TSAMTO, November 15. On the first day of the Dubai Airshow 2021, the UAE Ministry of Defense signed contracts with suppliers of defense products totaling 5.23 billion dirhams ($1.41 billion at the current exchange rate).
According to Khaleej Times with reference to the head of the Executive Directorate of Industry and Development of Defense Potential of the Ministry of Defense of the UAE, Major General Ishaq Saleh Al-Balushi, a contract was signed with Airbus Defense and Space for the supply of two multi-purpose tanker transports A-330 MRTT for the UAE Air Force. They will replenish the fleet of three aircraft of this type, which are already in service with the Air Force. The contract value exceeded 2.46 billion dirhams.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Al Hajri announced the signing by the UAE Ministry of Defense of a contract worth 2.67 billion dirhams with Progressive Technologies, two deals worth 32.63 million dirhams with French Thales, and an agreement worth 66.11 million dirhams with the American aerospace company Goodrich Corporation. The first contract with Thales involves the supply of communication systems for aviation, the second - spare parts and maintenance.
As part of the previous Dubai Air Show, held in 2019, the UAE Ministry of Defense signed contracts worth more than $ 4 billion. The Ministry intends to report daily on new contracts with global defense companies. The organizers of the exhibition expect that the total amount of defense contracts to be signed this year will exceed the result of 2019.
As stated, the UAE Defense Ministry is purchasing the latest technologies to modernize the armed forces and counter the expected challenges. During the Idex and Navdex international defense exhibitions held earlier this year, the UAE Armed Forces signed contracts worth more than 20 billion dirhams ($5.4 billion) with national and foreign suppliers.
The Russian delegation is presenting at the air show the Checkmate light tactical aircraft, the Su-57E fifth generation fighter, the Su-35 generation 4++ fighter, the Il-76MD-90A(E) VTA aircraft, Mi-28NE, Ka-52 and Mi-17V-5 helicopters, the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system, the S-350E Vityaz anti-aircraft missile system, the 98R6E Abakan anti-aircraft missile system ", the Tor-M2KM anti-aircraft missile system and other products.
On the first day of Dubai Airshow 2021, the first foreign presentation of the Checkmate light tactical aircraft took place. The plane was inspected by the UAE delegation and representatives of a number of other countries. The developer also held an open presentation of the fighter for journalists.
The foreign debut of the Checkmate aircraft became the brightest premiere of the Russian exposition at the Dubai Airshow 2021.
