Airforces

UAEAF&AD has executed more than
130,000 flying hours involving fighter,
transport and support aircraft as
well as ISR platforms. Additionally,
AF&AD units are deployed to more
than half a dozen locations in Saudi
Arabia and Yemen. Daily combat
operations are being co-ordinated
by a command and control centre in
Riyadh, which is also ensuring there
is no flying within restricted zones.”
He added: “The UAEAF&AD
continues to adjust to the ever-
changing battle scenarios as
it tries to defeat the enemies,
including ISIS [Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria, so-called Islamic
State (IS)], in Yemen. I think we
all agree that the battles we are
facing in Yemen will continue for
a long while, and are similar to
the threats being faced in Iraq
and Syria – against a well-trained
and well-worked fighting force.”
It was left to the UAEAF&AD’s
deputy
commander,
Brigadier
General M
Al Shamsi,
to explain to

the DIAC audience the importance

of multi-role, multi-sensor platforms

as part of the UAE’s network-

centric strategy. He said: “One

of the important needs for the

UAEAF&AD’s future is to embark on

a more versatile set of procurement

requirements,

that would see

more multi-role

platforms with the

ability to share data and

enhance C4I [command, control,

communications, computers

and intelligence] selection

and distribution systems.”

The contenders

Strike/ISR platforms are

potentially a big part of

such a strategy, and

DAS17 illustrated

how defence

companies

are vying to meet the UAE’s

objectives. The Airbus

C295 showed off its gunship

capabilities, alongside the UAE’s

new Calidus B-250 light strike

aircraft, the IOMAX Archangel

Block 2, L3/Air Tractor AT-802L

Longsword and Textron

AirLand Scorpion light jet.

Miguel Morales, head of

airborne ISR marketing at Airbus,

told AFM: “Currently there are

Under conditions of secrecy,

the Calibus B-250 light strike

aircraft only recently made

its fi rst fl ight in Brazil. The

UAE company provided a

glimpse of its capabilities,

loading it with Brazilian and

UAE weapons as well as an

MX-15D EO/IR turret to lase

the weapons.

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #358 JANUARY 2018 // 33

Airforces

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