Dubai's biennial Air Show opened Sunday to a world still reeling from the pandemic and an aviation industry hard-hit by the coronavirus, but on the mend.
The event also marked the first time an Israeli Air Force chief holds a visit to the United Arab Emirates. IAF chief, Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin, took part in the opening and met with his various counterparts, including some from Middle Eastern countries. According to the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson's Unit the visit is part of the "deepening of relations and cooperation between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, as part of the Abraham Accords signed last year."
The accords, brokered by the previous US administration, saw four Arab nations announce their intent to normalize relations with Israel. The UAE has since set up an embassy in Israel and opened its skies to Israeli tourists.
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Boeing and Airbus have traditionally been the stars of the aviation trade show, competing for multibillion-dollar Gulf-based airline purchases and hammering out final details minutes before back-to-back press conferences. This year, however, the five-day exhibition is expected to be more muted than in the past due to the subdued state of flying and travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rather, the air show's first day drew eyes toward defense and military hardware from countries like Russia and Israel.
The star on the tarmac outside the exhibition hall was Russia's Checkmate fighter jet, which was shown to the press in a custom-built hangar with a display of laser lights bouncing off a mirrored ceiling. The jet, with a baseline $35 million price tag, is a less costly competitor to the US F-35, which the UAE has been trying to acquire since formally recognizing Israel last year in a deal brokered by the Trump administration. That sale has slowed under US President Joe Biden.
"The idea was born as we used all the experience that Russia got during its Syria operations and many of the features of the aircraft came from realistic situations that we experienced," said United Aircraft Corporation CEO Yuri Slyusar through a translator at the unveiling. In Syria's devastating civil war, Russian fighter jets have supported President Bashar Assad's forces.
UAC is a holding company of state-owned Rostec, Checkmate's parent company. Production of the jet is expected to start in 2025.
Also, more than 100 American companies are exhibiting at the air show, including defense giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
"We are committed to deepening and strengthening this vital strategic relationship," said Sean Murphy, the US Embassy's charge d'affaires. At the opening of the US pavilion, he also thanked the UAE for its help in the US-led evacuations out of Afghanistan.
Israeli companies also displayed their hardware for the first time at the air show following Israel's normalization of diplomatic ties with the UAE last year. The state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries company showed off a range of manned and unmanned naval and aerial drones.
Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems displayed its "drone dome" that detects and destroys drones with lasers. Emirati defense officials were seen asking about the range and weight of the anti-drone system at the Israeli pavilion. In all, six Israeli companies are taking part in the air show. These include Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael, Tomer Astronautics, Nir Or, and UVision, according to an official statement.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz described the UAE-Israel partnership as a "strategic asset," saying in a statement that the Defense Ministry's participation "reflects the deepening relations" between the two nations. The two countries share deep concerns over Iran, which is set to resume negotiations over its tattered nuclear deal with the US and other world powers.
IDF Brig. Gen. (Res.) Yair Kulas, the head of the Defense Ministry's Directorate for International Defense Cooperation (SIBAT) said: "The opening of an Israeli national pavilion in Dubai is a new and historic component in the strengthening relations between Israel and the UAE. We are thrilled to have an opportunity to participate in this important exhibition and to showcase the advanced technological capabilities of Israel's defense industries. Within the framework of the exhibition, we plan to hold numerous meetings to discuss new areas of collaboration."
JNS contributed to this report.
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