Refile: Russian firms showcase guns, missiles at UAE defence expo

IDEX

21/02/2023 05:04

(Repeats to additional subscribers)
    By Yousef Saba
       ABU DHABI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - A major defence expo
kicked off in the United Arab Emirates on Monday with Russian
firms participating in the maritime section despite Western
pressure on Gulf states to help isolate Moscow and a strong
showing by Israeli companies.
    Russian firms, including Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport,
displayed assault rifles, missiles and drones at the Naval
Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX), part of the
biennial International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) event.
    Men in traditional Emirati garb known as thobe, as well as
military-uniformed men from India, Pakistan and other states,
were seen engaging with Russian firms' delegates. At least three
Russians companies approached by Reuters declined to speak.
    The UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have not adopted Western
sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, have
resisted U.S. pressure to break links with Russia, with which
they have energy and economic ties. 
    The chief executive of BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russia
joint venture, said the firm was moving forward in talks
launched five years ago with the UAE for the firm's supersonic
cruise missiles, which can be launched from sea, land and air.
    "We are in conversation of course with the UAE and other
neighbouring countries," Atul D. Rane told Reuters, describing
the talks with the UAE as advanced after having slowed during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
    UAE authorities did not immediately respond to a Reuters
request for comment.
    Many arms-producing nations vie for influence and contracts
from wealthy Gulf Arab countries, especially the UAE and Saudi
Arabia, which have moved to diversify their defence partners and
want to develop their own industries.
    The UAE and Bahrain forged ties with Israel in 2020 partly
due to a shared concern over Iran, whose missile and drone
capabilities are seen as a threat by Gulf Arab states.
    Israeli firms had a large presence at IDEX, including Iron
Dome anti-missile system-maker Rafael.
    Israel Aerospace Industries held a demonstration of an
unmanned vessel with Abu Dhabi Ship Building and Abu Dhabi
state-owned defence conglomerate EDGE, the first joint
demonstration of military equipment between the two countries.
    "Our relation is a very good example of the relations
between the nations and the companies. We are complementary, one
to each other," Oren Gutter, operational adviser to IAI's CEO on
naval affairs, told Reuters.
    Organisers said 65 countries were taking part in IDEX, which
runs to Feb. 24, including major U.S. defence conglomerates such
as Raytheon Technologies  RTX.N , Lockheed Martin  LMT.N  and
Boeing  BA.N .
    The UAE said on Monday it signed deals worth 4.5 billion
dirhams ($1.23 billion) with local and international firms,
including a 1.5 billion-dirham deal with Indonesian firm PT Pal
to procure multi-mission vessels and a 421 million-dirham
contract with France's Thales LAS for GM403 radars.
 ($1 = 3.6728 UAE dirham)
 (Reporting by Yousef Saba; Editing by Alex Richardson)
 ((Yousef.Saba@thomsonreuters.com; +971562166204; https://twitter.com/YousefSaba))