28 firms secure Dh4.8 billion defence deals on third day of Idex in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Armed Forces signed deals worth Dh4.8 billion on the third day of Idex, organisers announced on Tuesday.

Twenty local firms and eight international companies won the deals including firms from Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Russia and the United States.

Contracts worth Dh514 million were awarded to international firms whereas local companies were awarded contracts amounting to Dh4.3 billion.

The value of total contracts in the last three days reached Dh16.8 billion, organisers said.

The biggest deals announced on Tuesday include a Dh2 billion contract with Al Jasoor Heavy Vehicle to supply Arma 8×8 armoured vehicle for the UAE Army.

In other contracts, a Dh270 million contract was awarded to International Golden Group (IGG) to provide spare parts and maintenance for all units of the UAE Armed Forces. IGG also won a Dh28 million contract to buy thermal cameras for the army.

The UAE Army also signed a contract worth Dh849 million with Etimad to install a security system for the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority.

International deals include a contract with Jordanian centre King Abdullah for the purchase of Dh64 million worth of missiles and binoculars for the UAE Armed Forces.

There was also a Dh53 million contract with US company Environmental Tectonics to purchase and update equipment and training simulators at the UAE Air Force medical centre.

A contract worth Dh152 million was awarded to US company Digital Globe to provide space imaging services for the UAE Armed Forces.

The deals also include a Dh60 million contract with the Pakistani company Global Industrial and Defence Solutions to purchase ammunitions and a Dh25 million contract with the Turkish company FNSS Savunma to supply spare parts and repair services for the M113 armoured personnel carrier.

More than 1,310 defence firms are participating in the five-day event that is being held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The number is up 6 per cent compared to the previous edition of Idex in 2017.

Organisers are expecting total deals to equal or surpass the previous edition of Idex. In 2017, the value of the deals announced was Dh19.7 billion.

The event takes place as defence spending goes up in the region. A report released by Jane’s by IHS Markit forecasts defence spending in the Gulf region to hit $103 billion in 2019 and continue upwards to $110 billion in 2023, up from $82 billion in 2013.