Idex 2021: Lockheed Martin interns develop algorithm to detect defects on aircraft


Kelsey Warner
  • English
  • Arabic

What started as a summer project for 13 interns at Lockheed Martin in Abu Dhabi led to an application used by the defence company in America.

The university students worked a total of 1,200 hours alongside four US-based mentors to build an artificial intelligence algorithm to detect paint and primer defects on jets, a time-consuming task usually performed by people.

We were able to digitise the time-consuming process of inspecting aircraft manually and delivered a real-world solution that drives significant time and cost savings

“We initially started working with Lockheed Martin mentors to provide training for Emirati talent interested in careers in the aerospace and defence sector. As work progressed, we were able to digitise the time-consuming process of inspecting aircraft manually and delivered a real-world solution that drives significant time and cost savings,” said Hala Alzargani, lead engineer at Lockheed Martin’s Centre for Innovation and Security Solutions in Masdar City.

The product is an early sign that national efforts to develop local expertise in technology is taking root.

Gulf countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are developing their domestic military industries with the aim of diversifying their economies, creating jobs and reducing reliance on imports.

One of the most pressing challenges in designing and applying artificial intelligence is building local capacity, said Omar Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for AI.

Military systems underpinned by AI, such as missile defence, cyber security, drones and counter-unmanned aerial vehicles, are the most in-demand at this year’s International Defence Exhibition and Conference. Event organisers expect to draw as much as $5 billion in new contracts.

Idex is currently under way in the capital, where a few of the interns are proudly demonstrating their AI solution at the Lockheed Martin stand.

Robert Harward, chief executive for Lockheed Martin in the Middle East, told The National the company works closely with the UAE's defence conglomerate Edge and the Ministry of Defence to recruit interns and develop work in the country's interest.

Lockheed Martin’s Ciss has hosted merit-based interns since 2017 and 100 interns have graduated from its programme to date.

The placements provide specialist training in AI development and unmanned aerial vehicle design, defence simulation exercises and business administration.

“The best part of the internship was having the daily stand up meeting with the US mentors and learning from them while we developed the capability,” said Athari Hasan Alzaabi, an intern studying software security engineering at Abu Dhabi Polytechnic.

She said the placement deepened her understanding of AI and taught her how to apply agile software development practices “to develop real-world AI projects”.

Idex 2021 opens in Abu Dhabi - in pictures

  • Idex 2021 was held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from February 21 to February 25. Victor Besa / The National
    Idex 2021 was held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from February 21 to February 25. Victor Besa / The National
  • Deals worth billions of dirhams were sealed at the event. Victor Besa / The National
    Deals worth billions of dirhams were sealed at the event. Victor Besa / The National
  • It was the first major in-person exhibition held in the capital since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Victor Besa / The National
    It was the first major in-person exhibition held in the capital since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Victor Besa / The National
  • Social distancing was a must on day one of Idex. Victor Besa / The National
    Social distancing was a must on day one of Idex. Victor Besa / The National
  • Up to 1,000 defence companies took part in the five-day event. Victor Besa / The National
    Up to 1,000 defence companies took part in the five-day event. Victor Besa / The National
  • Idex took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National
    Idex took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National
  • Idex 2021 ran from February 21 to February 25. Victor Besa / The National
    Idex 2021 ran from February 21 to February 25. Victor Besa / The National
  • Signs inside the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National
    Signs inside the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National
  • Military vehicles on display at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National
    Military vehicles on display at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National
  • Attendees at Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National
    Attendees at Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National
SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday

AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)

Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)

Benevento v Parma (5pm)

Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)

Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)

Lazio v Spezia (5pm)

Napoli v Crotone (5pm)

Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)

Torino v Juventus (8pm)

Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The Old Slave and the Mastiff

Patrick Chamoiseau

Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

Ticket prices

General admission Dh295 (under-three free)

Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free

Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets

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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

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The specs

Engine 60kwh FWD

Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power 204hp Torque 360Nm

Price, base / as tested Dh174,500 

US%20federal%20gun%20reform%20since%20Sandy%20Hook
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