UAE's home-grown unmanned aerial vehicles seek markets abroad

The UAE is displaying for the first time its locally built unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at IDEX. Twelve craft are being operated by the UAE Armed Forces, according to officials.

"The UAV can reach a height of 18,000 feet, and a range of 100 kilometres, and can remain airborne for six hours," said Ali M. Al Shehi, ground station manager of Space Reconnaissance, which produces the UAVs.

The main purpose of the vehicle is surveillance and patrolling. "There are also new advanced sensors installed to meet specific needs of the UAE Armed Forces. We will also install a radar system," he added. The project was launched five years ago and has been in production for 18 months at the Dhafra military base.

"We plan to introduce and market this product overseas. We seek to acquire the latest technology, as we are cooperating with companies from the US, South Korea, Austria and Germany," Al Shehi said.