The UAE Air Force is currently undergoing an ambitious modernization with the goal of attaining a level of capability matching the highest NATO standards.

Procurement of Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft in the region has produced an interim AEWC solution. Further acquisition is expected and marks a renewed effort to produce an increasingly effective and integrated command-and-control infrastructure with airborne platforms and long-range ground-based radars.

Options are now being considered for a long-term UAE Airborne Early Warning solution, and a range of AEW&C aircraft and technologies of differing types is being assessed for future procurement.

Following a successful launch event in Malaysia last November, and a recent AEW&C event focusing on India’s requirements, Tangent Link is bringing its third event in this series to the UAE.

Scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on 12-13 November 2012, this highly targeted event will provide an excellent networking platform for international and local companies to showcase their capabilities to an audience of Senior Emirati Military Officers involved in the specification and procurement of AEW&C platforms and technologies.

Manufacturers of AEW fixed or rotary wing aircraft platforms, test sets and stimulators, dataloggers and recorders, datalinks, radars, communications systems, IFF systems, avionics navigation systems, electronic countermeasures, flight management systems for AEW aircraft will all have equipment of interest to the key Emirati stakeholders.

Since the early 1960’s AEW&C aircraft have been used for both defensive and offensive air operations, they are a highly mobile and a powerful radar platform. The aircraft are used to direct fighters to their target locations, and also to identify and respond to counter attacks by enemy forces.

This two-day conference program will focus and debate the operational considerations when employing this vital asset. It will also look at the expanding roles of these aircraft including counter drug and piracy operations.