The United Arab Emirates Air Force has today signed a purchase agreement with Swedish Aerospace firm Saab at Dubai Airshow, worth US$1.27 billion. The deal will see the UAE purchase two new Global 6000 long-range surveillance aircraft, featuring brand new to market operating systems, while a further two Saab 340 jets already in UAE ownership will undergo systems upgrades.
Unveiling the deal at the Dubai Airshow, Major General Abdullah Al Hashimi said: “I am really happy to announce the first deal that has been signed between the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Saab Industrial this year, to buy two new aircrafts for the amount of US$1.27 billion. By buying two new aircraft, and upgrading two existing aircraft, we are very happy to continue our relationship with Saab.”
In response, Saab Group President and CEO, Håkan Buskhe, said: “We are an extremely proud supplier to the UAE Air Force, and we think, in cooperation with the UAE Air Force, that this deal is the start of something new. The new platform offers increased endurance and a newly developed suite of sensors that the UAE will be the launch customer for. This will be a game changer for surveillance capability going forward.”
While a time frame for the deal is still to be formally agreed, the UAE says it expects to take delivery of the aircraft, which have air-to-air, ground-to-air and air-to-sea capability, in around two years time.
The deal was welcomed by Michele van Akelijen, Managing Director of Dubai Airshow organizers F&E Aerospace, who said: “The Dubai Airshow is at the forefront of the aviation industry and this agreement demonstrates once again that is a place to do business. We are seeing a huge military presence at the show this year and we are pleased that it is once again the choice of those looking to make significant and ground-breaking deals.”
Photo: Hakan Buskhe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saab, right, and UAE Major General Major General Abdullah Al Hashimi shake hands as they hold a model of the Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, November 9, 2015.
