The new Viper Shield electronic warfare suite, meant to help foreign F-16 customers fend off modern EW threats, will be ready for production in late 2025, L3Harris told Breaking Defense in Dubai.
By Michael MarrowThe lion’s share of the total dollar figure is due to a $1.1 billion (4.1 billion AED) arrangement EDGE signed with the UAE Ministry of Defense for aircraft munitions.
By Agnes Helou“We have seen a lot of interest in military trainers… since every country in the region is looking to modernize their military trainers,” Bell’s Patrick Moulay told Breaking Defense.
By Agnes Helou“Having high quality local capabilities supported by the OEM [original equipment manufacturer], will help reduce lead times significantly and translate into better service and availability for the UAE,” a Sikorksy official said.
By Agnes HelouDavid Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, told Breaking Defense several options could power the company’s Gambit drone offering, and that the Air Force has been more forthcoming with cost expectations behind closed doors.
By Michael MarrowCalidus CEO Khalifa Alblooshi told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview the company hopes to start delivering the turboprop aircraft in mid-2026.
By Agnes HelouThe company has incurred some $1.3 billion in charges on the delayed program, but a senior official at the Dubai Airshow sees much clearer skies ahead.
By Michael MarrowThough mostly absent from the official exhibitor list, Russian firms are out in force in Dubai, including a flyover by a squad of Russian fighter jets.
By Tim MartinAn MBDA official here tells Breaking Defense how the company sees the missiles swarming into combat, and how MBDA is eyeing a new subsidiary in the UAE.
By Agnes HelouThree different munitions — the Mk81, Mk82 and longer-range Mk83 guided bombs made by EDGE subsidiary Al Tariq — will all be integrated on the fourth generation plane in due course, Al Tariq CEO Theunis Botha told Breaking Defense.
By Tim Martin and Agnes HelouWalid Abukhaled, CEO of Saudi Arabia Military Industries, told Breaking Defense the conglomerate is “investing in developing our own products across all domains, but the key ones now are really AI and command and control systems.”
By Agnes HelouThe first four lots of jets — almost half the total expected buy — will not come with conformal fuel tanks, a key part of the operational profile for what the service hopes will be its missile truck going forward.
By Michael Marrow“We’re always looking at making investments in autonomous capabilities, precision guided munitions and electronic warfare,” Miles Chambers, Edge Group vice president of international business, told Breaking Defense.
By Agnes HelouGeneral Atomics’ commitments to the UAE go beyond the long-term support it’s planning for additional aircraft systems.
By GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, INC.