If there is one word to describe this year's International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, it is "local".
As the last day of Idex wraps up, the UAE Armed Forces signed 53 out of 86 deals with local companies, worth $2.9 billion out of a total $5.7bn.
Alan Davis has been coming to the Middle East’s biggest defence conference for two decades, but this is the first time the Raytheon executive was approached by local students looking for internships.
With the UAE's push to develop and manufacture defence equipment within its own borders, interest from students in engineering and maths will be critical, Mr Davis, chief executive of Raytheon Emirates, told The National.
The US giant is one of only a few “landed” defence companies in the UAE – a wholly-owned, Abu Dhabi-headquartered business for Raytheon that was established in 2018.
Mr Alan said Raytheon Emirates is in the early stages of developing partnerships with Abu Dhabi defence conglomerate Edge to identify capabilities and technologies to develop together.
A front-runner for local deployment is a high-energy laser weapon system known as HELWS2, or H2, that can detect the cheap, off-the-shelf drones favoured by non-state actors from less than five kilometres away, and bring them down. The system can protect critical infrastructure like airports, oilfields and power grids.
Sweden’s Saab is another landed company in the UAE.
It announced its first product fully developed and made in Abu Dhabi at Idex: a rugged infrared camera that Anna-Karin Rosen, managing director of Saab Ltd, told The National was the "first of many" products in the pipeline for the UAE company.
Milkor combined two Idex trends: local and autonomous.
The South African defence company unveiled its UAE-designed unmanned combat aerial vehicle and said it would be opening an office in the capital.
The streamlined aircraft was on prominent display on the Milkor stand, fitted with six guided weapons on the wings.
Autonomous systems play an important role in the UAE's defence strategy because they can be used as a proxy for soldiers.
"New levels of autonomy [are] offering greater opportunities to support more complex missions," said Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive and managing director of Edge.
Although autonomous systems are now mainstream in defence systems, a shift to green technology is a newer development.
On display at Abu Dhabi-based military vehicle maker Nimr’s stand is a hybrid electric armoured vehicle, developed with Singapore’s ST Engineering.
Although increased fuel efficiency is a plus, the added safety is why Nimr believes this is where the market is headed. The hybrid engine is much quieter and has a lower heat signature – making it less detectable by infrared cameras and safer in a combat environment.
Nimr will be the first manufacturer in the region to integrate hybrid electric systems into armoured vehicles, Abri du Plessis, the company’s chief executive, said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
As it stands in Pool A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Read more from Johann Chacko
Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
