At the IDEX International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) which concluded in Abu Dhabi Thursday, Leonardo and Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance their collaboration in the naval sector.
Building on years of positive partnership for the development of UAE naval capabilities, under the new MoU, Abu Dhabi Ship Building and Leonardo will jointly work to create a Combat Management System (CMS) Integration Laboratory capable of testing, maintaining and evolving the software of Leonardo’s CMS system operational on more than 20 of the UAE Navy’s ships.
This marks an important step in the path to deliver to the Country the necessary expertise and know how to ensure operational availability of its fleet as well as better serving other regional customers.
The new MoU will also explore the development of a joint logistic support solution for preventive and corrective maintenance and a local spare parts inventory for Leonardo naval systems. The collaboration areas will significantly improve lead-time, repairs turnaround time and overall systems sustainment.
Leonardo is excited about this new development in its long-standing partnership with Abu Dhabi Ship Building, which has the potential to involve more UAE industries. Focusing on advanced services, enhanced logistics and local partnerships in Leonardo’s key markets is in line with the path to achieve sustainable business growth outlined in the company’s Industrial Plan.
The areas covered by the MoU will pave the way for increased technology and knowledge transfer to the benefit of UAE industries sustaining the development of local skilled workforce.
Leonardo, a global high-technology company, is among the top ten world players in Aerospace, Defense and Security and Italy’s main industrial company.
Organized into five business divisions, Leonardo has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the USA, where it also operates through subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS (defense electronics), and joint ventures and partnerships: ATR, MBDA, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and Avio.
Leonardo competes in the most important international markets by leveraging its areas of technological and product leadership (Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Electronics, Cyber Security and Space).
Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2017 Leonardo recorded consolidated restated revenues of €11.7 billion and invested €1.5 billion in Research and Development. The Group has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index since 2010.
Established in 1996 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, ADSB has built a strong reputation, a dedicated workforce of over 1,000 people and leveraged its strategic location to cement itself as a leading shipbuilder and support contractor for naval, military and commercial operators in the region.
ADSB is a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC), 10% owned by Abu Dhabi’s government, 40% owned by Mubadala Investment Company, and 50% publicly traded on Abu Dhabi’s Securities Exchange, ADX.
