The "Middle East Missile and Air Defense Symposium" (MEMAD) concluded on Monday its second day of discussions at the Armed Forces Officers' Club in Abu Dhabi. MEMAD, organized by the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA), was held under the patronage of the UAE Armed Force and with special support of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense. Two Plenary sessions were held today followed by specialized closed workshops.
Major General (Ret.) John Brooks the Vice President of the International Business Development & the President of Northrop Grumman International moderated the first plenary session. David Des Roches the Director of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula at Office of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, argued, in his presentation on "Adapting to Seize the Opportunities of Technology", that historical examples can help guide future planning. He added that British and Libyan experiences illustrate key turning points. Major General (Ret.) Khaled Al Bu Ainnain, Former Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense and INEGMA president, said in his session on "Reducing Risks and Consequences with the Deployment of Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense" that GCC airspace is safer and that GCC coalition ballistic missile defense is cost-effective. Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi from the Center of Excellence & Development at the UAE Armed Forces presented a paper on "UAE Network Enabled Capability: A Local Solution to a Global Problem" where he considered that network enabled capability is a combination of concept, transformation, and communication systems represented by YahSat.

The final plenary of the conference was chaired by Major General (Ret.) John Urias, Former PEO, Missiles & Space and Deputy Commanding General at SMDC. Colonel Per Nillson, the Commander of the F21 Wing at Swedish Air Force presented a paper on the "Integrated Air Defense – A Swedish Perspective". He said that his country's network centric warfare and interoperability is designed based on manpower which is relatively small. Colonel (P) Ole Knudson PEO of Missiles and Space at the U.S. Army briefed the audience on " US Army Missiles Overview". He discussed U.S. products for missiles and space in the areas of development, procurement, sustainment, and functional control systems. The final presentation was on "Consolidating Extended Low Tier Air Defense" addressed by Colonel Marc Miglior, Project Officer in Charge, Air Defense and Ballistic Missile Defense at the French Air Force HQ. He said that integration in the French Air Force is based on the philosophy of global aerospace and expanded air defense.

MEMAD was sponsored by: Raytheon & Lockheed Martin (Platinum), Northrop Grumman & MBDA (Gold), & OshKosh (Silver)