ABU DHABI // The GCC has problems to resolve before it can conduct efficient military operations at a regional level, a retired Saudi Arabian air force official said on Monday.
“We still have a fragmented air command and control structure and systems in the GCC,” Maj Gen Ayish Almajnouni said at the summit in Abu Dhabi.
“Intelligence is still isolated from command and control. It is not completely fused and networks are non-interoperable. We still do not have a coherent C4ISR agenda.”
He said identifying gaps between current capabilities and future capability requirements was crucial. “We want to analyse current systems in all GCC countries and integrate them, from a joint operating picture and network connectivity to shared information and fused intelligence.”
“We want to help the armed forces of the GCC and integrate capabilities into one joint cyberspace environment.”
Countries with better training and ground, air and space equipment would have to share their assets, he said.
“The whole GCC needs to work as one,” Gen Almajnouni said.
cmalek@thenational.ae
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”