IDEX: China Offers A-Hawk-I to UAE

“Initial discussions such as product introduction and customer suggestions are underway with the UAE as the system is suitable for a variety of users for the purpose of anti-terrorism, fire suppression and police enforcement with strong ability for air strike,” an official at China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation said.

The system’s platform-loading ability can be used to benefit civil markets with its peculiar advantages such as fire extinction, cargo transportation and special operations.

The UAV has a maximum take off weight of 165 kilograms and can cruise at a speed of 60 kilometres per hour. It has an endurance capacity of 30 minutes.

The UAE’s interest in UAVs emerged in 2013, when it reached a deal to purchase several MQ-1 Predator XP and related ground systems from US-based General Atomics.

However, soon after the US refused to sell armed drones to the UAE, the country reportedly purchased Wing Loongs, the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Chengdu Aircraft Design & Research Institute (CADI), a division of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

China's A-Hawk on display at IDEX (Image Jay Menon)