Finmeccanica takes part at the Dubai Airshow: high-tech partnership with the UAE aeronautics and defence industry

Finmeccanica, through its Companies Alenia Aeronautica, Alenia Aermacchi, AgustaWestland and SELEX Sistemi Integrati, will take part at the Dubai Airshow which will be held from 13 to 17 November. The United Arab Emirates, a country with unprecedented economic and industrial diversification, is a strong commercial partner for Finmeccanica which has a long dated presence in the region through its Operating Companies. Among them, Ansaldo Energia has been based in the UAE since the '90s and it has recently inaugurated a new maintenance facility in Abu Dhabi. In 2008 Finmeccanica opened its Representative Office in Abu Dhabi in order to coordinate and foster the Group’s activities in the UAE, assist during programs’ execution, and support after-sales services, in order to better satisfy the overall country’s requirements. The UAE is on the lookout for industrial partners with the capabilities and skills to contribute developing a truly state-ofthe-art industrial base, able to compete on a technological level both at home and in the international markets. With this mindset in October 2008 Finmeccanica signed an agreement with Mubadala Development Company to manufacture structural components in composite materials in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, SELEX Sistemi Integrati - which is active in the defense and homeland security sector – established Abu Dhabi Systems Integration (ADSI) in joint venture with Abu Dhabi Ship Building. ADSI is currently involved in manufacturing and integrating the combat systems of the six BAYNUNAH corvettes for the UAE Navy, and has also secured a contract to supply command and control systems in the new high-speed Ghannatha patrol boats for the UAE Armed Forces. Finmeccanica is currently strongly focused on increasing its commitment to the UAE, in a wide range of areas from local technological and industrial partnerships, to tailored high education courses, with the aim to fully support the UAE vision and future challenging programs. The rapid economic growth and rising population in the UAE requires upgrading the local mobility and transport infrastructure, as well as the technological infrastructure for communications and satellite services. Finmeccanica companies such as Ansaldo STS, AnsaldoBreda, Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space are already active in these sectors and willing to support the UAE’s requirements. Likewise, new requirements for ground, coastal and port surveillance are also very promising: the capabilities in complex systems integration of SELEX Sistemi Integrati, and the special expertise of Finmeccanica companies such as DRS Technologies, SELEX Galileo, SELEX Elsag, Oto Melara and WASS, place these companies in an excellent position to meet emerging demands in this sector.