Tawazun, Saab to deliver 3D-printing for UAE air defence

Tawazun Council in UAE said that it signed an agreement with Saab a top defence and security firm in the UAE to establish a sovereign 3D printing capability (AFAD) for the UAE Air Force. This will allow them to produce spare parts efficiently.

The deal is aimed at meeting several of the policy guidelines outlined as part of Tawazun’s Economic Programme objectives, including providing strategic benefits to the UAE, encouraging knowledge transfer, building new capabilities, creating employment opportunities for UAE nationals, and targeting aerospace and additive manufacturing as priority sectors.

The agreement was signed at Tawazun Chalet by Abdullah Saif Al Awani, Chief Economic Programme Officer at Tawazun Council, and Anna-Karin Rosén, Managing Director of Saab in the UAE, in the presence of a number of senior officials.

This comes following the launching of the first Emirati 3D printing Centre of Excellence “Sindan”, which was announced during IDEX 2023.

The partnership will empower the UAE AFAD to use the sovereign additive manufacturing capability of 3D printing parts. It will be more self-reliant than it is dependent on foreign suppliers. It will also reduce lead-times and costs, increase availability and uptime of critical military assets.

Abdullah Al Awani stated that the partnership is a reflection of Tawazun Council’s ongoing efforts in developing and managing strategic partnerships within the defense industry sector. This has significant economic implications for UAE. 

“This collaboration benefits both parties by creating value via locally manufactured products and promoting self-sufficiency. It also supports local manufacturing. It facilitates the transfer technology and enhances UAE’s sovereign capabilities, he said.

Anna-Karin Rosén said: “Saab is deeply committed to being an important strategic partner to the UAE’s AFAD, and we are honoured by the prospect of cooperating with Tawazun Council as it seeks to strengthen sovereign manufacturing capabilities that will ensure sustainable growth of the defence sector.”

“Our agreement is poised to accomplish this, while also leveraging the promising potential of the nation’s workforce by providing UAE nationals with high value training and employment opportunities that will equip them with the skills to lead and further develop the industry for years to come,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service