Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates has teamed with a U.S. defense
major to introduce unmanned military platforms to the Persian Gulf states.

The UAE’s Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments has signed an
agreement with Boeing for the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles to the six
Gulf Cooperation Council militaries.

Under the deal, announced on Feb. 18, Abu Dhabi Autonomous,
a subsidiary of the state-owned Tawazun, would market and support Boeing UAVs in the emirates.

“Today’s announcement is an important continuation of our strategy to
build aerospace capabilities right here in the Middle East,” ADASI chairman Homaid Al Shemmari said. “Our homegrown expertise, coupled with Boeing’s technical capabilities in unmanned aircraft systems, is a winning combination and one that we look forward to strengthening in the coming years.”

Executives said the agreement would focus on marketing Boeing’s
ScanEagle and Integrator UAVs to Abu Dhabi. They said at a later stage the marketing would be expanded to the rest of the Middle East.

“We plan to continue investing and growing in the UAE and the broader
Middle East region in order to support U.S. allies’ enduring need for
affordable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance solutions, such as
ScanEagle and Integrator,” Boeing Military Aircraft vice president Debbie
Rub said.

Under the agreement, Boeing would train UAE nationals to service the
U.S. company’s unmanned aircraft. ScanEagle has been deployed by the U.S.
military for reconnaissance operations, including Iran. ADASI was identified
as the first UAE company to offer autonomous systems.

Executives said the latest agreement expanded defense industrial
cooperation between the UAE and the United States. ADASI has already been
working with Boeing subsidiary Insitu for the support and sustainment of the
latter’s products and services.

“In this way, we can help the UAE achieve its national objective of
providing new career opportunities for its people,” Boeing Middle East
president Jeff Johnson said.

  Abu Dhabi Autonomous, Boeing inks agreement to supply drones to Gulf states, ScanEagle and Integrator UAVs, UAE