Page 23 - DIMDEX 2022 Day 1 - Online Magazine

Day 1

like smart weapons and unmanned aerial
vehicles that have become one of our
most sought-after products in the African
and South Asian regions.” GIDS has also
been engaged with several industry
partners in the Gulf region on different
collaboration and joint venture projects.
“We are aiming to target the prevailing
technological collaboration opportunities
in the MENA region as well, particularly in
the UAV domain,” he added.

PAKISTAN’S GIDS OFFERS FATAH-I Armed Shahpar-II
Undergoing Flight Trials
TO MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES GIDS has started flight tests of its new
Shahpar-II unmanned combat air vehi-
cle (UCAV). Flight trials started during
Pakistan’s Global Industrial & Defence Asia have also evinced keen interest in the latter part of 2021 for an armed ver-
Solutions (GIDS) is offering its home- the system,” Kamal added. The missile sion, with two 45kg Burraq laser guided
made FATAH-I multi launch rocket system has a range of 140 kilometers and a shelf- munitions. It is designed to take off
to countries in the MENA region, “as the life of 10 years. autonomously and land with the use of
weapon is very pertinent to the region’s a parachute. The Shahpar-II has a max-
military”, the company’s chief executive Talking about some of the ongoing pro- imum ceiling of 20,000ft, an endurance
officer Asad Kamal has said. “We see a grammes and projects in the MENA of up to 14 hours with a line-of-sight data-
requirement (for MLRS) in countries such region, Kamal said, “Over the last decade link range of up to 300kms, although
as Qatar and Saudi Arabia and we are our aerial systems, ATGMs, UAVs and there are plans to integrate a satellite
ready to collaborate with local manufac- security and riot control items have been communications (SATCOM) system. The
turers. The Saudi administration is looking the top selling products, exported to over armed Shahpar-II was shown for the first
into our offer. Besides, several militaries 10 countries. Our recent initiatives have time in public at Cairo’s Egyptian Defence
from the Middle East, Africa and Central created new opportunities to products Exhibition (EDEX) last December.

RAYTHEON AMRAAM long range R77 missiles on its MiG-29M/

M2s and MBDA Meteor BVRAAMs on its
FOR EGYPT estimated cost of US $650 million. The talks with Kuwait, which according to the
Rafales. Raytheon is also in advanced
Pentagon said the missiles would sup-
company will be the first country in the
port Saudi Arabia’s Eurofighter Typhoon region to operate AIM-120C/D AMRAAM
fighter jets. Raytheon expects the deal to and AIM-9X Sidewinder AAMs, as well
be signed soon. as the AMRAAM-ER (extended range) to
defend against a full spectrum of threats.
If approved by Congress, it would be the AMRAAM continues to serve as the air-
first major foreign military sale to Riyadh to-air missile of choice for 40 international
since US President Joe Biden took office. countries including Qatar and the United
Egypt has also been eyeing later block States, said Paul Ferraro, vice president
AMRAAMs to equip their fleet of F-16s. of Air Power at Raytheon Missiles &
Industry sources say that Washington has Defense. In 2018, the U.S. government
Saudi Arabia and perhaps Egypt may given approval in principle for the sale of had approved the sale of 40 AIM 120C-7
get AMRAAM C-7/8 missiles. The Biden the AIM-120 to Cairo. Raytheon Missiles AMRAAM missiles, one spare AIM 120C-7
administration’s decision to sell 280 AIM- & Defence, the makers, are currently AMRAAM guidance section and other
120C-7/8 AMRAAM Advanced Medium holding discussions with the Egyptian related elements of logistical and program
Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Saudi government. support to Qatar at an estimated cost of
Arabia has kindled hopes among other US$215 million. The government of Qatar
MENA air forces that the weapon could Egypt’s F-16 fleet has been denied US air- had requested to buy defence articles
also be supplied to them. The US State to-air missiles with a range greater than 85 and services from the U.S. Government in
Department approved a sale of up to km, restricting their missile arsenal to the support of a direct commercial sale of the
280 AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM missiles AIM-7 Sparrow and shorter ranged AIM-9 National Advanced Surface to Air Missile
to Saudi Arabia in November 2021, at an Sidewinders, though the air force has System (NASAMS).

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