Global defence equipment manufacturing pioneers display products at BIAS 2022

TDT | Manama                       

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

Staff Reporter

Most-modern defence equipment empowered by state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence technologies hogged the limelight on the first day of Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS 2022).

Global defence equipment manufacturing pioneers including Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, BATS, Israel Aerospace Industries are participating in the air show, displaying their latest offerings and advanced models.

When asked about the increasing global defence equipment business, a representative of one of the participating defence firms, said that Russia-Ukraine conflict could not be seen as the core reason.

“Conflicts definitely contribute towards increasing defence business; but that is not the primary fuel. All nations are ambitious in stepping up their defence capabilities, especially with advancing technologies in place.

“Many nations located in non-conflict zones have also been buying or enhancing their defence capabilities, which is just a protective mechanism. Buying a defence equipment doesn’t automatically mean you are at war with someone. It is just a protective measure, like setting up a surveillance system at your house.”

The Spyder Defence System miniature placed at the front of the booth belonging to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems at the air show venue drew many aviation and defence technology enthusiasts. The Spyder is a short and medium range mobile air defence system developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems with assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Rafael is the prime contractor and IAI is the major subcontractor for the Spyder Programme. A ‘tiny Hawk’ decorated the wall of the BAE Systems booth cast a spell on exhibition visitors and aviation enthusiasts.

One of the most sold military aircrafts in history, the BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, jet-powered advanced trainer aircraft. It was first flown at Dunsfold, Surrey, in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk, and subsequently produced by its successor companies, British Aerospace and BAE Systems.

According to Sir Stuart Atha, Director of Training and Support Transformation, BAE Systems, the modern battlespace is constantly evolving and the way we train our military forces has to change with it.

A miniature model of Helina (Helicopter launched Nag Missile) served a strong declaration on India’s emergence as a major power in the defence sector. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

According to DRDO, the Helina system has all-weather day and night capability, and can knock out enemy tanks with conventional and explosive reactive armour. The missile can engage targets both in the direct hit mode as well as the top attack mode.

In contrast to a direct hit, the top attack mode refers to a missile hitting a tank from above. Miniature models of JF-17 and Mushshak were displayed at the booth belonging to the Pakistan Defence Agency.

JF-17 is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation of China and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. The JF-17 can be used for multiple roles, including interception, ground attack, anti-ship, and aerial reconnaissance.

Mushshak is a license-built fixed-gear basic trainer aircraft, it is used for training, towing and other ground support roles. DroneGuard System developed by BATS (Belgian Advanced Technology Systems) was also on display at the air show.

The system, which is composed of a 3D short-range air defence radar, an RF-detector and direction finder, high-end electro-optics, a jammer and command and control software, showed its outstanding, fully integrated and automated performance against drones of various sizes.

BATS is a globally operating Liège-based company, established in 1984, that is specialised in defence and homeland security solutions, such as border protection, coastal and port protection, maritime surveillance, critical infrastructure protection, force protection and cyber.