The U.S. Navy has awarded Sweden-based defense and aerospace company Saab a contract to supply a Double Eagle Semi-Autonomous Remotely Operated Vehicle to the Kuwait Naval Force. The SAROV order, which was processed through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, is worth $16 million and expected to be delivered by September 2025, according to the online...
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Category: Middle East
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Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Names Yoav Turgeman as New CEO
The board of directors of state-owned Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has appointed Yoav Turgeman as its new CEO, replacing Yoav Har-Even, who held the position for over eight years. Yuval Steinitz, Rafael board chairman, hailed the unanimous vote and expressed confidence in Turgeman, saying he has the necessary experience, competencies and skills to...
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Thales Collaborates With Edge Group’s EPI for Precision Engineering
The Thales Group and EPI, an entity under the Edge Group, have signed a letter of intent to explore procurement opportunities for industrial parts and engineering services. EPI is a precision engineering company supporting the aerospace, defense and oil and gas industries across the United Arab Emirates. The company provides manufacturing engineering, surface treatment, coating, repairing and...
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Germany and Israel Finalize Arrow 3 Acquisition
German and Israeli officials, led by Israel Ministry of Defense Director General Eyal Zamir, have signed a final agreement for Germany to acquire the Israeli-manufactured and U.S.-developed Arrow 3 missile defense system. In its announcement via social media, the Israeli Ministry of Defense valued the deal at about $3.6 billion and described the signing as...
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Elbit to Equip Canada’s New Refueling Planes With Missile Shield
Airbus Defense and Space has awarded Elbit Systems a five-year contract for the installation of Direct Infrared Counter Measures and Infrared Missile Warning Systems on Canada’s Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport refueling aircraft. Elbit did not disclose the value of the contract it announced Monday but noted that the missile protection systems have been...
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Jordan To Start Cadet Chopper Pilot Training as First Bell 505s Arrive
The Royal Jordanian Air Force has received five of the 10 Bell 505 training helicopters it ordered in July 2022 for the King Hussein Air College in Mafraq, Jordan. The aircraft order includes flight training equipment and a full, computer-based training module on basic and advanced rotorcraft flight training, Bell said. The five-seat aircraft flies...
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UAE, MBDA to Begin Smart Weapons Production in 2030
The United Arab Emirates, together with European missile manufacturer MBDA, will begin production of a new set of smart weapons in 2030. It is the first collaboration between the Middle Eastern nation and MBDA since the company’s new missile engineering center opened its doors in Abu Dhabi in June. According to Patrice Hajjar, vice president...
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Edge Launches Multi-Domain Military Testing Facility in the Gulf Region
Edge, an Abu Dhabi-based advanced technology and defense company, has launched X Range, an international training facility for defense and aerospace capabilities and testing space for commercial products. The facility, which was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow 2023 on Monday, is located on a 350-square-kilometer island called Abu Al Abyad, about an hour’s drive from...
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AFCENT Official: Progress Slow on Allied Intel Data Pool in the Middle East
A collaboration among the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East and neighboring areas to establish a common data pool on regional threats is making a “slow but steady progress,” a ranking U.S. Air Forces Central official, said. AFCENT Deputy Commander Brig. Gen David Mineau told the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference on Sunday...
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UAE’s Edge Group Acquires Majority Stake in Swiss VTOL Maker Anavia
Abu Dhabi-based Edge Group has acquired 52 percent majority shares of Swiss vertical takeoff and landing system manufacturer Anavia. The move makes Edge a leader in VTOL. “The acquisition of a majority share in Anavia is an important step in Edge’s strategy of bolstering its advanced autonomous aerial vehicle capabilities as it rapidly expands its...