BAE Systems is upbeat about Middle East market prospects and believes regional partnerships, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, may pave the way to progress for its range of products and services.
Chris Watts, BAE Systems executive vice-president Middle East, is keenly aware of how important the region is for the company, which has close links with all the GCC states, with teams across the region supporting the Hawk jet trainer aircraft.
"BAE Systems is already in discussion with a number of companies and I hope we can build on these as the GCC countries develop their aerospace aspirations," says Watts.
In addition to highlighting the company's strong track record of building successful partnerships, for example Flagship Training, a consortium that is currently training naval personnel from several nations in the Gulf and the United Kingdom, Watts points to the recent appointment of Ben Bridge as BAE Systems' new general manager in Qatar as evidence of the company's strong commitment to the region.
"Qatar has the fastest expanding economy in the Middle East and, with its inherent growth prospects, provides an excellent opportunity to build new business relationships."
Earlier this year, BAE Systems' international schools network was extended to the Qatar Academy after HH Sheikha Mouza bint Nasser Al Misnad signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with vice-chairman Sir Charles Masefield.
Cooperating
Under the agreement, BAE Systems is sponsoring high tech labs in the academy's primary and secondary schools, and additional equipment has been provided to the Early Childhood Centre and the Learning Centre.
BAE Systems employs 10,000 people on four key military aircraft businesses: Typhoon, Nimrod, Hawk and F-35 JSF STOVL variant through its Sensor Systems and Electronic Warfare businesses. BAE Systems is also a leader in airborne radars and electro-optical surveillance and tracking, targeting and imaging systems.
Partnership has been a constant theme with the company in the development, design and build – and through life support – of a long series of aircraft, sensors, weapon systems and services.
In another example of its view of partnerships, BAE Systems points to its long-term work with the major European aerospace companies in the Airbus consortium to create a world class range of civil airliners.
BAE Systems knows it is not the only company in the world that wants to harness the power of network-enabled capability.
"We know that there are places we have yet to go with this technology – no one organisation has all the answers," says Watts. "That's why we have partners. Take our C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computing and Intelligence) programmes in the region; to make these happen, we are cooperating closely with Lockheed Martin."
Watts has no doubts about BAE Systems' potential. "This is a world class company and is one that makes not just platforms or even systems," he said. "There is more to BAE Systems than just ships, planes and artillery – although we do those extremely well."
Source: Flight Daily News
