Abu Dhabi Govt. invests in development of UAVs
23 Feb 2007
Abu Dhabi: The Government of Abu Dhabi has announced the setting up of the Abu Dhabi UAV Investment company (AD UAV), which will design, develop, manufacture and integrate unmanned aerial vehicle systems, in addition to offering after-sales support in the UAE and across the globe.
AD UAV will develop technologies, as well as the design capacity, to meet both military as well as commercial requirements of its customers.
The UAE armed forces have said that the launch of Abu Dhabi UAV Investment is a result of their efforts to build a national pool of research talent comprising of engineers and scientists through its UAV Research and Technology Centre. The UAE armed forces are expected to be Abu Dhabi UAV's major client.
Abu Dhabi UAV Investment is the first of its kind in the GCC region and will act as an incubator for new unmanned system programmes.
Homegrown UAV's
Meanwhile, for the first time the UAE is displaying a locally built UAV at the IDEX exhibition currently being held here. The UAE armed forces are already operating twelve such craft.
According to a Space Reconnaissance official, which produces the UAVs, these aircraft can operate at a height of 18,000 feet, with a range of 100 kilometres and an endurance time of six hours.
Deployed for surveillance and patrolling, the UAVs have advanced sensors installed in them to meet the specific needs of the UAE Armed Forces. Also on the cards for these UAVs is a radar system. According to officials, the project to produce a locally designed UAV was launched five years ago. They also said that production has been ongoing at the Dhafra military base over the last 18 months.
