From the 19 to the February 23, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Leonardo will participate in the IDEX and NAVDEX salons, among the most important Defense events in the Arab Gulf region in the field of land and naval security and aerial.
Leonardo, who for the first time presents himself in the region with the new identity inspired by the Renaissance genius Da Vinci, boasts a decades-long presence in the UAE in the field of military pilot training and defense systems. The Emirate armed forces today can continue to rely on the most advanced solutions provided by Leonardo, which contribute to guaranteeing the protection and security of the country. The same national aerobatic team Al Fursan, which trained in Italy with Italian aircraft, training systems and doctrines, today uses the Aermacchi MB-339 jet aircraft, while more recently the Emirates have selected the advanced M-346 trainer . In the country, Leonardo has provided integrated naval systems for combat management, naval radars and fire control systems, missile electronics and military radio, and today is working on the supply and integration of combat management systems for important programs naval vessels such as the Ghannatha, Baynunah, Falaj 2 and Abu Dhabi class corvettes.
Leonardo considers the Gulf countries to be strategic for their business, in light of their interest in the development of technologies and innovation that allow them to support the advanced development of the local economy within long-term partnerships. This line includes some recent contracts such as the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter with Kuwait; the most important aeronautical contract in the history of Leonardo, and the supply of the airspace surveillance and protection system for Qatar, which also selected Leonardo's combat system on board the new 7 ships destined for Qatar Emiri Naval Forces . The penetration of the helicopter market is also important, with more than 230 new generation AgustaWestland helicopters ordered in the Middle East from several customers, to which the company also provides complete support and training services.
On the Leonardo stands at IDEX (06-A03) and NAVDEX (B35) the scale reproduction of the bridge of a multi-role ship will be exhibited for the first time in the region, which, thanks to the use of virtual reality and the “naval cockpit” of new generation, it simulates sensors and systems for the integrated management of the operations of conduction of the ship and the combat system, also present on display, together with the smallest and most powerful sonar towed at variable immersion depth currently available on the market, l 'ATAS (Active Towed Array Sonar). Still for naval applications, Leonardo proposes the guided ammunition DART (Driven Ammunition Reduced Time of flight), an integral part of the Strales system, which can be directed in flight towards the target. NAVDEX will also be an opportunity to illustrate the technologies that will be on board the new Multi-purpose Deep Sea Patrol (PPA) of the Italian fleet, including the Kronos, multi-function radar with AESA technology (Active Electronically Scanned Array), also proposed in the terrestrial version , and the OTO 76 / 62 AD (Above Deck), a naval cannon with an over-loading ammunition loading system which, thanks to the 30% low weight, allows installation even on smaller boats.
In the field of avionic sensors, Leonardo presents cutting-edge products including the Miysis DIRCM (Directed InfraRed Countermeasure) for the protection of thermally guided aircraft from missiles, Seaspray and PicoSAR electronic-scan surveillance radars and their capabilities in the field of remote pilot systems such as the Falco family products. Finally, on the stand will be available the modern technologies for secure communications of the Land Forces, including the most recent version of the Software Defined Radio (SDR) Hand-Held.
In the aeronautical field, Leonardo presents in the area the new M-345 trainer, created to respond to multi-role requirements, which offers pilots the performance of a jet, but with low acquisition costs and operations. After the first 29 December 2016 flight, the M-345 has already been ordered by the Italian Air Force. Thanks to its new concept of training syllabus that uses the M-345 and the M-346 from the basic phase up to the advanced phase and LIFT (Lead-In Fighter Training), Leonardo is able to train pilots for new fighter aircraft generation. Leonardo's syllabus also includes highly advanced simulation systems and solutions, real training academies, which allow the pilot to immerse himself in highly realistic operational scenarios by flying mixed missions between the real fleet and simulated aircraft. Furthermore, thanks to the new version of the M-346 Fighter Trainer (FT) it is also possible to carry out air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. For search and rescue (Search and Rescue - SAR), maritime patrol and support to humanitarian activities, civil protection and special forces in complex operational scenarios, Leonardo presents the MC-27J multimission aircraft, an ideal solution for tactical transport operations and C3- ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance).
In the helicopter sector, Leonardo offers IDEX a range of products for military and civil applications. These include the medium-heavy AW101 helicopter in CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) configuration, the AW159 for naval tasks and an 1: 1 scale reproduction of the VIP / executive cabin of the AW609 convertiplane. The aircraft, which combines the performance of a turboprop aircraft with the vertical take-off and landing capabilities of a helicopter, was also chosen by the UAE Join Aviation Command for SAR tasks. The most successful models in the area also include the AW139, the AW169 and the AW189. The AW139 was chosen, among others, by Abu Dhabi Aviation, Gulf Helicopters, Armed Forces and government agencies of Qatar and Oman. In Saudi Arabia the AW139 was chosen for offshore transport and air ambulance tasks, while in the UAE the AW139 is also used for public order tasks and government VIP transport. In Abu Dhabi the AW169 and AW189 models are already used by Falcon Aviation for offshore and VIP transport. In the regional military market, Oman employs Super Lynx 300 and NH90 multi-role helicopters and AW109 Power and AW139 helicopters for police tasks.
Cyber security and Space are the sectors of new focus in the Country In Space, Leonardo supplies technologies for KhalifaSat Earth observation programs, in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai, and Falcon Eye (through the JV Thales Alenia Space - Thales 67%, Leonardo 33%) as well as satellite services through Telespazio (Leonardo 67%, Thales 33%). Telespazio, which plays a leading role in the European Galileo satellite navigation system, recently signed an agreement with the Emirate operator Yahsat, which provides for close cooperation in the satellite navigation, telecommunications and geo-information sectors.
Leonardo finally offers the UAE and the countries of the area the most advanced skills in security and management of new challenges related to cyber security and major events, with the aim of becoming a strategic partner capable of creating value through successful collaborations thanks to to its proven experience as a global provider of innovative technology.
