Page 6 - SOFEX 2022 - Day 3

SKY GUARD APPEARS IN JORDAN

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Defense of 100 Kts with a maximum payload of 50 Research Center, with the objective of fur-
Studies and Research Center is promot- kilograms. The UAV can also attain a max- ther developing the UAV.
ing the Sky Guard UAV for the first time in imum altitude of 6000 meters and has a
Jordan. maximum endurance of eight hours. SkyGuard, according to the official, is the
outcome of numerous R&D efforts, under-
“There seems to be a lot of interest in The UAV, originally designed and man- taken by the Center and geared towards
Sky Guard here and we expect to get ufactured by the research center, has developing a truly local product, which is
some export opportunities for the UAV,” a successfully passed testing and exper- satisfactorily compliant with the opera-
senior official at the Prince Sultan Defense imentation to qualify its subsystems in tional requirements of end users.
Studies and Research Center said on the different environmental conditions. Flight It is part of the Kingdom’s goal of achiev-
sidelines of the show. “The UAV is a com- tests are also being conducted to assess ing localisation of more than 50 per cent
plete multi-role tactical Unmanned Aerial design requirements. of expenditure on defense equipment and
System (UAS), designed for surveillance, services, by the year 2030.
and reconnaissance. It has autonomous Late last year, General Authority for Military
take-off and landing system, and can be Industries (GAMI) and Saudi Arabian Saudi Arabia draws its Vision 2030 target
controlled through a dedicated ground con- Military Industries (SAMI) signed a contract of localisation of defense expenditure from
trol station and ground data terminal,” he for development and manufacture of the its core national priorities, namely military
added. SkyGuard UAV. readiness, strategic autonomy, transpar-
ency and efficiency of spend, sustainability
The UAV, powered by a 44HP reciprocat- SAMI had also signed an agreement with of local military industries, and interopera-
ing engine, can race to a maximum speed Prince Sultan Defense Studies and Science bility within and across entities.

Range Air-to-Air Missile, and KONGSBERG
KUWAIT TO GET NASAMS Fire Distribution Center.
In October 2021, Raytheon Missiles and
Defense unveiled a new medium-range air
and missile defense radar for NASAMS
called GhostEye MR.

NASAMS provides air defenders with a
tailorable, state-of-the-art defense system
that can maximise their ability to identify,
engage and destroy current and evolving
enemy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle
and emerging cruise missile threats.

Kuwait will get the National Advanced be the principal contractor. NASAMS is owned by 12 countries and
Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, The U.S. approval for the sale comes after has been integrated into the U.S. National
from the United States, at an estimated Washington recently gave the go ahead for Capital Region’s air defense system since
cost of US$3 billion. a potential sale of operational and training 2005. In addition to the U.S., Norway,
rounds for M1A2 Abrams tanks to Kuwait, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, Oman,
NASAMS are manufactured as a joint in a deal valued at up to US$250 million. Lithuania, Indonesia, Australia, Qatar,
venture between U.S.-based Raytheon The NASAMS, is a highly adaptable Hungary and one undisclosed country have
Technologies and Norway’s Kongsberg medium-range air defense solution, a chosen to depend on NASAMS for home-
Defense and Aerospace. For the Kuwait Raytheon official said. NASAMS consists land defense and the defense of critical
deal, Raytheon Missiles and Defense will of the Sentinel radar, Advanced Medium assets.

6 | NOVEMBER-03-2022 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS