In February, another exhibition of weapons and military equipment IDEX took place in Abu Dhabi. Two years ago, an exposition of UMEX unmanned systems was separated from it, later transformed into a separate event to be held the next year after IDEX. Thus, at the last arms exhibition, the concentration of UAVs was lower than at the previous ones.
Even without dominating the background of other exhibits, the drones brought together turn out to be a fairly representative sample that gives a complete picture of the corresponding sector of the arms market.
With an Arabian stigma
Companies from the UAE at their stands and open areas demonstrated samples of unmanned systems, created mostly by foreign firms, but promoted to the Emirates market with the participation of local firms. Unlike last year's specialized exhibition UMEX, many UAV systems were presented as models. But they also attracted attention.
A scale model of the P.1HH HammerHead is shown at the large stand of the Emirati company ADASI (Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments), which promotes unmanned systems to local consumers from law enforcement agencies. UAV HammerHead developer - Italian Piaggio Aerospace (formerly Piaggio Aero) was acquired in 2015 by Mubadala Development Company from the UAE. Soon, in March 2016, the first contract for the supply of eight UAEs to the UAE armed forces, worth about 316 million euros, followed. The main contractor under the contract is ADASI.
The famous unmanned helicopter Camcopter S-100 of the Austrian company Schiebel was also demonstrated here. However, in parallel, there was a real sample of the UAV at the developer's stand. The helicopter was presented by the head of the company, Hans Georg Schiebel. According to rumors circulating, the UAE tried to avoid dependence on Schiebel and organized not only the assembly of data from unmanned systems, but also the production of individual structural parts. However, the idea was not crowned with success.
The large-scale stand of the Emirates International Golden Group (IGG) included various unmanned and robotic systems. In particular, a reduced model of the export version of the American Predator, the Predator XP UAV, was presented. The UAE became the first foreign customer of this version of the system. On the eve of IDEX, information appeared that the UAVs contracted by the Emirates had already been delivered.
Also in the IGG exposition was a Spy'Ranger mini-UAV developed by the French company Thales. The 14-kilogram vehicle is capable of carrying a payload weighing up to 1.2 kilograms. The maximum flight duration is more than 2.5 hours, the range is 15 kilometers. This UAV was first shown to the public at the Milipol exhibition in 2015. At the end of 2016, the French Ministry of Defense decided to purchase 35 such systems. So far, nothing is known about deliveries abroad.
Certain progress in the development of the topic of UAV systems was observed at the stand of the Prince Sultan Research Institute, which is part of the King Saud University (KSA). The research institute presented a tactical-class UAV that has a certain similarity both in terms of the scheme and in terms of weight and size parameters with the American Shadow UAV of a rather old model.
States are serious
The stand of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), like several other major American developers of UAV systems, did not indulge visitors with either drones or information about them. There were only Predator XP UAVs and a video about it. It is known that the characteristics of the export version meet the requirements of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). A separate stand, as well as the level of representation - the event was attended by the president of the company, Frank Pace, obviously, they speak of the seriousness of the company's intentions to promote its systems to other countries of the Persian Gulf region. According to available data, GA-ASI is in talks with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
The giant of the US defense industry, Northrop Grumman, did not bring its unmanned aerial systems to the exhibition. At the company's stand were presented ground-based robotic vehicles created by Remotec, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman. In particular, the Andros HD SEL vehicles on a tracked chassis and Andros F6B on a wheeled chassis, equipped with observation equipment and manipulators, were shown.
Similar systems were exhibited at the site of the British company QinetiQ. Like many of the lightweight land-based robotic systems shown, most were devices equipped with surveillance and / or manipulators. However, there were also systems with weapons. Among them, in particular, a well-known development - MAARS. The chassis houses a combat module with a 7.62 mm machine gun, as well as a launcher for firing smoke, lighting or high-explosive grenades, as well as tear gas. This system, created more than 10 years ago, began to be used on an experimental basis by the US military. Then, due to its great innovation, it did not become widespread, but now the practical interest in such developments has begun to grow.
A new version of the Aerosonde UAV, equipped with a vertical take-off and landing system based on an electric quadcopter, was shown at the stand of the American company Textron. This is a relatively new development - information about it was made public only last year. Interestingly, this solution was also proposed in the form of a modernization kit for upgrading existing UAVs.
An upgraded version of the M2 of the famous Shadow tactical UAV was also shown here. It is known that AAI, which is now part of Textron, began flight tests of this UAV back in 2011. The improved Shadow-M2 retained the same wing span, but received a new fuselage and a 60-horsepower engine. It differs from the previous version by a doubled carrying capacity, which reaches 30 kilograms, increased by 2.5 times (up to 15 hours) flight duration and a new equipment connection bus. It is assumed that the Shadow-M2 will gradually replace the systems of old modifications in the American troops, which in turn will be supplied to foreign customers at reduced prices or transferred as military-technical assistance. By the way, last summer a team of operators conducted test flights of such UAVs in Estonia.
Chinese alternative
The exposition of Chinese companies was quite extensive. At the exhibition, one could see various models of UAV systems offered on the international market, up to MALE-class devices. In recent years, the PRC industry has shown visible progress in creating its own weapons and military equipment systems. The active implementation of UAV projects is the best evidence of this. Chinese developers follow the tried and tested way of copying foreign technology, and although the characteristics of some samples are inferior to the originals, in general, success is evident.
Of the developments shown, it is worth noting the model of the loitering ammunition ASN-301, designed to detect and destroy enemy air defense radar systems. This Chinese development, presented by the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), owned by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), is very similar to the Israeli Harpy loitering ammunition developed by Israel Aerospace Industries. The main technical characteristics are also close - for example, the take-off weight of the Chinese model is 135 kilograms against 125 for the Israeli original. It is worth noting that not long ago China acquired loitering ammunition from Israel. One of the deals ended humiliatingly for the PRC - under pressure from the United States, the manufacturing company canceled the contract. But now you can see how quickly the situation is changing: China has already created its own analogue of Harpy, which is likely to be exported, where it will compete, including with Israeli developments.
A significant proportion of the UAV systems presented at the exhibition belonged to multi-rotor vehicles, which is not surprising. One of the curious examples of this kind of UAV was the unmanned hexacopter HyDrone 1800 presented by CATIC corporations, which uses hydrogen fuel cells to power electric motors. This solution, which is currently used on a limited number of UAVs, can significantly improve the technical characteristics of the vehicles. So, the UAV HyDrone 1800 with its own take-off weight of 23 kilograms is capable of performing flights for up to four hours, carrying a payload of up to five kilograms.
Some of the UAV systems offered by the PRC could be seen at the stands of local partner companies. So, the Emirati Trust Foundation exhibited the CH-5 (Rainbow 5) model developed by the Chinese Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics and manufactured by the CASC corporation. It is a long-duration medium-altitude vehicle capable of performing both strike and reconnaissance functions. The UAV, whose appearance is similar to the American Reaper, can be in flight for up to 20 hours. Information and some details on the development of the Wing Loong II were shared at the 2015 Aviation Expo China in Beijing. The first public demonstration of a full-size mock-up of the aircraft took place at last year's China Airshow in Zhuhai.
The "socialist" sector
A noticeable share of unmanned systems at the exhibition was presented by developers from former socialist countries, as well as states that were formerly republics of the USSR. The Czech company New Space Technologies presented at IDEX an ambitious project of new UAVs of the hybrid type Cantas, made according to the tailsitter scheme. It is planned to create a family of three models - Cantas A (Advanced), Cantas E (Endurance) and Cantas S (Speed) based on a single circuit with different technical characteristics. Cantas A and Cantas E were shown in full size at the exhibition. The wingspan of the Cantas A is about 3.3 meters, the maximum take-off weight is 75 kilograms, while that of the Cantas E is five meters and 65 kilograms, respectively. Vertical take-off and landing of both variants should be provided by two MVVS E 100 electric motors. For level flight, the Cantas A uses a PBS TJ 40-G 1 turbojet engine, and the Cantas E uses a MVVS 58 IRS piston engine. It is reported that each of the models will be able to work both offline and under operator control. The flight duration of the first UAV is 1, 3 hours, the second - 18 hours. The UAV uses replaceable payload modules with equipment for various purposes with a total weight of 10 kilograms.
The example of Schiebel, which made its way to the global market for unmanned systems precisely through the UAE, obviously attracts other developers who expect to repeat this success. So, at the stand of Yugoimport-SDPR J. P., a helicopter-type UAV Strsljen was presented for the first time, created according to the classic single-rotor design with a tail rotor. The maximum take-off weight of the vehicle is 750 kilograms. The UAV is designed for altitudes up to four thousand meters and a flight duration of up to four hours. In addition to observation equipment, the device can be equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun and various air-to-surface missiles, including a local EDePro Spider ATGM. The development of UAVs began just a couple of years ago and, apparently, is far from complete. The first flight is scheduled for autumn 2017.
At the stand of the Polish private company WB Electronics S. A. (part of the WB Group) was presented by the reconnaissance UAV Fly Eye. The device has a takeoff weight of 11 kilograms and takes four kilograms of payload. The flight duration is up to 2.5 hours. The device is capable of operating at a distance of 50 kilometers from the ground control station, transmitting information in real time. According to reports, the UAV was used by the Ukrainian armed forces in the conflict in the east of the country. At the stand of the same company, the Warmate loitering ammunition was demonstrated. According to the developers, the UAV weighing four kilograms with an electric motor and a folding wing is equipped with a warhead weighing 0.7 kilograms of cumulative (GK-1) or high-explosive fragmentation (GO-1) action. The flight range of the device is up to 10 kilometers, the duration is up to 30 minutes. According to information, in mid-2016, it was known about the conclusion of contracts for the supply of Warmate systems to Ukraine, as well as to two countries of the Middle East.
The Belarusian enterprise "AGAT-Control Systems" presented at the exhibition a new version of the small-sized UAV "Berkut-1E". Initially, the Irkut-3 system assembled in Belarus based on the Russian design was proposed under this name. The new version of the UAV retained the general scheme - a high-wing aircraft with a pushing propeller. At the same time, the UAV became heavier: the takeoff weight more than doubled - from 3.5 to eight kilograms, the shape of the wing and its span, as well as the tail unit, changed, the payload unit was shifted upward. Judging by the published data, the new version did not improve the technical characteristics of the UAV, but probably the main idea was to localize the system for the use of solutions offered by industrial enterprises in Belarus.
Ukroboronprom showed at the exhibition a new small aircraft-type UAV Anser. In appearance, the Ukrainian drone is very similar to the Russian UAV "Orlan-10". The Anser is also a high-wing, front-engine, pull-rotor, classic tailplane, and the keel is more developed than the horizontal tail. The dimensions of the UAV are quite close, the Ukrainian drone is somewhat larger - it was reported that its take-off weight is 23 kilograms versus 16-18 for the Russian one. Moreover, both of them can carry a payload of up to five kilograms. It is known that in the second half of 2016, the Anser UAV underwent flight tests in various modifications through the power departments of Ukraine.
The Kalashnikov Concern exhibited several small-class unmanned aircraft systems developed by its ZALA company. In particular, among them are two short-range aircraft-type UAVs - ZALA 421-16E and ZALA 421-16EM, as well as a small-sized helicopter-type model of the ZALA 421-22 multi-rotor UAV scheme. It should be noted that some of the drones demonstrated by the company, as well as the payload systems installed on them, cause strong associations with the developments of certain non-Russian companies, in particular Aeronautics Defense Systems and Controp.
Despite the decrease in the purchasing power of customers of weapons and military equipment from the Gulf countries, which receive significant shares of revenues from the sale of energy resources, the corresponding market remains very attractive for supplier companies from around the world. Major global companies developing military equipment already have good positions in this region. Some new players are trying to follow suit. Among them, representatives of the post-Soviet space are noticeable.
