Airforces

n recent years the war in

Yemen, and the need to

be ever-vigilant against the

twin threats of terrorism and Iran,

has seen a step change in the

modernisation efforts of the United

Arab Emirates (UAE) and its Gulf

Cooperation Council (GCC) allies.

The Dubai Airshow 2017 (DAS17),

held at Al Maktoum International

Airport from November 12-16,

was indicative of that.

The eighth Dubai International

Air Chiefs (DIAC) Conference

was held on the eve of the show.

The event provides a chance

to understand the needs of the

United Arab Emirates Air Force

and Air Defence (UAEAF&AD). Its

chief, Brigadier General Ibrahim

Naser Al Asawi, spoke briefly

on operations over Yemen. He

didn’t mention light strike or

intelligence, surveillance and

reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft

specifically, but it was apparent

there is a need to get more of

these multi-role aircraft involved.

Asawi told a packed audience:

“The UAEAF&AD is currently

participating in Operations Decisive

Storm and Restoring Hope in

Yemen, under the leadership of

Saudi Arabia. It has been almost a

thousand days since the start of this

operation and during that time the

Deadly business

in Dubai

I

UAEAF&AD chief

Brigadier General

Ibrahim Naser Al Asawi

is keen to operate

more multi-role aircraft

as part of his future

strategy.

Perhaps the biggest surprise at the Dubai Airshow was the Airbus C295 displayed as a strike/ISR

platform. Weapons from Turkey’s Roketsan and Spain’s EXPAL were on show as options to equip the

four planned underwing pylons. A critical design review should be completed before the end of 2017

with fl ight testing expected to begin in October 2018. The aircraft on display, EC-025, passed through

Malta on November 7 and is reportedly for the Uzbekistan Air Force. All photos Alan Warnes

For the first time in many years, defence

outshone the civilian sector at the Dubai Airshow.

Alan Warnes discovers that despite the usual

Boeing versus Airbus bunfight, most of the news

surrounded local military requirements.

32 // JANUARY 2018 #358 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

Intel

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