First UAE-made VTOL drone launched at defence expo

The first UAE-made vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) 'Garmousha' was launched by defence conglomerate Edge's entity Adasi at the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition and Conference (SimTEX) in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, February 23.

The light military drone can be primarily used for surveillance at border areas and critical infrastructures like oil rigs, and for inspections depending on the type of payload. Garmousha can be used for light weaponsiation and security matters, according to top officials.

Mohammed Ali Abdulla, senior commercial and sales manager of Adasi, revealed Garmousha is cheaper, efficient solution, can carry payload of up to 100kg, at maximum speed of 140kmph, for up to six hours and has high-definition camera and sight range of 150km. The drone can also be used to detect gas pipeline leaks, oil spillage, for search and rescue operations.

Garmousha can also be packed into a ship container and easily transported too. "We have started production as testing has been complete. We also have existing contracts with clients. We have customers both in the UAE and overseas. Very few UAVs can give this drone's capabilities," Abdulla told Khaleej Times.

Many Emiratis were on board to create the first prototype of the drone. "We have highly skilled nationals involved in the production, who were part of this project from Day One. Today, we are proud to see this in the production phase. Adasi was established in 2007. Since then, we are making progress. We are happy to see the first one this scale produced in the UAE."

The drone can easily fly from Abu Dhabi City to Al Ain or to Ruwais for surveillance purposes. The delivery of first Garmousha is expected by end of this year.

Meanwhile, Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive officer and managing director of Edge, said number of 'announcements' will follow this year on unmanned and autonomous systems.

"Drone technology is revolutionising our world, creating safer and cheaper alternative to manned aircraft. The launch of Garmousha helps advance Adasi's vision for the future of defence, while strengthening the company's position as the regional leader in autonomous systems and services," Al Bannai added.

UMEX and SimTEX, the only event in the Middle East dedicated for drones, robotics, components and unmanned systems, continues in Abu Dhabi until Tuesday.

Drone features

>Vertical take-off and landing

>Carry payload of up to 100kg

>Maximum speed of 140kmph

>Six hours capacity

>High-definition camera

>Sight range of 150km

Where the drone can be used

>Surveillance at border areas and critical infrastructures like oil rigs,

>Inspections depending on the type of payload

>Light weaponsiation and security matters

>Detect gas pipeline leaks

>Oil spillage

>Search and rescue operations

Deals worth Dh156m inked on unmanned systems

An eight-foot tall Titan assisted by another robot did all the introductory talking at the opening ceremony of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition and Conference (SimTEX) on Sunday.

A perfectly synchronised show with drones and robots, and no humans at all apart from viewers - it was just a precursor of what to expect as halls of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) was filled with advanced technologies, intelligent systems, drones, submarines, robots among others.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, was impressed by the variety and volume of innovative unmanned systems on display from over 100 odd local and international companies.

At the end of Day One, deals with Dh156 million were inked by companies with the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the UAE Armed Forces. The total worth of deals signed by international companies amounted to Dh90.6 million while deals by local ones were worth Dh65.5 million.

"This shows the strong demand and market for unmanned systems, simulation and training. Most of the inked deals are for unmanned vehicles. We are going to declare more deals in coming days," said Staff Brigadier Fahad Nasser Al Thehli, spokesperson of UMEX and SimTEX.

"All deals (local and international comapnies) are with the GHQ of the UAE Armed Forces," Al Thehli told Khaleej Times.

Two entities of Edge - the local technology group for defence - Adasi and Earth separately signed agreements worth Dh65.5 million with the GHQ. Both deals were on purchase of unmanned vehicles. The deal inked by Adasi and GHQ stood at Dh55.1 million.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com  

Ashwani Kumar

I am a newspaperman from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. A journalist at heart. I get my stories from the streets. A south Indian born in the Hindi heartland, I easily connect with people from different nationalities and cultures. I am calm like a monk, sensitive and very patient reporter. On the ground, I cover a range of topics related to community, health, embassy, tourism, transport, business and sports. I will go out on a leg to do what’s right and stand by what I believe in.