Dubai Airshow 2021: Edge unit secures $2.9bn deal from UAE Armed Forces

Maintenance, repair and overhaul contract expected to enhance 'operational readiness' of country's Air Force and Air Defence

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, watches aerobatic displays at Dubai Airshow. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed visited the Dubai Airshow on day one. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, receives official delegations at Dubai Airshow. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed receives ministers of defence and chiefs of staff of countries participating in Dubai Airshow. Photo: Dubai Media Office

The Russian Knights perform. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Telal International design and manufacture pilot and steward uniforms. The company is exhibiting at the airshow for the first time. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor takes pictures of the Russian Knights. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai Airshow begins at Dubai World Central. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Crowds at the Dubai Airshow. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An Etihad Airbus A350-1041, in special livery to celebrate the UAE's Golden Jubilee, at the Dubai Airshow, with a Boeing 777X in the background. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Thunder B-VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle system at the Israel Aerospace Industries stand at the Dubai Airshow. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Al Tariq series at The Edge stand at the Dubai Airshow. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The new suite at the Emirates stand at the Dubai Airshow. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Members of the Navy attend the airshow. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

The Russian Knights perform at the airshow. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

A model of the Airbus A400M at the Dubai Airshow. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

Official delegations at Dubai Airshow. Photo: Dubai Media Office

The show gets off to a flying start. Photo: Dubai Media Office

A Boeing 777-X at the airshow. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai Airshow begins at Dubai World Central. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Jets impress the crowds. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Boeing's newest 777X wide-body aircraft makes its international debut at Dubai Airshow. Photo: Dubai Media Office

An aerobatic display at Dubai World Central. Photo: Dubai Media Office

The show begins. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul service (MRO) provider GAL said it secured a Dh11 billion ($2.9bn) contract from the UAE Air Force and Air Defence (Afad).

GAL, a unit of UAE defence conglomerate Edge, will provide Afad with specialised MRO solutions under a three-year, performance-based logistics (PBL) contract, the company said at the Dubai Airshow on Sunday.

The PBL arrangement allows military customers to seek aviation MRO services organised under a cost per flight-hour model and also allows for ongoing improvements.

The contract "underscores our performance excellence and reliability as one of the region’s leading MRO service providers", GAL vice chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad said.

The company, which offers service to both military and civilian customers, said the agreement will support Afad with its "operational readiness while providing comprehensive safety and flexibility".

The agreement, the first such deal for the company, will also help it to establish it as one of the Middle East’s top aviation MRO services provider and will also streamline Afad's processes, align synergies and optimise manpower.

Defence spending in the six-member GCC economic bloc is expected to recover to pre-coronavirus levels by 2024 after declines that began this year due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, defence intelligence specialist Janes said in a report in February.

The strong economic bounce back is expected to support the sovereigns’ defence expenditure as revenue increase, the report said.

GAL is also opening the first regional distribution centre for aircraft logistics in Abu Dhabi in partnership with the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation, China's state-backed defence contractor, it said separately on Sunday.

The new Middle East and Africa Distribution Centre (MEADC) will significantly improve the availability of aircraft spare parts in the UAE and the wider Mena region.

“This collaboration is a testament to GAL’s competitive efforts to expand our presence and provide streamlined solutions to complex supply chain and MRO requirements,” said Khalid Al Breiki, president of Mission Support at Edge and managing director of GAL.

GAL understands the challenges posed by spare parts distribution and the regional distribution centre will “significantly improve access to these essential elements, as well as increase productivity and reduce complicated logistics, which arise when co-ordinating with international vendors”, he said.

Halcon, another Edge Group unit entity that specialises in the production and supply of precision-guided weapons, also said it has achieved of a “series of major developments for its SkyKnight air defence missile system”, including the completion of the system’s naval missile concept design, it said.

Halcon first unveiled SkyKnight, at the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February. It is the first UAE-designed and manufactured counter-rocket, artillery and mortar missile system, which is intended to counter the full spectrum of modern threats, the company said on Sunday.