Dubai 15 November 2013 17:05
Finmeccanica, through its companies Alenia Aermacchi, AgustaWestland and Selex ES, takes part in the Dubai Airshow which is held from 17 to 21 November.
The United Arab Emirates is a strategic commercial partner for Finmeccanica which has an almost forty-years presence in the region through its operating companies. With this mindset in October 2007 Finmeccanica opened a representative office in Abu Dhabi to enhance the coordination and promotion of its business activities in the Gulf. Presently Finmeccanica is developing the in UAE local collaborations, industrial partnerships and even tailored high education courses in partnership with Italian Universities, with the aim to fully support the UAE vision, and future challenging programs. Finmeccanica companies and joint ventures are working to satisfy the high operative and technical expectations of partners with the aim not only to sell products or systems, but also to produce components in partnership with local companies and to carry out support, overhaul, maintenance and assistance activities with them, especially in the aeronautics sector.
Moreover, considering the increasing of the company’s commercial activities and partnerships in UAE and the number of resident managers and technicians working permanently in the country, Finmeccanica Middle East Office in Abu Dhabi has been relocated to a new bigger premises located in West Corniche. This new office will allow a better coordination among Group’s companies and local partners.
On display in the Finmeccanica stand and in the static area some products of the Group’s companies.
In particular, Alenia Aermacchi displays at the Airshow the multi mission MC-27J aircraft (static area), developed in partnership with ATK. For the MC-27J Alenia Aermacchi and ATK have adopted a modular approach maximizing the use of mission-pallet kits (Roll-On/Roll-Off equipment), for both systems and armaments. The MC-27J is an adaptable, agile, and affordable solution for the various airborne multi-mission requirements of the air forces and special forces. The MC-27J is not just a gunship, but a battlefield tested platform equipped with proven sensors/communications/weapons suite able to execute a wide range of customer-driven missions. On display in the Finmeccanica stand also the M-346 advanced jet trainer selected by the UAE Air Force in 2009 and the new M-345 HET (High Efficiency Trainer), the most recent solution proposed by Alenia Aermacchi for the basic-advanced phase of training syllabus for military pilots.
AgustaWestland will attend the exhibition showcasing two mock-ups of the AW169 and AW189 through which it sees significant future business opportunities in the region. The two models, together with AW169 and AW189 belong to AgustaWestland’s Family of new generation helicopters together with the already proven AW139. The three models have proved to be of significant success in the Middle East, with almost 150 helicopters in service or on order by major operators. The AgustaWestland range of helicopters, which have outstanding performance in hot and high environmental conditions and feature the latest technology, are ideally suited to meet both commercial and government requirements in the area. AgustaWestland has more than 210 new generation helicopters on order in the area serving a number of customers providing as well comprehensive support and training services to cover regional requirements. In the static area will be in display an AW189 that is becoming the new reference helicopter for the Oil & Gas market for offshore transportation, with more than 70 orders placed in less than two years. The helicopter will have the livery of a Qatari company which is the launch customer in the Gulf Area. Also on display the versatile 4 tonnes AW169, in Law Enforcement / EMS (Emergency Medical Service) configuration, a new multi role and high performance advanced last generation helicopter.
Selex ES’s proven electronic capabilities will be on display as part of the P.1HH Hammerhead (static area), a new state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designed for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and developed by Piaggio Aero in partnership with Selex ES. As a major part of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, Selex ES will also be supporting the aircraft’s campaign activity at the show. The company contributes with more than 65% to the Typhoon's mission critical systems, avionics and sensors. Selex ES has a strong presence in the UAE, providing the Armed Forces with integrated naval systems (with particular involvement in the Baynunah, Abu Dhabi Class ASW, Falaj 2, and Ghannatha programmes) and military equipments.