IDEX Enhances 2015 Arsenal with Unmanned Systems Exhibition
The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) generated quite a buzz at Eurosatory 2014, announcing the newest edition to its line-up with the release of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition, or UMEX. The announcement is timely as the UAE has shown a recent interest in the unmanned systems field and is looking to capitalize on rapidly emerging as one of the biggest defence markets in the world. Global sentiment seemed to follow suit at Eurosatory this year. The Exhibition was filled with talk of unmanned systems, as companies like Oshkosh, Lockheed Martin, and Dassault, among many others, showcased their unmanned capabilities and highlighted the global push towards the next generation of defence technology.
While IDEX has previously featured an unmanned systems pavilion at the exhibition, the embarkment into a full unmanned systems event marks the second time in only a few years that IDEX has decided to make significant additions to its repertoire. In 2011, it entered into coastal defence with NAVDEX, the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition. IDEX’s recent success is, in large part, due to the introduction of NAVDEX. It has become the region’s largest maritime defence exhibition and receives steadfast support and enthusiasm from its exhibitors and visitors. While UMEX is a new pillar to the IDEX offering
IDEX CEO, Saleh Al Marzooqi will be holding UMEX to a similarly lofty standards when it launches next year at IDEX, February 22-26, 2015. “We work to ensure that every edition of our marquee exhibition keeps pace with the forefront of industry innovations and market requirements,” says Al Marzooqi. “UMEX provides a professional platform for manufacturers to meet operators and establish lucrative business relationships while promoting the ecological, environmental, civil and humanitarian benefits of unmanned systems”.
Al Marzooqi is on to something here that is generally overlooked when discussing unmanned systems through the purview of the defence industry; the civilian and commercial use of such technology. Within a year, the UAE government expects to use unmanned systems for the delivery of official government documents, such as driving licenses and identity cards, in order to improve government services. To coincide with this goal and encourage local talent to showcase their innovations, the UAE has launched an international competition to create unmanned crafts suitable for government use, with a cash prize of $1 million for the winner.
While global focus also has shifted to unmanned systems, increasingly local players in the region are also looking to capture a share of the pie by expanding their technological capabilities and providing innovative solutions. Several local firms have been seen partnering with multinationals in order to exchange knowledge, training and technical services to develop and grow the unmanned sector. For instance, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment (ADASI) will provide training, support and marketing services for Boeing unmanned systems in the UAE.
Over the next 10 years, nations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are predicted to spend some $1 billion on expanding their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities. The six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – alone are expected to spend $360 million. As a part Vision 2030, a framework plan to optimize the city’s development through a 25-year program of urban evolution, Abu Dhabi will concentrate on developing its capabilities in the manufacturing and maintenance of civil and military aerospace equipment and parts, defence electronics and other equipment and solutions.
Come February, the eye of the global defence market will once again be fixated on Abu Dhabi with IDEX at centrestage. If the past is any indication, IDEX will be up for the challenge of pulling off another massively successful exhibition. Showing once again that IDEX and the UAE will continue to push the international defence industry forward.
