The activities of the fourth session of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition UMEX 2020, Simulation and Training SimTex 2020, 23-25 February concluded in Abu Dhabi. The exhibition was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
It was organized by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC) in cooperation with the General Command of the Armed Forces. “New Defence Order. Strategy” journal was present at the exhibition as a media partner.
The exhibition attracted groups of specialists, experts, decision makers, academics, exhibiting companies and those interested in the field of unmanned systems, training and simulation, artificial intelligence, and security of ports and borders. UMEX and SimTex witness an increasing global and regional interest, as they are considered to be a global platform to display the products of the fourth industrial revolution.
The UAE Armed Forces have signed deals amounting to nearly $170 million (AED 625 million) at the UMEX and SimTex 2020 event in Abu Dhabi, one of which is a $64 million (AED 234 million) contract for Camcopter S-100 unmanned helicopters with ADASI company.
Delegations from various countries have participated in the exhibition, but the most prominent was the Algerian delegation headed by Major General Said Chengriha, acting Chief of Staff of the National People's Army. Chengriha was briefed on the latest developments in modern technologies in the field of unmanned systems and drones as the Algerian delegation received great attention from the Emirati organizers. The Algerian ministry of defence had released a statement on this visit “which falls within the framework of strengthening the bonds of brotherhood, friendship and cooperation between the People's National Army and the UAE armed forces” and continued that it “will enable the two parties to discuss issues of mutual interest.”
A delegation from the Russian Ministry of Defence also visited the exhibition, headed by Major General Andrey Goncharov, head of the Main Department for research and technological support of advanced technologies (innovative research) of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
A notable exhibitor was the State-Owned Foreign Trade Unitary Enterprise “BELSPETSVNESHTECHNIKA.” Many Belarusian companies presented their products at the Belarusian pavilion; some of the exhibited products were:
- “Groza” VHF/UHF band jamming station
- “Groza-S” ,ounted onto Ford Transit counter-UAV electronic warfare station
- “Rosa” solid-state annular phased arrayrRadar for detection of low-flying targets
- “Vostok-3D” solid combination VHF- and S-band 3D radar
- “TRIO” Short Range air defence missile system
- Upgrade of ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” self-propelled air defence
- “Kasatka” Integrated protection system for water areas
The Ukrainian state-owned company “SpetsTechnoExport” demonstrated at its booth the “Leleka-100” and “PD-1” reconnaissance drones, as well as the “RAM” combat drone. A fully loaded combat drone “RAM” with a 4 kg warhead can operate within a radius of 30 km from the launch point and perform various combat missions.
Aeromax, a member of the Joint-Stock Financil Corporation SISTEMA, was the only exhibitor from Russia. Aeromax is engaged in the development of civilian projects related to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.
