IDEX and NAVDEX in Abu Dhabi have been among the largest arms fairs in the world for several years now. This year, too, there is a lot to see and many deals to report. A brief overview and lots of visual impressions from our editor Georg Mader.
During a press conference on the third day of the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2019) and the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX 2019), the official spokesperson for IDEX, General Mohammed Al Hassani, and the official spokesperson for NAVDEX, Colonel Fahad Nasser Saif, put the total value of the transactions announced at the two trade fairs by the United Arab Emirates Army alone at more than four billion euros. This includes the delivery of missiles and binoculars from Saudi Arabia, a contract with the US company Digital Globe for the provision of space imaging services, the purchase of 100 mm ammunition from Russia and a Captas sonar for the navy from Thales in France. The package also includes an order for the Austrian company Sawi Electronic for the refurbishment and modernization of mines. Speaking of Austria: the WKO is represented on site by the Arge Sicherheit with around 20 red-white-red companies. The French Naval Group, which will deliver twelve submarines to Australia for around 20 billion euros, can also look forward to a major order. Lockheed is presenting its new Falcon air defense system and has brought Saab on board as a partner for the Giraffe radar and Diehl for the IRIS-T-SL missile – this is the first ever cooperation of this kind between a US company and Europeans. The strong presence of defense companies from Serbia and Sudan is striking.
