Technology and Armament Review #01 - Page 14 - NEWS kUWAIT ORDERS PANHARD vBL Mk2 he KuweItI Ministry of the Interior has just ordered 20 light armoured vehicles (VBL) Mk2 to equip its special forces. This is the first order of a programme to equip these units. The Mk2 version of the VBL includes many improvements on previous models: the power of the vehicle has been greatly increased thanks to a Steyr engine of 125 hp, while its cross-country mobility has been improved by a ZF four-speed automatic gearbox and larger tyres. The central tyre inflation system also contributes to improving the mobility of the vehicle in soft ground, especially in sand. In addition, the VBL Mk2 retains its amphibious capability and is NRBC protected. These VBL, which will be used for patrol and surveillance missions, will be equipped with hefty firepower thanks to a remotely-controlled turret capable of operating a 12.7mm machine gun. This weapon, useable in all conditions and especially at night, will reinforce the offensive capabilities of the VBL. The first deliveries of the VBL Mk2 to the Kuweiti Ministry of the Interior will take place during the second quarter of 2009. The Ministry of the Interior is the second Emirates customer to choose Panhard as the National Guard is already using the VBL. Panhard, which is an historic supplier of armoured vehicles to the Gulf States, has already delivered VBLs to the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. n T DCNS DELIvERS ROYAL MALAYSIAN NAvY’S vERY FIRST SUBMARINE oday, DCNS delivered the Royal Malaysian Navy’s first-ever submarine. This on-time delivery follows Malaysia’s decision to set up a submarine force comprising two Scorpene-type conventional-propulsion boats. The Royal Malaysian Navy took formal delivery of Scorpene submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman at today’s official handover in Toulon. The guests of honour included RMN Chief of Staff Admiral Dato’Sri Aziz Hj Jaafar. KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is the first of two Scorpene submarines ordered by Malaysia in June 2002 and developed jointly by DCNS and Spanish naval shipbuilder Navantia. In addition to the submarines proper, the contract calls for associated logistics and training. The submariners have been training in the Naval Training Center of DCI/NAVFCO since 2005, among a total of 146 Malaysians. This major milestone for the RMN follows the completion, in late December 2008, of KD Tunku Abdul Rahman’s final sea trials demonstrating remarkable operational and combat system capabilities. These trials included successful firings of Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes and missiles. KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia early in the second half of 2009. The second of the series, KD Tun Razak, is scheduled for delivery in late 2009. Manned by Malaysian crews of just 31, the boats offer an endurance of 45 days for a displacement of 1,550 tonnes and a length overall of 67.5 metres. Scorpene represents the state of the art in submarine design and construction and benefits from the latest technologies developed for nuclear-powered classes operated by the French Navy, particularly as regards acoustic discretion and combat system performance. Excellent endurance makes the Scorpene one of the few medium-displacement designs suitable for extended ocean patrol duties. The modular design can also be readily tailored to each customer’s specific mission profiles and other requirements. This programme confirms DCNS’s know-how as a leading prime contractor for sophisticated warship programmes. With ten units ordered to date (two for Chile, two for Malaysia and six for India), Scorpene is truly an international benchmark in SSK design. n T (014) TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 EADS DEFENCE & SECURITY DELIvERS 5,000 T/R MODULES FOR MEADS RADAR he joInt us-ItalIan-GeRman meads (Medium Extended Air Defense System) air defence programme gains momentum. As reported by EADS Defence & Security (DS) on Monday, its Defence Electronics business unit has delivered a first batch of 5,000 transmit / receive (T/R) modules and related electronics for the MEADS Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR). EADS DS is thus the first European company to mass produce the core components for the new AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar technology on an industrial scale. The MEADS programme thereby obtains a global strategic lead in the deployment of AESA technology. Within the framework of the MEADS design and development programme, Defence Electronics had been awarded a contract worth about € 120 million for the production of approx. 40,000 T/R modules and associated electronic components, so-called manifolds, which will make the MEADS fire control radar the most powerful radar of its type in the world. These modules are key elements in the new generation of radar systems which are based on AESA technology. AESA radar systems use electronic beam scanning, which is made possible by thousands of T/R modules. This concept offers completely new possibilities for deployment and will therefore be used for most of the future military radars in the world. EADS DS staff from Defence Electronics, Defence and Communications Systems and LFK are cooperating closely on this to ensure the success of the MEADS programme. LFK GmbH / MBDA Germany are responsible for the complete radar antenna. “The high demands placed on the capabilities of the MEADS radar cannot be met without AESA technology,” declares Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics. “The joint efforts of the various EADS Defence & Security partners have advanced this development to a point where we can supply the participating countries with tens of thousands of deployable modules within a relatively short period.” MEADS is a mobile air and missile defence system that will incorporate the hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE missile in a system that includes 360-degree surveillance and fire control sensors, netted-distributed battle management / communication centres and high-firepower launchers. The system will combine extensive flexibility with superior protection for forces deployed and critical infrastructures against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft. MEADS’ open architecture will provide for 21st century air and missile defence system-of-system integration capabilities that allow operational mission-tailoring for homeland defence or defence of manoeuvre forces in various theatres countering air-breathing and tactical missile threats. MEADS is intended to provide significant operation and support cost savings. In May 2005, MEADS International signed a definitized contract valued at $2 billion plus €1.4 billion for MEADS design and development. A multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Florida, MEADS International’s participating companies are MBDA in Italy, LFK in Germany and Lockheed Martin in the United States. Together, these companies have focused an international engineering team in Orlando to develop systems and technologies for the MEADS programme, which is closely watched as a model for collaborative transatlantic development. The MEADS programme is financed by the three partners in the NATO Medium Extended Air Defense System Management Organization (NAMEADSMO), which are the United States (58 percent), Germany (25 percent) and Italy (17 percent). The programme’s management agency NAMEADSMA is located in Huntsville, Alabam. n T TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 (015) EADS NORTH AMERICA RECEIvES U.S. ARMY CONTRACT FOR FIvE ADDITIONAL UH-72A LAkOTA LIGHT UTILITY HELICOPTERS he u.s. aRmy awarded EADS North America a contract for five additional UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) Jan. 15, 2009, bringing the total number of aircraft on contract to 128. Production of the UH-72A at the American Eurocopter facility in Columbus, Miss. continues to meet U.S. Army and Army National Guard requirements for a highly capable, multirole helicopter in missions that range from homeland security and medical evacuation to drug interdiction, support and logistics operations. The Army expects to acquire a total of 345 Lakotas through 2016. More than 54 UH-72As have been delivered by EADS North America, all which have been provided on time or ahead of schedule in one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the U.S. Army’s history. “EADS North America remains committed to excellence in program management and execution for the UH-72A, which has received high marks from the U.S. Army,” said EADS North America Chairman and CEO Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. “We understand the Lakota’s importance to the Army’s helicopter fleet modernization, and our top priority continues to be providing America’s warfighters with the very best equipment to accomplish their important mission.” More than 8,000 flight hours have been logged by the Army’s UH-72A fleet to date, and the Lakota is now in service at bases and facilities across the nation, including the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.; Fort Eustis, Va.; Fort Polk, La.; Fort Irwin, Calif.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Morrisville, N.C.; Pineville, La.; Tupelo, Miss.; and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. In addition to the 128 Lakotas ordered to fulfill Army and National Guard missions, five Light Utility Helicopters have been ordered by the U.S. Navy for pilot training at the Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Md. UH-72A production averages three to four helicopters per month – with the capability of reaching five aircraft monthly at the Columbus, Miss., production facility of American Eurocopter, an EADS North America business unit. This state-of-the-art production site is a 220,000 sq. ft. addition to American Eurocopter’s Mississippi rotary-wing aircraft center of excellence, which is located adjacent to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The facility has brought high-value jobs into the region with total program employment planned to surpass 200 as the UH-72A program reaches its full production and final assembly capability. n NEWS T (016) TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 INTERVIEW Christian MARTIN Chairman and CEO, SAMP Christian Martin, your company is attending the IDeX show this year. What are your goals? Fist of all, pursue and strengthen the links we’ve had for a long time in the area. SAMP is indeed a regular partner of the UAE and more broadly speaking of the Middleeast. The current capacity needs, the specific structure of the threat, and of the local context, and finally our technical know-how naturally brought us to develop a ling based on trust and mutual esteem with our local customers. We are in line with the term, with an asset: the demand for quality. What are your current references? SAMP is a French company embarked in the most modern and combat proven military charge programs. We have the ISO 9001-2000 standard certification for the design, the development, and the manufacturing of aviation bombs, and we are among the european leaders for the supply of general use bombs of the MK80 series, guaranteeing the required quality and monitoring thanks to the use of the latest guidance kits. The French kit AASM of course, nicknamed by the American themselves « the magic bomb » because of its unique capacities, but also the American Kits such as JDAM, Paveway series. This our force: we are the only ones in Europe to garanty our quality on the American level, the life- time span (200 hours flying time), and the individual monitoring of our bombs. A compulsory quality if the charge is associated to a guidance kit! Currently, the general use bombs manufactured by SAMP are utilized by the French Army, and Navy, along with the Rafale and Mirage 2000. The conflicts change. The war evolves. How do you consider the new requirements of the modern combat, in reference with the latest experience reports ? At SAMP, we have very closely observed the latest conflicts. We drew a conclusion: there is an increasing demand for reducing collateral damages, and P250 the desired terminal effect for better perfomances in terms of penetration/ perforation. On this basis, SAMP developped a range of penetration bombs, variant based on the general use bombs MK80 series, in order to allow the interoperability as well as the switching with any Nato standard guidance kit, with minimized over-costs to equip the flighters. The solution is simple, efficient, immediat, with no additionnal costs. Following this track, we have offered to the headquarters, to Nato, and to other european kit manufactures innovate solutions. It immediatly sparked their interest: we are discussing proposals with the majors in Europe, and United-States. Our main asset ? Interoperability and the terminal effect perfomances. This qualifies us immediatly on most of the modern air platforms. Will you tell us more about your high-tech programs? Besides our « classic » bombs, our principal product is the penetration bomb SAMP in the 500 pound series MK82, which will be available in November 2009. It already is compatible with the AASM, and soon will be with the other main guidance kits on the market. Starting from the P250 concept, SAMP pursues its developing programs on the P125 and the P500 penetration bombs, respectivly in theMK81 250 pound and MK83 1,000 pound ranges. With capacities adapted to the Middleeast market. Those new programs match the new demands linked to the use of guidance kits : penetration, perforation, reducing of the collateral damages. n Interview by Olivier Zajec TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 (017) NEWS FRANCE CHOOSES SAGEM TO DESIGN THE DATALINk SYSTEM FOR TOMORROW’S UAvS Rench deFense procurement agency DGA has chosen Sagem (SAFRAN Group) over a field of competing companies to design the datalink system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). According to the terms of the contract - dubbed Lido, French acronym for Drone Data Link - Sagem will define all data links intended for future UAV systems: line-of-site and satellite links needed for both air vehicle control and operating the onboard sensors. The contract will apply to all future UAV systems, whether tactical, operative theater, or combat (UCAV). The technologies offered by Sagem will feature innovative, economical bandwidth solutions, plus enhanced protection against electronic warfare (EW). The Ku-band datalink system for Sagem Defense Sécurité’s Sperwer* tactical UAV system, in compliance with NATO standards, has already amply proven its capabilities in some of the world’s most demanding theaters of operation, especially Afghanistan: reliability, flight safety and ability to seamlessly integrated complex defense architectures for joint-service and/or allied operations. The Sperwer tactical UAV system (French designation SDTI: Système de Drones Tactique Intérimaire) is in service with the armed forces of Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Greece, and is currently deployed by three countries in Afghanistan. n F SAGEM WINS FRENCH ARMY ORDER FOR JIM LR BINOCULARS Ga has awarded Sagem (SAFRAN Group) an initial order for 155 JIM LR (long-range) multifunction infrared binoculars. The contract also includes 81 MEPS 08P portable tactical monitors for remote control of the JIM LR binoculars, which helps protect the user, plus vehicle adaptation kits, design of support resources, and training of maintenance technicians. Everything will be delivered to the French army in 2009. Sagem’s JIM LR binoculars combine a number of functions in a single portable, tactical unit: daynight vision, range-finding, laser pointer, direction-finding, GPS and data transmission. Its high performance give army units outstanding capabilities, including day/ night threat detection, precision high-speed target designation, and intelligence feedback for theater command and combat units. JIM LR binoculars are compatible with the FELIN soldier modernization system, and contribute to battlespace digitization. n TRUCkS DEFENSE CHAD: A MAJOR CONTRACT NOTIFIED TO RENAULT D he mInIstRy of Defence of Chad has notified to Renault Trucks Defense a contract of 52 units of Kerax 6x6, in rigid version equipped with fuel tank and flatbed, in tractor version equipped with tank semi-trailer and in wrecking version. They will be delivered during the year 2009. n T (018) TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 MOD MINISTER ANNOUNCES MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT TO THALES IN BELFAST he mInIsteR oF state for Defence Equipment & Support (Min DE&S), Quentin Davies MP, has today announced that Thales UK has been awarded a contract worth more than £200m from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver the Air Defence Availability Project (ADAPT) in support of the Starstreak high velocity missile (HVM) system. He made the announcement during a visit to the company’s Belfast facility, where Starstreak is manufactured and assembled. Under the terms of the contract, which will sustain up to 100 jobs for the Belfast site in Castleraegh, Thales UK will ensure that a specified level of availability of the Starstreak HVM system is provided to the UK Armed Forces. It also covers the support of all HVM equipment until the scheduled out-of-service date at the end of 2020. Accompanied by Alex Dorrian, CEO Thales UK, and Steve Hill, Vice President and Managing Director of Thales UK’s Air Systems business, the Minister was given a tour of the site and given a briefing on the various products being developed there for the UK Armed Forces and for export. The Minister was accompanied on the tour by Peter Robinson, local site MP, Assembly Member and First Minister for Northern Ireland; and Arlene Foster, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland Assembly. Min DE&S also met Trade Union representatives and a range of Thales employees, including apprentices, recent graduates, and staff who have been with the company for over 40 years. Steve Hill, Vice President and Managing Director of Thales UK’s Air Systems business, and head of the Belfast site, says: «The ADAPT contract is key to sustaining our current levels of employment and will protect up to 100 highly skilled, technical engineering jobs throughout the life of the project.» The Minister for Defence Equipment & Support, comments: «This is an important contract with Thales UK as it ensures the availability of the high velocity missile, a crucial weapon system for the UK Armed Forces. Through this £200m contract we are sustaining technologies within the UK industrial base that are important for our future defence needs, and sustaining up to 100 vital jobs over the next decade. I am committed to providing our Armed Forces with the best possible equipment to deal with a wide range of potential operations.» Alex Dorrian, CEO Thales UK, says: «It is important to Thales that Quentin Davies MP has been able to visit us in Belfast, a centre of excellence within the global Thales Group. Belfast has supported the MoD for more than 50 years and the MoD is still the main customer for what we do here. We were pleased to be able to show him the type of technology undertaken here in Belfast.» n T TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 (019) INTERVIEW General (Ret.) Khaled Former commander of UAE Air Force and Air Defense, chairman of Baynuna Group (Abu Dhabi) and INEGMA Center What could be the consequences, at the regional level, of the war in Gaza? Abdullah Al Bu-Ainnain with hardly any donors available at this time, which resulted in a human crisis that radical groups, inside and outside Palestinian territories, successfully was exploited against pro-Western Arab governments, especially the Palestinian Authority that has general elections coming up soon. Whatever is the result of this war now, there was not be a clear and total winwin situation to any of the involved parties especially the Israeli side. new threats are coming from the sea, from piracy to attacks like the one we recently witnessed in Mumbaï, what are the implications in the GCC countries and in particular in the UAe? On the piracy front, the countries in and around the Arabian Peninsula may want to pursue an “Arabian solution” to give a unique character to solving the piracy issue. There are reports of Arab nations becoming edgy about the increasing foreign naval presence near their coasts without political, legal and security cooperation and coordination. Thus, coordinating initiatives with other concerned littoral states including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kenya and international organizations needs to be emphasized as much as possible. Recently, in an important first step, Egypt hosted a second emergency Arab League meeting on piracy attended by representatives from Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Jordan and Somalia. They discussed several options including establishing joint operations by Arab navies and setting up a piracy monitoring center and warning systems for ships. Egypt is concerned that piracy will force shipping companies to opt for safer routes that avoid the Suez canal, which links the Red Sea with the Mediterranean which appears to be the beginning of an approach that worked very well in another part of the world – the Malacca Straits – that faced similar problems with pirates in the past. Overall, the failure of finding an Arab solution to the Somali pirate epidemic now will pose greater problems later for the region – including increased lawlessness, drug trafficking, and transnational terrorism – from Kenya to Saudi Arabia. This anarchy The direct implication of the Israeli operation forces in Gaza had significance on several levels: International, Regional and Domestic. Internationally, it would force the Obama Administration to give priority to the Palestinian issue as well as the Iranian role in the region by emphasizing Hamas’ link with Tehran. There were concerns in Israel that the next U.S. Administration would give priority to domestic situation following the global financial crisis and to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which would sideline the Iranian and Palestinian issues that have become interconnected. Moreover, if Israel succeeds in substantially weakening Hamas and reestablishing the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, it would strip Iran of one of its bargaining chips – Hamas’ control of Gaza – in the “comprehensive grand bargain scheme” that Tehran presumably wants to strike with the West. Regionally, the war on Gaza lasted too long, and the casualty toll amongst civilians became very substantial and the Hamas leadership survived intact, this would then deepen the divisions between the Arab people and their leaders and strengthen the radical camp. The situation in Jordan and Egypt could be destabilized as a result of a failed and costly Israeli operation. Domestically, even if the Gaza war was not a success from an Israeli view, the Strip was left in ruins at a time the whole world is experiencing an acute financial crisis. There was a hefty reconstruction bill to be paid (020) TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 also helps al-Qaeda and her affiliates who operate in Yemen and Somalia to create a larger theater of operations and to spread outwards perhaps even to the UAE. Now let us turn to al-Qaeda and her affiliates. Despite a spate of articles concerning al-Qaeda’s demise due to ideological disputes, criticism from key Sunni clerics and the loss of public sympathy, the movement is not waning. It was almost exactly 20 years ago this month that Al-Qaeda was born in Afghanistan as a movement of violent jihadis that was prepared to fight and die to protect the Islamic ummah, or community, from foreign assault. Up to now the movement still discusses defensive jihad, puritanical interpretations of religious doctrine, and the use of various tactics, techniques, and procedures to achieve goals. Now Al-Qaeda affiliates may be applying strategic chaos to destabilize various countries and create new battlefronts. In Mumbai, by singling out American and British citizens and by deliberately targeting the Jewish Chabad House cultural center, these jihadis also made clear that their target is not only Hindus and not only India. The selection of these targets, as well as the complete absence of any demands made by the attackers in return for their hostages’ lives, indicates the real nature and the real objectives of these jihadis. It is Americans, British, and Jews (including Israelis). This new approach may offer a threepronged benefit for the LeT. On the one hand, it may bring attention to Kashmir. On the other hand, it could be bought conceivably to the question of «homelands» and territorial grievances from the Middle East to South Asia. Consequently, the LeT can seek to expand on its base of sympathizers in the Middle East – according to the U.S. Treasury Department, LeT already operates nodes in several Gulf countries through expatriate communities. Counter-terrorism officials have admitted that they were caught offguard by Lashkar-e-Taiba’s «highly sophisticated» Mumbai terror strikes, which may be now raised to a new «brand name» to rival al-Qaeda. In addition, they were mistaken into LeT’s evolving philosophy. Officials admit underestimating Lashkar’s shift from waging a minor conflict in the Jammu and Kashmir region to threatening Westerners and Jews. Clearly Westerners and Jews now face a greater danger from Lashkar overseas and when linked with the ongoing brutal and devastating Israeli attacks against Hamas in Gaza, locations where LeT sympathizers are to be found can possibility lead to an attack on non-Muslims on third-party soil perhaps even on the Arabian Peninsula. There is also another implication involving the “oil weapon”. Besides spectacular acts of violence, alQaeda seeks to inspire or launch attacks as part of a long-term strategy to bankrupt the United States by engaging in a war of attrition. According to an essay titled “Al-Qaeda and the Battle for Oil” that has been circulating on radical jihadi websites, militants are well aware of the economics of oil. The author of the essay goes as far as to claim that al-Qaeda’s strategy to defeat the United States rests on bankrupting America by driving up oil prices by any means necessary. The author also mentions that the attacks against oil infrastructure in Yemen, along with attacks in Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the past, have been critical to al-Qaeda’s battlefield lessons learned to date so far. With the economic chaos on global markets, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, now may be a good time to disrupt these economies further. It is important to recall that in February 2007, al-Qaeda’s Sawt al-Jihad online magazine called for attacks against Western Hemisphere oil infrastructure that supports the U.S. economy. This means potentially attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf region. What are the expectations of the GCC countries and the UAe towards the new American President? The U.S. image and reputation as a reliable ally and super power has been severely damaged in the Gulf as a result of the series of failures over the past four years in the region especially in support of the last Israeli attack in Gaza civilians and increasing there seafaring (maritime/oceangoing). U.S. foreign policy has made the Middle East more turbulent and made the situation vis-à-vis Iran worst for itself as well as its Arab allies. Some of these Arab countries, like Qatar and Oman, have preferred to distance themselves from Washington’s foreign policy and maintain good links with Iran. Other countries, like the UAE, have invited other powers, like France, to play a bigger role in regional security by TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 (021) INTERVIEW opening military bases. France will inaugurate its naval base in Abu Dhabi next spring. Thus, becoming the first non-American power to have a permanent military base in the Gulf. This example could be replicated by other Gulf countries losing faith in U.S. foreign policy machinations and its inability to deal effectively with threats to the region. Unfortunately, this anarchy also helps al-Qaeda and its affiliates who operate in region to create a larger theater of operations and to have batter environment to reroute more peoples. Most Arab leaders believe the Iranian nuclear program, which started with American in med fifty, is all but complete and it is only a matter of time before the U.S. and the West, admit this reality and live with it. While Washington is embracing with newly Elected President Barak Obama, Arab leaders have general perception that Obama would end the isolation policy Bush had adopted with Iran and Syria, and engage both countries in direct negotiations. The question here is how much Obama would be willing to compromise in his efforts to win over Iran or Syria? Some of America’s Arab allies are worried that Obama could either give Iran or Syria too much of their own interests or waste too much time in pointless talks with Tehran, giving it the needed time to complete its nuclear program which would enable it to strengthen its hold on various parts of the region. Now let us talk about US vs UAE relations that are very close. The best example of this is the signing of the US-UAE nuclear energy accord that still must be ratified by the US congress under the incoming Obama administration. To date, there was no public statement on the deal made, yet several statements during the Obama campaign on nuclear energy initiatives suggest he has a balanced view toward the use of nuclear energy in general. He has argued that the U.S. needs to explore the development of nuclear energy options as part of a new energy mix for the U.S. Obama is not an unwavering advocate of construction, monitoring and insuring against the risks, dealing with toxic waste, and managing eventual decommissioning merit the excitement over this low-carbon energy option. The challenges are particularly daunting for the UAE, which would need to construct a program, from scratch, inclusive of regulatory and monitoring institutions, and build and educate a labor force robust with scientists, monitors, construction engineers, and regulators, inter alia. The questions should focus more around how the UAE is meeting these challenges — and inviting them into the debate on nuclear energy, writ large. What are the independent findings regarding the contribution this program will make to UAE development? Is it imperative now? How will the climate suffer if oil is used to fire electricity plants? How would this impact supplies available for export? As it is, the congressional initiative seems to gloss over that it is not at all in the UAE’s interest to allow technology transfer to Iran — GCC States, do not need to facilitate a situation in which they sit in the — often citing the high costs of cross-fire between a nuclear Israel construction and the dangers of and a nuclear Iran. U.S. and UAE storing and reprocessing waste, but interests coincide here — concerns asserts that the U.S. cannot afford about illicit trade with Iran would to ignore any effective option. The have to be addressed if the UAE UAE’s policy is essentially the same moves forward on the program. — they assess that they cannot It is unfortunate this U.S. afford to ignore this option. Hans congressional initiative ties the Blix, has suggested that the rest of program to Iran – precisely at a the world may not be able to either time when the UAE and others — He argued he was more worried in the international community about climate change than he was were arguing the UAE could be a about nuclear proliferation. model for peaceful development Even in countries poised for the of alternative energy sources in the “nuclear renaissance,” critics are region. The fact of the matter is, still not convinced that the costs if the U.S. congress wants to stop (022) TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 any cooperation with the UAE, the UAE can very well look to other willing states – such as the Russia, Japan, Canada, Korea and France. In fact, in January 2008 the UAE signed an agreement on nuclear cooperation with France during a visit of President Nicolas Sarkozy. So we wonder if it would not be better to be part of the conversation? operations at short notice, project naval power in waters far from a nation’s own shores over lengthy periods of time. They enable control to be exerted over transshipment routes and vital sea lines of communication (SLOC) to be secured. Such a capability is thus not just a reflection of military might but one of the defining characteristics of the world’s overarching military Do you think that Asia would play forces. Considered the domain of an increasing role in the security the privileged few until recently, of the Gulf region? If yes, how? only nations like the U.S., Russia, and to lesser degrees, the UK and First and foremost, let us understand France, possessed both the apparent that Asia’s rising powers of the need for and the ability to assemble 21st century, China and India, are and maintain blue water navies to in the midst of developing their safeguard their interests at sea. military capabilities specifically While American and allied support through naval development and will strengthen India in its drive deployment that will have an impact to become the Indian Ocean’s on the Gulf region. Substantial dominant Asian power, it is also year-on-year increases in Indian, likely to act as a catalyst for China’s Chinese, and Pakistani military development of an offensive naval spending is transforming focus in capability. A decision by powers these nations’ future naval defense from around the world to safeguard and security policy. In a highly their interests in the Gulf is not an significant development in South ideal development for Gulf States. Asian naval policy, breaking away How exactly new actors want to from tradition – where defensive establish a presence in the Arabian capabilities defined the focus of naval Sea region remains to be seen power – offensive capabilities, which but these changes are certain to offer more effective deterrence over offset wider force adjustments. The wider ranges, is now where much of security paradigms that are used by the work is occurring. Overall, there states competing with one another seems to be consensus that the for limited resources and security 21st century will be one of maritime partnerships in this energy-rich, security. With the globalization of the politically uncertain, and increasingly world economy, the impact of global important trade zone are changing. seaborne trade, and with growing Like all of the other actors now overseas energy interests, world involved, Gulf States too must now powers are well aware of the need to rethink their defense and security safeguard vital interests at sea. arrangements in the waters of the Blue water navies, which operate Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea. across the deep waters of oceans and Although the past few decades are able to undertake expeditionary involved heavy reliance on the U.S. for security needs, the Gulf’s most influential Gulf States (i.e., Saudi Arabia, the UAE) are significantly moving towards less U.S.-centric outlooks on their future security arrangements. One factor explaining this is domestic public pressures against a tarnished U.S. image. Strategically, while the Gulf remains committed to maintaining warm relations with the U.S., it appears unwilling to be drawn into or become a battleground in tensions between outside powers – and here, it is the U.S. which is most likely, in Arab eyes, to damage their rapidly developing economies. The opening of the French naval base in the UAE in May 2009 will be a significant development in this regard – the French, lest one forget, strongly resisted the American war against Iraq, and are much less likely to offer direct involvement in any potential military action against Iran. For the UAE, this is useful because it allows them to maintain a safe distance from areas of U.S. policy that they don’t see eye to eye on such as potential military confrontation with Iran, while keeping close enough to the U.S. to still be regarded a friend sharing many common security goals. All the while, the UAE is preserving its access to state-of-the-art U.S. military equipment to ensure its own national defenses retain a credible deterrence. What is the impact of the financial crisis on UAe major economic projects? In order to answer this question it is important to start at the GCC level and where UAE fits into the regional construct. Easing inflationary TECHNOLOGY AND ARMAMENT REVIEW • MARCH-APRIL 2009 • N°01 (023)
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