Dubai – Mubasher: The UAE Armed Forces signed 33 contracts worth AED 4.97 billion ($1.35 billion) on the first day of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2019).
IDEX is the only international defence exhibition and conference in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region displaying the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defence.
Almost 18 of the 33 deals have been awarded to national companies, Arabian Business reported on Monday.
Raytheon, the US defence contractor, has been awarded a deal to buy AED 1.307 billion worth of Patriot missiles for the UAE Air Force and UAE Air Defence Force, while Australian firm EOS Defence won an AED 1.1billion contract to provide ground and naval systems.
Meanwhile, contracts awarded to UAE firms recorded AED 1.1 billion ($300 million), including an AED 55.5 million deal with Al Fattan Ship Industry to purchase naval ships for the UAE Navy.
IDEX is running from 17 February to 21 February at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.
During the event, up to 1,100 of local and international defence manufacturers and contractors will fill over 35,000 square metres of exhibition space running through the 12 exhibition halls, the concourse and the atrium.
