Finmeccanica, through its companies AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, Selex ES, OTO Melara and WASS takes part in IDEX 2013 (International Defence Exhibition & Conference) which will be held from 17 to 21 February in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Hall 06, Stand n. B07). Finmeccanica, through Selex ES, will be also present at NAVDEX (Hall C, Stand n. 014), the naval and maritime security section of IDEX, and at the new Unmanned Systems Area (Stand OA).
In the helicopter sector, AgustaWestland has seen an increasingly strong presence in the United Arab Emirates covering a range of commercial and government applications with many of its helicopter models. More than 130 helicopters of various types including the AW109 Power and Grand/GrandNew light twins, the AW139 medium twin, the Super Lynx 300 and the NH90 are currently in service in the region, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The AW139 achieved a remarkable success in the Middle East: 25% of the aircraft world fleet on duty in the region covering different applications, also including government duties. In 2011, AgustaWestland and Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), leading operator, launched a joint venture designated AgustaWestland Aviation Services LLC, to operate in the field of customer support, including spare parts and accessories, maintenance, repair and overhaul, customisation, modification and upgrading. Moreover, in the same period AgustaWestland launched a collaboration with ADA and Mubadala Aerospace to provide training services. At IDEX, AgustaWestland exhibits a range of commercial, government and military helicopter types including scale models of the GrandNew light twin, the AW169 light intermediate 4.5 ton class, the AW139 intermediate twin, the AW189 8 ton class and the AW101 three engine helicopter. The GrandNew light twin, thanks to its outstanding performance, cabin space and advanced flight and mission avionics, is perfectly suited to meet VIP transport requirements. AgustaWestland is also offering the recently launched latest generation AW169 light intermediate and AW189 8 ton class twin engine helicopters which share a same design philosophy with the AW139, complementing this model in the AgustaWestland product range and providing the market with a Family of state-of-the-art products for a range of applications.
Alenia Aermacchi has started a high profile collaboration with the UAE Air Force & Air Defence for the Al Fursan National Aerobatic team which flies the Alenia Aermacchi MB.339NAT. The new generation advanced trainer M-346, developed by the Company as the next technological step after the MB.339, has been already selected by the UAE and ordered by Singapore, Italy and a Middle Eastern country. Even the C-27J tactical transport, ordered in over 90 examples by 10 Air Forces, fully matches the region’s Air Forces requirement for a tactical transport aircraft and is now offered also in the MC-27J multi-mission version armed with direct and indirect weapons for special forces use. Alenia Aermacchi is pursuing also the opportunities for new generation medium-range maritime patrol aircraft. This requirement can be met by both the ATR 42MP and its biggest version ATR 72MP, special versions of the renowned ATR regional aircraft, which ensures the effective execution of a large variety of maritime surveillance operations. UAE’s Strata company, started recently a partnership with Alenia Aermacchi in the aerostructures sector. Finmeccanica, through its Alenia Aermacchi subsidiary, is a partner of the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft, recently ordered by Oman, the 7th customer of the European defence weapon system.
Selex ES is strongly present in the UAE focused providing the Country’s Armed Forces with integrated naval systems for combat management, naval radars and fire control systems, missile electronics, military radios – with over 6.000 Personal Role Radios supplied to Land Forces and Special Operations Command. The Company is currently working on several naval programmes and has just delivered the first combat management system for the Buynunah class corvette of the UAE Navy. In the Region, Selex ES also works through the joint venture Abu Dhabi Systems Integration which focuses on systems engineering, integration and support. Future good opportunities for Selex ES are represented by two major military projects: the National G4 Network for Armed Forces and the Future Soldier Program. At IDEX the Company will be promoting its most advanced sensors and systems including naval combat management systems, which can be seen onboard of three naval units present at Navdex: the Baynunah, the Falaj 2 and the Abu Dhabi class vessels. Selex ES will be displaying surveillance mission systems for manned and unmanned platforms, leading-edge AESA radar and airspace surveillance radar, EW and EO systems for fixed and rotary wing applications and sensor systems. Selex ES will also showcase its interoperable command and control systems, such as the SIACCON, including the dismounted soldiers ones, all comprised within the Italian programme Forza NEC for the Armed Forces digitalization. Also on show there will be data links and integrated cyber-security solutions. As a major part of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, Selex ES will also be supporting at IDEX the aircraft’s campaign activity at the show. The company’s more than 65% contribution to the Eurofighter Typhoon’s mission critical systems, avionics and sensors includes its AESA radar, IRST sensor and DASS protection suite.
The UAE Armed Forces have always been a very important customer for OTO Melara that started its supplies in the 70s with the 76/62mm Compact Gun Mount to the UAE Navy and later on in the 80’s with the 76/62mm Super Rapid and the OF40 MBT to the Dubai Army. In the same period, the UAE Navy has also adopted the 40L70 Twin Compact Gun for its corvettes, and HITROLE 12,7mm RWS for the Patrol Boats. More recently the UAE Navy has equipped its Baynunah vessels with the 76/62 SR Gun Mounts, the Abu Dhabi Class Vessel with the 76/62 SR Gun Mount, as primary armament and the Marlin WS 30mm, as secondary armament, and the Falaj 2 vessels with the 76/62 SR, in the full stealth version. OTO Melara, in collaboration with its local industrial partner, Al Fattan Ship Industry, is currently supplying the Ghannata 2 patrol ships and for the Falaj 2 vessels with the HITROLE G 12,7 RWS. The Coast Guard is also adopting the Marlin WS 30mm system for its patrol boats. OTO Melara strongly wants to keep on serving the customer supporting the “in service” systems, is proposing the most advanced products and technologies, such as the 76/62 Super Rapid Strales, the DART guided ammunition, VULCANO long range projectile. OTO Melara has also a large catalogue of qualified turrets of possible UAE Army interest, like the HITFIST® 30mm two man turret, the HITFIST® 30mm Overhead Weapon Station and the HITFACT® 105/120mm turret. All of them are suitable for installation on tracked and wheeled vehicles including the 8×8 that might be acquired by the Army.
WASS will display in IDEX, among the others, two new products: the new FLASH BLACK Lightweight Torpedo and the new BLACK SNAKE Towed Array Sonar. The FLASH BLACK torpedo is the result of the technological experiences coming from the development and in-service releasing of the other lightweight torpedoes developed and produced by WASS, like A244/S mod 3, A290 and MU90 and the BLACK SHARK heavyweight torpedo. Moreover, the FLASH BLACK torpedo includes several innovations, making it the first in the world in terms of flexibility, performances and very low life cycle cost. It can be launched by any platform, including underwater ones and it is able to attack any kind of underwater and surface target with lethal and non lethal attack type (mission abort). It is powered by a Lithium-Polymers rechargeable battery. Particular attention has been dedicated to maintenance, with reduction to a minimum period of 5/10 years. The new towed array sonar, named BLACK SNAKE, is the smallest and lightest towed array sonar on the market and completes the C310 countermeasure system, obtaining the most modern light and effective torpedo defence system for any kind of surface ship. Two patents are on the basis of these results: an innovative hydrodynamic control system allowing the left-right torpedo detection ambiguity solving in few seconds and a new beamforming granting the same performances than a double length array and a high reduction of the side beams. BLACK SNAKE can be directly interfaced or via combat management system to the C310 reaction system.
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