and-control, communications and defense radar systems.EMPs can severely disrupt electronic equipment, which is susceptible to damage by transient power surges. An EMP attack is generated by a very short, intense energy pulse or high-altitude nuclear blast.

The agency plans to complete the development by 2014. "The UAE asked Korea to provide such key arms technologies as part of the package deal for the reactor contract," the source said. "Korea's positive response to the request played an important role in sealing the deal."

Speculation has been growing after the agreement that there could have been some behind-the-scene promises to satisfy the UAE needs. At that time, Seoul's defense ministry declined to elaborate, only saying the two sides exchanged views on ways to expand bilateral defense cooperation programs. As for the UAV, Korea will offer the technology on the Night Intruder-300, also known as RQ-101, built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), according to the source.

KAI built the RQ-101 corps-level battlefield-reconnaissance UAV between 2001 and 2004. The Korean Army bought five sets of RQ-101s, with each set including six aircraft, a launcher and a ground-control station. KAI is also discussing the sale of the RQ-101 to Libya.The RQ-101 has a service ceiling of 4.5 kilometers and a cruise speed of 120 to 150 kilometers per hour. The 215-kilogram aircraft has a service radius of 200 kilometers and can operate for up to six hours in the air.

The UAV is capable of multipurpose operations to perform missions like wide area surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, bombing guidance, battlefield supervision and checking target break-down. It is also possible to transfer real-time images, especially in unfavorable environments during day and night.

Some observers say, however, potential exports of the RQ-101 to either the UAE or Libya could cause a political or diplomatic row between South Korea and Israel given the ground-control station for the UAV was developed with technical assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

IAI offered the technology when it sold its Searcher II UAVs to South Korea.Referred missile technologies are related to those for the 300-kilometer-range Hyunmoo-II ballistic missile and the 1,000-kilometer-range Hyunmoo-III surface-to-surface cruise missile developed by the ADD and LIG Nex1.

The Hyunmoo-III missiles have been operational with the Army since last year. The Hyunmoo-III can hit targets with a margin of error of plus or minus five meters aided by a Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) system.

Read More

United Arab Emirates has Signed a Contract for Six C-17 Globemaster III

Boeing and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence today announced that the UAE has signed a contract for the acquisition of six Boeing C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifters. The UAE, which announced in 2009 that it would modernize its airlift capabilities with the C-17, is the second Middle East nation to order the airlifter.

"The C-17 will give the UAE the ability to perform a variety of humanitarian and strategic lift operations around the world in support of both national and international missions," said Major General Staff Pilot Faris Mohamed Al Mazrouei. "These missions require us to be ready for any contingency at any time and any place, and the C-17 meets our requirements."

Under the agreement, the UAE will take delivery of four C-17s in 2011 and two in 2012. Financial terms are not being disclosed."Boeing is pleased that the UAE Air Force has selected the C-17 to meet its airlift requirements for the 21st century," said Jean Chamberlin, Boeing vice president, Global Mobility Systems. "The C-17 consistently posts mission capability rates that are among the best in the world, earning it high marks for its industry-leading quality and reliability."

Boeing will provide support for the UAE C-17s through the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership, an agreement under which Boeing is responsible for all C-17 sustainment activities, including material management and depot maintenance support."As a tactical and strategic airlifter, the C-17 is a perfect fit for the requirements of the United Arab Emirates Air Force," said Tommy Dunehew, Boeing Global Mobility Systems vice president of Business Development. "In addition to being able to land and take off on short, unimproved runways, it has the highest mission capability rate of any airlifter."

The C-17 can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid across international distances directly to small austere airfields anywhere in the world. With a full payload of 170,000 pounds, the C-17 can fly 2,400 nautical miles and land in 3,000 feet or less.There are currently 212 C-17s in service worldwide -- 19 with international customers. The U.S. Air Force, including active Guard and Reserve units, has 193. International customers include Qatar, the UK Royal Air Force, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations

Read More

Ukraine to Sign Contracts for Sale of An-140 , An-74 and An-148

Ukraine is preparing to sign contracts for the deliver of 3 An-140 airplanes for a total over 50 million dollars to Laos, 4 An-74 for Egypt for a total over 100 million dollars and 2 An-148 for the United Arab Emirates for a total over 50 million dollars, with a further purchase of 15 airplanes for a total of nearly 400 million dollars, the minister of economics, Bogdan Danilishin, has reported.

According to his information, published Thursday on the ministry's site, there already are more than 150 firm orders and options for the An-148 airplane."A preliminary agreement already had been reached with Iran for the sale and joint production of more than 70 airplanes of this family," the minister added.

He recalled that a contract has been signed with India for the upgrade and overhaul of Indian air force An-32 airplanes for a total over 400 million dollars and with Iraq for the assembly 6 An-32 airplanes for a total of 89 million dollars.

Read More

South Korea to Build Nuclear Plants in U.A.E. Under a $20.4 billion Contract

By Ayesha Daya and Shinhye Kang

Korea Electric Power Corp. shares surged after it led a group of bidders that won a $20 billion contract for four nuclear plants in the United Arab Emirates, beating General Electric Co. and Areva SA, the world’s biggest builder of atomic plants.The order announced yesterday is the first nuclear project awarded by a Gulf Arab nation and will be South Korea’s first export of atomic plants. Korea Electric’s winning group included Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., the nation’s biggest power-equipment maker, signaling Korean companies are contenders to win more nuclear orders.

“There’s strong growth potential for the industry in the next two decades,” said Lee Jin Woo, a fund manager at KTB Asset Management Co. in Seoul, which manages the equivalent of $8.5 billion in assets. “There are expectations Korean companies will win additional orders.”

The order is part of a “fleet of power plants” the U.A.E. wants to build, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. Chief Executive Officer Mohammed al-Hammadi told reporters in Abu Dhabi yesterday. The U.A.E., the fourth-biggest oil producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is turning to nuclear power as a growing infrastructure uses up domestic natural-gas supplies to generate electricity.Power demand will double to 40,000 megawatts by 2020, according to Anwar Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs.

Shares Rise

Korea Electric Power rose 5 percent to close at 34,400 won in Seoul trading, the most since June 5. Its partners also gained, with Doosan Heavy soaring 15 percent, its daily limit, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. climbing 4.6 percent and Samsung C&T Corp. increasing 3 percent. Toshiba added 0.4 percent in Tokyo.

Doosan Heavy, as a major supplier, stands to gain the most from the project, Paul Hah, an analyst at Woori Investment & Securities Co., said in a report today. Korea Electric will reap long-term rewards, as the deal may lead to more orders from around the world.Korea Electric is in talks with Turkey to build two nuclear reactors near the Black Sea, it said in a statement. The state-run utility is competing for eight more orders, from countries including Jordan, India and China, it said.

The Korea Electric-led group will design, build and help operate four 1,400-megawatt nuclear power units in the U.A.E. that will be completed from 2017 to 2020.

Price Advantage

Emirates Nuclear Energy, known as ENEC, and Korea Electric plan to set up a joint venture to operate the plants and the two companies will explore other ventures such as sourcing fuel supply, al-Hammadi said. Korea Electric will supply fuel over the first three years, it said in a regulatory filing today.The group may earn another $20 billion over 60 years for operating the plant, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in a statement late yesterday.

“The South Koreans were always frontrunners to win on price,” Ian Jackson, an independent nuclear consultant, said in a phone interview. “I can’t see an obvious political element to it. The next question is where the fuel will come from.”The U.A.E. is continuing talks with other bidders on “potential cooperation in areas outside the scope” of the current contract, ENEC said in a statement. The French companies “remain open to future discussions and cooperation” with ENEC, they said in a separate statement.

Nuclear Technology

France plans to sell civilian nuclear energy technology to Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil producer, as its own gas production falls short of domestic demand, Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said in May.The U.A.E. government has an atomic-energy agreement with the U.S., a necessary step to awarding construction contracts, and will prohibit the enrichment of uranium on U.A.E. soil. The civil nuclear agreement may create more than 10,000 jobs, while commercial opportunities could exceed $40 billion, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

By foregoing the development of domestic uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, the country “has made it impossible for any future U.A.E. nuclear sector to produce weapons-usable nuclear material,” according to a statement on the Web site of its embassy in Washington D.C.

Countering Iran

The U.A.E.’s nuclear program may propel other Arab Gulf states including Saudi Arabia to seek similar technology, Jackson, the nuclear consultant, wrote in a Chatham House report on Nov. 10. The Sunni Muslim-led Gulf monarchies may also seek to counter the nuclear program being developed by Iran’s Shiite clerical regime.

Iran has been under investigation by the UN since 2003 because it concealed nuclear work from the International Atomic Energy Agency for two decades. It is subject to three sets of United Nations economic sanctions for ignoring Security Council demands that it suspend uranium enrichment and related work and allow wider inspections.

The U.S. and several allies say Iran’s atomic work is cover for the development of a weapon, while the government in Tehran says the program is for civilian purposes, such as electricity generation.

--With assistance from Seonjin Cha, and Saeromi Shin in Seoul, Arif Sharif in Dubai and Alan Katz in Paris. Editors: Alex Devine, Jane Lee.

Business Week

Read More

UAE Air Force Can Destroy Entire Iranian Air Force:US General David Petraeus

Read More

United Arab Emirates – CH-47F Chinook Helicopters

WASHINGTON --- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of 16 Chinook helicopters, and communication equipment, as well as associated parts, equipment, training and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $2.0 billion.

The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested a possible sale of 16 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters, 38 T55-GA-714A Turbine engines, 20 AN/APX-118 Transponders, 20 AN/ARC-220 (RT-1749) Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) with Electronic counter-countermeasures, 40 AN/ARC-231 (RT-1808A) Receiver / Transmitters, 18 AN/APR-39A(V)1 Radar Signal Detecting Sets with Mission Data Sets, flight and radar signal simulators, support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, site survey, construction and facilities, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.

The estimated cost is $2.0 billion.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a critical and key partner/ally, which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The proposed sale will provide the United Arab Emirates the capability to transport equipment and troops in the region, as well as to support U.S. and NATO airlift requirements in Afghanistan. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The prime contractor will be Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in St. Louis, Missouri. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of four contractor representatives in the UAE for a period of one year with an option for two additional years. One additional U.S. government and four contractor representatives will be required for a one-week interval for quality assurance during helicopter delivery.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/

Read More

UAE hosts first mock dogfights for F-22, Typhoon, Rafale

By Stephen Trimble

The United Arab Emirates not only attracted the Lockheed Martin F-22 to the Dubai air show, but also staged perhaps the first mock dogfights between F-22s, Dassault Rafales and Eurofighter Typhoons.

In parallel with the air show, the advanced tactical leadership course at Al Dhafra air base near Abu Dhabi hosted a five-nation fighter exercise, says the UK Royal Air Force.

France, the UK and the USA each sent six of their top-line fighters to the exercise, and those were joined by jets from the UAE and Pakistan. The Abu Dhabi manoeuvres marked the first publicly known event where the F-22 met Europe's two most advanced fighters.

The Rafale previously flew against USAF Boeing F-15Cs during the Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB in August 2008. The USAF, however, withheld the F-22 from the Red Flag manoeuvres, which also included South Korean Boeing F-15Ks and Indian air force Sukhoi Su-30MKIs.

Multinational exercises provide air forces the rare opportunity to become exposed to the tactics, capabilities and limitations of countries using rival equipment.

http://www.flightglobal.com/

Read More

UAE Ink Deal to purchase PC-21 Aircraft and Saab 340 Erieye

By andrew chuter

The United Arab Emirates has signed a deal with Pilatus to supply the PC-21 turboprop aircraft to meet its basic trainer requirements.The Swiss company landed a 520 million Swiss franc ($515 million) contract to supply 25 aircraft to the air force here.

In a second contract award announced Nov. 17, the UAE said it had purchased two Saab 340 early-warning aircraft in a deal valued at 148.3 million euro ($220 million).There is no news yet on the progress of contract talks with trainer maker Alenia Aermacchi after selection of the M346 jet in February.

When making the announcement, Maj. Gen. Faris Al Mazrouei, the chief of the UAE army's logistics staff, would only say that contract talks were ongoing with Alenia. The M346 was selected in a competition with the Korean Aerospace T-50 to take on advanced training and light-attack roles.

The Swiss PC-21 beat out another Alenia Aermacchi product, the S311, to meet the basic-trainer requirement.Plans call for the first aircraft to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2011 and for the entire 25 aircraft order completed by the end of the first quarter of 2012.

Al Mazrouei said purchase of the Saab Erieye aircraft was an interim solution ahead of making a decision on a long-running competition between the Swedish company and rivals Northrop Grumman and Boeing for an AEW capability.

The Saab 340 Erieyes were previously operated by the Swedish air force. The aircraft will be modified and updated, with the first machine delivered during the third quarter of 2010 and the second about the first quarter of 2011. Al Mazrouei said the aircraft will be used to train the UAE military in airborne early warning and command and control capabilities.

He said the UAE wasn't ready to make a decision on the long-term airborne early-warning solution.The Boeing 737-based Wedgetail offering suffered technical difficulties, and the Northrop Grumman Hawkeye E -2D was not yet in service with the U.S. Navy, he said, explaining the decision not to commit to the program yet.Al Mazrouei said the UAE would also continue to consider the Saab 2000 Erieye solution in the competition.

DefenseNews.com

Read More

UAE selects Honeywell's F124 engines for M-346 fleet

By Siva Govindasamy

Honeywell's International Turbine Engine (ITEC) has been selected to deliver more than 100 F124-GA-200 high-performance turbofan engines for United Arab Emirates' fleet of Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master advanced jet trainers.

The F124/125 family of engines provides 6,280lb of thrust (28kN) while weighing just 1,150lb (520kg) - the highest thrust-to-weight ratio in its class - and powers more than 400 fixed-wing training, light combat and unmanned aircraft around the world, says Honeywell.

"The F124/F125 engine family, proven with more than 540,000 flight hours, delivers increased pilot safety and reduced workload," said Garrett Mikita, president of defence and space, Honeywell Aerospace. "The United Arab Emirates' and Alenia Aermacchi's selection of the F124 demonstrates the value the engine brings to training programmes, delivering reliability that lowers operating costs and improves fleet readiness."

The F124-200 that is being used on the UAE M-346 includes several features designed to ease maintenance, including an integrated engine monitoring system that monitors engine health and tracks life usage and on-condition maintenance, adds Mikita.

"It includes all controls and sensors required for fully automatic operation and unrestricted throttle movement throughout the flight envelope. Pilot workload is significantly reduced through features such as automatic start and ignition sequencing, continuous temperature and speed limiting, auto relight after flameout, and transient fuel scheduling to avoid engine surge," says the company.

The UAE ordered 48 M-346s in February for its advanced jet trainers for its advanced lead-in fighter trainer requirement. It will also buy an undisclosed number in the light attack configuration, which is still being developed by the Aermacchi.

In addition to the M-346, Honeywell's F-124/125 family of engines also power Taiwan's AIDC F-CK-1 Indigenous Defence Fighter and the Czech air force's Aero Vodochody L-159. An aftermarket version of the F124, the F125 IN, is in the running for the Indian air force's Jaguar re-engine programme.

Read More

General Atomics eyes Middle East unmanned ISR market

By Siva Govindasamy

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is promoting its unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities at the show in response to growing demand in the Middle East.

"We are here partly to sample the interest in this market, to explore the art of the possible," says Christopher Ames, director of business development. "The main product here is persistent situational awareness as the demand is very high for that capability here and around the world. We bring that capability in various forms."

Some of the Middle Eastern countries that could have these requirements include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. Ames says that the deals could be done either through the US government's foreign military sales mechanism or by the company directly to the individual governments.

All of them, however, must be approved by the US government due to the sensitive technology they will incorporate. "What can be released has to be discussed by the US government, the company and the customer," says Ames.

The company's Aircraft Systems Group designs and manufactures unmanned air vehicles such as the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper and Sky Warrior. It also manufactures solid-state digital ground control stations (GCS), including the next-generation Advanced Cockpit GCS, and provides pilot training and support services for UAS field operations.

The Reconnaissance Systems Group designs, manufactures, and integrates the Lynx synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indication radar and CLAW sensor control and image analysis software into both manned and unmanned aircraft.

It also integrates other sensor and communication equipment into manned ISR aircraft and develops emerging technologies in solid-state lasers, electro-optic sensors, and ultra-wideband data links for government applications.

While General Atomics can add strike capabilities to the Predator, Reaper and Sky Warrior UAVs, and these are already in service with the US Air Force, Ames says that it is not offering this to potential export customers.

Read More

UAE-Aermacchi negotiations over M-346 ongoing

By Siva Govindasamy

Negotiations are ongoing between the United Arab Emirates government and Alenia Aermacchi over a contract for 48 M-346 advanced jet trainers, with industry sources saying that they could put pen to paper by the end of 2009.

"We are still finalising some of the details, but we are confident that a contract will be signed soon," says Aermacchi. She was unable to say why there was still no end to the negotiations, which began in February.

The UAE announced then that that it had eliminated the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 and selected the M-346, with some sources indicating that the acquisition could be worth around €1 billion ($1.5 billion).

An undisclosed number of the 48 aircraft will be bought in a light attack configuration, with Alenia Aermacchi to also provide a full ground-based training system including flight simulators as part of the deal. Deliveries are planned to begin 2012.

Read More

UAE reveals fifth-generation fighter

By Stephen Trimble

A top United Arab Emirates military leader aspires to obtain a fifth-generation fighter in the very near term, suggesting a potential new sales coup for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

"I hope that within a couple years the UAE, like many other countries, will have a fifth-generation fighter," says Brig Gen Ibrahim Naser Alalawi, deputy commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence. Alalawi was speaking at the Dubai International Air Chiefs conference held yesterday morning at Dubai's Knowledge Village Conference Centre.

Lockheed's F-35 is expected to be the only fifth-generation fighter available for sale for perhaps another decade. The Chinese J-12 and the Russian/Indian PAK-FA remain in the early stages of development.

The UAE has previously not been named among the several countries - including the UK, Australia and Israel - planning to buy the first export F-35s scheduled for delivery after 2013.

Ibrahim made the remark in the context of delivering a speech on the UAE's requirements for filling a capability gap with a new generation of advanced jet trainers. The UAE has selected the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 as a lead-in trainer for its new Lockheed F-16E/F Block 60s.

The US Air Force, meanwhile, is considering buying the M-346 as the last step for building up the skills of future F-35 pilots.

Alalawi did not elaborate beyond expressing his hope that the UAE will own a fifth-generation fighter. Subsequent slides showed pictures of the Lockheed F-22 and F-35. US law prohibits Lockheed from selling the F-22 abroad, but the US government strongly supports foreign sales of the F-35 to its allies.

It was not immediately clear how Alalawi's remarks could influence support among UAE military leaders to acquire another advanced fourth-generation fighter - the Dassault Rafale - even sooner.

Lockheed originally projected F-35 sales in the Middle East in programme briefing slides dating back to 2002. But more recently the company has declined opportunities to name the UAE as a near-term sales target. The F-35 is not even on display at Lockheed (stand E450), which is instead dominated by a model of the F-16.

www.flightglobal.com

Read More

Aerocopter deal signals first UAE aircraft assembly line

By Max Kingsley-Jones

The United Arab Emirates is set for its first aircraft manufacturing deal following the acquisition of a small Ukrainian helicopter company by Dubai-based Perla Group International."I went to buy a helicopter and came back owning the company," says Perla's founder and chief executive Charles D'Alberto.

Perla completed the acquisition of Poltava, Ukraine-based DB Aerocopter this week and D'Alberto, whose company has interests in telecommunications, aviation and security, says that he plans to move assembly of its two-seat helicopter to Dubai fed by components supplied from Ukraine.

This would be a ground-breaking development for the region, as there is currently no local manufacturing of complete aircraft here."We're in discussions. The most likely location will be Aviation City," he says.

DB Aerocopter first produced its two-seat helicopter around 10 years ago. The latest AK1-3 version arrived in 2007 and around 90 of the piston-engined helicopters have been delivered. Key markets include France, Russia/CIS and South Africa.

According to D'Alberto, DB has already sold 130 AK1-3s for delivery in 2010 and is in talks to sell 200 to Brazil. Although the AK1-3 is certificated only in the CIS, D'Alberto says that it complies with European JAR requirements. "We're looking to get US certification," he adds.

The AK1-3, which is powered by a four-cylinder Subaru petrol engine, retails for $200,000, which D'Alberto claims undercuts the similar Robinson R22 by around $100,000.

For the longer term, D'Alberto told Flight Daily News that DB is working on a five-seat turbine helicopter that is likely to have a Rolls-Royce powerplant. "This project is at the CAD drawing phase, but we need more funds to proceed."

www.flightglobal.com

Read More

UAE could place order for Rafale in 2010

Mahmoud Habboush

UAE Air Force officials are patiently hammering out the details of a deal to replace their 63 ageing Mirage 2000-9 fighters with the top-line Dassault Rafale multi-role aircraft, experts said yesterday, but the implications for the nation’s security could be huge.Retired Gen Khalid al Buainnain, the former chief of the UAE Armed Forces, said the deal could be in place by early 2010, with the first aircraft arriving in 2013.

“The brothers at the Air Force are taking their time to make sure that all the operational requirements as well as technical and logistical requirements are considered,” said Gen al Buainnain on the sidelines of the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference, organised by the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (Inegma). The UAE Government had confirmed in June 2008 that it was in talks with the French government to acquire the Rafale, a jet fighter aircraft built by the French firm Dassault.

The deal is expected to be worth between €6 billion (Dh32.2bn) and €10bn.Gen Jean-Paul Palomeros, chief of staff of the French air force, said the UAE’s purchase of a French-built fighter made sense given an already close military relationship between the countries. Using similar or interchangeable hardware made battlefield co-operation easier, he said.

“We work together on improving security and air capability,” he said. “So any improvement that can be done on that field, using the same weapon, the same aircraft, is a nice move towards better efficiency for both of our air forces.”

France is one of the UAE’s major suppliers of military hardware. In 1994, the army bought more than 400 Leclerc tanks from the French firm Giat Industries. In May, France opened a 500-soldier military base in Abu Dhabi and upgraded a defence co-operation agreement that was first signed in 1995.

A key requirement for the aircraft is “interoperability” or the capacity to work with other systems and weapons platforms such as the US-made F-16 Block 60; the UAE ordered 80 F-16s in 2004. Experts say inter-operability is a technical requirement that most defence contractors can handle.

Major General Mohammed bin Swaidan Saeed al Gamzi, Commander of the UAE Air Force, declined to comment yesterday on the possible purchase of Rafale aircraft. Gen al Buainnain called the deal “very complex”.“It … is connected to a lot of operational and technical details, therefore there is no rushing for signing a deal because the capability of the Mirage 2000 and the F-16 is very strong,” Gen al Buainnain said.

Riad Kahwaji, the chief executive of INEGMA, said that if the French jet met all the standards the UAE laid out for it, it could serve the UAE Air Force for the next 20 years.“This is a new, almost fifth-generation fighter, and that’s exactly what the UAE is asking for. It’ll help them cover their needs for the next 20 years and be a good backing for the F-16.”

The UAE has a long-standing policy of diversifying its sources of arms and military hardware. In addition to France, other suppliers include Britain, Germany and Russia.Experts said some countries were easier to buy weapons and machines from than others, as well.“US technology [for example] falls under certain rules for exports; France doesn’t have that,” said Dr Theodore Karasik, director of research and development at Inegma.

Another issue that makes European suppliers more attractive than the US is parliamentary restrictions.“The UAE understands how the French operate and that they can sell them whatever system they want without having to go through the Congress or the lobbying groups” as in the US, Dr Karasik said.Gen al Buainnain, who has direct knowledge of the negotiations, said France would be responsible for taking the 63 outdated Mirage fighters off the UAE’s hands.

That could be difficult, Mr Kahwaji said. “The French government needs to find a solution for the Mirage 2000 in order for the UAE to be able to purchase the Rafale,” he said, adding that Oman or Eastern European nations could be potential buyers.“There are a number of countries that could be looking for a good fighter like the Mirage,” he said.

Gen al Buainnain said he did not expect the issue to be a sticking point.“One of the conclusions that the French government reached was that the Mirage 2000 are advanced enough that the French air force wants to keep them; that’s one of their best available options.” Gen Palomeros said his UAE counterpart had given him positive feedback on the Rafale.

“We work hand-in-hand with General Gamzi,” he said. “He knows [the Rafale] very well. He flew in the aircraft, he likes the aircraft. I hope we are very close to working together on this aircraft.”Last month, Kuwait’s minister of defence and deputy prime minister, Sheikh Jaber al Hamad al Sabah, repeated his country’s desire to buy the Dassault Rafale combat jets.

It is expected that if a deal is signed the Rafale aircraft delivered to the UAE Air Force will be more advanced than those flown by the French air force. A more powerful engine, a new air-to-air missile and cutting-edge radar systems are some of the requirements the UAE has made to Dassault and its French partners, Safran, Thales and MBDA, according to media reports in September.

Read More

UAE: building an arsenal

By Stephen Trimble

After catapulting to the ranks of the world's third-largest arms importer since 2004, the United Arab Emirates is continuing to stockpile its rapidly growing arsenal of advanced weapons systems.

Lockheed Martin had barely completed deliveries earlier this year of 60 Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Block 60s, which joined about 60 Dassault Mirage 2000-9s, when the UAE signed another wave of high-profile weapons contracts.

New aircraft deals announced at the IDEX exhibition in February ranged from the Alenia Aermacchi M346 trainer/light attack fighters to Boeing C-17s and Lockheed Martin C-130Js. Those contracts followed an announced last September that the UAE would invest up to $9 billion to bolster its air defence systems, acquiring Lockheed's Patriot Advanced Capability system and terminal high-altitude air defence batteries.

As the Dubai air show opens its doors on 15 November, the world's arms contractors are gearing up for yet a third major around of acquisitions.

This next wave is likely to be as comprehensive - and expensive - as the preceding rounds. UAE officials are seeking to buy even more advanced fighters, stand up a battle management and command and control network, acquire a new fleet of light airlifters and - unique among Gulf states - locally design and manufacture a Predator-class unmanned aircraft system.

UAE officials are careful to defend themselves against accusations that the world's 51st largest economy, according to the CIA Factbook, spends a disproportionate amount on defence.

Among major arms importers, only China and South Korea spent more than the UAE's $7.1 billion on imported weapons from 2004-8, says the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Forecast International predicts that spending on new defence acquisitions will rise to $7 billion in 2009. That means nearly 4% of the country's overall wealth is invested in weapons procurement.

UAE officials, however, may argue that the country is only catching up on decades of benign neglect in the defence sector. With regional neighbour Iraq embroiled in three major wars in the last three decades, continuing concerns about Iran's nuclear intentions and the persistent threat of domestic terror attacks, the response in Abu Dhabi and Dubai is not especially surprising.

The UAE and Iran remain in dispute over the sovereignty of three Persian Gulf islands - Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb, Richard Russell, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, wrote in the latest issue of Joint Forces Quarterly magazine. Moreover, the UAE sits directly across the Persian Gulf from Iran and near the vital commercial chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz.

Amid so many sensitive security issues, the UAE is careful to balance its diplomatic interests as it pursues weapons. SIPRI estimates that the UAE's current arsenal is maintained with a mix of 60% US-made kit and 40% by other countries, mainly European.

While the preceding round of defence acquisitions were dominated by contributions from US industry, the UAE is likely to pursue a new round that involves greater imports from Europe and perhaps Russia and China. No matter where the kit is sourced, however, UAE will expect its purchases to support its growing domestic arms industry.

Perhaps no other deal is more significant - for both buyer and seller - than the UAE's next round of fighter acquisitions. Talks between the UAE, the French government and Dassault over the Rafale have dragged on since at least 2007, but could finally reach a conclusion with this year's Dubai air show.

A signed order for up to 60 new Rafale fighters would greatly strengthen the UAE's ability to penetrate deep into Iranian airspace, as well as protect its own aerial borders from intrusion. The deal would also restore the geo-political balance of the UAE's arms inventory.

For Dassault, signing a contract for the Rafale could finally break the programme's export barrier, aggravated by near-misses to Russian or US competitors in Libya, Morocco, Singapore and South Korea. A successful deal with Abu Dhabi could pave the way for further sales in the Gulf region and elsewhere.

The road to a contract signing has so far witnessed many twists and complications, not least the status of UAE's existing fleet of Mirage 2000-9s.

It is widely presumed the UAE will require Dassault to take back the used fleet and find them new homes. For the transfer to work politically, the 2000-9 fighters may have to be picked by another Arab state, such as Egypt or Pakistan. However, Romania is reportedly also involved in talks for the UAE's used fighters.

The UAE also could make the Rafale sale part of its strategy to dramatically increase the capabilities of its domestic industrial base. In September, French president Nicolas Sarkozy promised Brazil local assembly for the F-X2 contract. If the UAE asks for equal treatment, Dassault could be hard-pressed to make the sums work.

Another contract hotly pursued by weapons makers is the UAE requirement for an airborne early warning and control aircraft. The UAE issued a classified request for information in 2006, drawing responses for the Boeing 737 AEW&C, Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and Saab 2000 Erieye.

The UAE has slowed the bidding process for its military to get better acquainted with the capabilities of an airborne command post.

A contract signing could be imminent, and could surprise many observers. Although the E-2D is widely considered the favourite to win the deal, the UAE has signalled to at least one bidder that it wants to take a different approach.

Egan Greenstein, Boeing's AEW&C senior manager, says the UAE is likely to adopt a two-phase acquisition strategy, with the first step to acquire an "interim solution" primarily for training. According to Greenstein, that system is likely to be the Saab Erieye, a radar that could be mounted on either the Saab 2000 or Saab 340 turboprops.

Greenstein says the interim system could be followed by a full solution, for which Boeing has submitted a proposal for the 737 AEW&C.

"We are the most capable, longest range and highest altitude platform in this market," Greenstein says.

Boeing is also proposing to match the airborne platform with a ground-based battle management network called Vigilaire, produced exclusively by Boeing Australia and therefore not subject to normal restrictions under the US international trade in arms regulations (ITAR) laws.

The UAE's spending largesse has not been lavished on only the French or US industry. Italy's Finmeccanica gained a foothold in the UAE market in February with the sale of 48 M-346 trainers, of which a portion will serve as light-strike fighters.

The deal seems to have opened the door for other Finmeccanica units to advanced into the Emirates with products. In particular, Alenia Aeronautica has identified the UAE as a potential customer for up to six C-27J light airlifters.

A C-27J deal would complement the UAE's sudden interest in airlift capability. The UAE has already signed a deal for 12 C-130Js medium transports. A contract to buy four Boeing C-17s remains in negotiations between the company and the UAE.

Signing that deal is critical to the future of Boeing's C-17 production line. The four aircraft are among 15 already in some stage of production based on orders signed or promised in the US government's fiscal year 2009. Boeing must complete the UAE deal or be stuck with four "white tail" airlifters with no customer.

Read More