Boeing subsidiary Insitu has signed an agreement with a local partner at the show to offer its Scan Eagle and Integrator unmanned air systems (UAS) to potential new users in the Middle East.
Under the agreement, Insitu will work with Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments (ADASI) to support future local operations with the UAS, and to provide logistics support for systems sold in the region. Their relationship will not include local production of either aircraft type, however.
Insitu-supported Scan Eagles have already logged more than 550,000 flight hours under combat conditions for customers including the US Marine Corps, but the company has yet to secure a first operator for its products in the Middle East.
"This is a very important market for us," said Ryan Hartman, Insitu's senior vice-president of business development. The partners are already pursuing some "very specific opportunities" with prospective users, including in the UAE, he said, adding: "We expect strong growth in the region."
ADASI chief executive Ali al-Yafei said his company is already supporting operations with the UAE's Schiebel Camcopter S-100 unmanned helicopters. Established in 2007, it has also integrated some payloads with the Austrian-built type, he added.
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Source: Flight Daily News
