Drone makers are set to dominate next week’s global defence gathering in the capital as billions of dollars pour into designs for unmanned vehicles on land, air and sea.
The organisers of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) have launched a dedicated exhibition for unmanned systems from around the world, in which 33 local and international companies will be participating.
"This will be the first year for the Unmanned Systems Exhibition [Umex]. In 2016 we will have a unique Umex conference, but this year we are part of Idex," said Saeed Al Makhmasi, the Umex spokesman.
Unmanned systems operated automatically or through remote control are being put to an increasingly broad range of civil and military applications, from surveillance and attack to search and rescue or even delivering post.
“In the region, I expect to see growth in unmanned assets at the tactical and unit levels, using small and mini unmanned systems, as well as on the other side of the spectrum in the large unmanned assets with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions,” said Aleksandar Jovovic, the principal at the aerospace and defence consultancy Avascent.
According to a study from Teal Group, spending on unmanned aerial vehicles will more than double over the next decade to more than US$11.6 billion. But it will not be just aerial drones on display in Abu Dhabi next week.
One Sharjah-based boat builder will be hoping to find buyers for its unmanned vessel, which it says can be put to a number of uses from chasing pirates to surveying the seabed.
“It can be used for several tasks from surveys to guarding assets. It also has antipiracy uses by extending the line of sight, or could be equipped with non-lethal deterrents,” said Basel Shuhaiber, a managing partner at Al Marakeb. The company will be exhibiting its 7-metre-long unmanned vessels at the show and has already conducted sea trials with potential customers.
Idex, which runs from February 22 to 26, is expected to host a total of 1,154 international and local exhibitors this year, up from 1,112 in 2013. Forty-two countries will have pavilions. About 80,000 visitors attended Idex in 2013.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
