IDEX 2021: Tawazun and Thales announce the development of a Radar Center of Excellence.

Tawazun Economic Council and Thales Emarat Technologies, have announced the launch of a Radar Center of Excellence in accordance with the UAE Strategic Vision. Thales Emarat Technologies is a fully integrated local entity that intends to assist sustainable technology transfer and support the creation of local jobs and careers.

This collaboration is the first project that will culminate in the achievement of that purpose with the evidence being the further growth of the defense and security industry, enabling and empowering partnerships with local companies. Thales Emarat Technologies will work with industrial partners within the UAE ecosystem for co-development and production of the radar systems. (Picture source: Tawazun)

The mandate for the Radar Center of Excellence will include the development, building, maintenance and support of Thales radars. Specific focus will be on the development of high potential new generation radars. Once the center is completed, the intention is to export from the UAE to all parts of the world.

The success of the center will ensure enhanced indigenous capabilities and skillsets in the areas of Radar system engineering and IVVQ (Integration, Verification, Validation, and Qualification) methodology, project management & partner management.

Consequently, The Radar Center of Excellence, - the first project of its kind to be set up by Thales Emarat Technologies in the UAE since being established in 2019 - will have value for the UAE by encouraging the participation of local companies in the industrial supply chain, creating jobs for UAE Nationals and supporting collaboration and advances with research and development institutes.

H.E. Tareq Abdulraheem Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun Economic Council, said: "The collaboration with Thales Emarat Technologies to establish the Radar Center of Excellence reflects Tawazun's commitment to the development of the defense and security industry."

"This is a notable achievement demonstrating a successful strategic partnership between Tawazun and Thales group whereby key technologies within the UAE are cultivated through the development of local skills and capabilities, in areas such as Radar System Engineering."

"It is through partnerships such as this that we can continue to develop and build up our critical technical capabilities and our national competencies and skills, fortifying the sovereign capabilities of the UAE." he added.

Tawazun announced the establishment of Thales Emarat Technologies at IDEX in 2019 with the purpose of maximizing local potential and opportunities by developing local engineering capabilities and fostering local partnerships and cooperation with industrial stakeholders.

This collaboration is the first project that will culminate in the achievement of that purpose with the evidence being the further growth of the defense and security industry, enabling and empowering partnerships with local companies. Thales Emarat Technologies will work with industrial partners within the UAE ecosystem for co-development and production of the radar systems.

Secondly, the Center will create job opportunities in United Arab Emirates in the technical field. "The human capital is the most important asset, this is the reason why we built a development strategy on 3 pillars: Industry, Innovation and Education. The aim is to foster the ecosystem as well as be part of it. We continue expanding the contribution of Thales to support the vision of UAE authorities in their strategic development plan," said Bernard Roux, CEO of Thales in the UAE.

"Thales Emarat Technologies was created to focus on critical systems such as radar, radio communications and a variety of defense aerospace technologies. Consequently, this is the first major collaboration we have put into place, and an important milestone as Thales seeks to further its contribution to the UAE in the development of its sovereign capabilities. Thales Emarat Technologies is the engine, the catalyzer of the deployment of our strategy in the UAE." he added.

IDEX 2021: