The UAE has signed contracts worth AED4.42bn ($1.2bn) on the first day of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) being held in Abu Dhabi.

The largest contract, valued at AED2.4bn, is signed with local Tawazun Operation for the supply of eight-wheeled military vehicles.

More than AED1bn was contracted for the supply of ammunitions and guns, while monitoring and communications systems, technical support, maintenance and training services for the UAE Navy and Armed forces accounted for the rest.

The contracts signed include:

• Tawazun Operation (local): armour mechanisms (eight-wheeled military vehicles); AED2.4bn
• International Golden Group (local): Ammunitions for ground troops; AED394.3m
• MBDA (France-Italy-UK): ammunition for the navy; AED343.8m
• Patria Land Systems (Finland): AED225.4m
• Caracal Light Ammunition (local): ammunition and guns for the Armed Forces; AED181.3m
• Tuff Global: assorted ammunition for the Armed Forces; AED147.4m
• Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) (local): supply and installation of electronic communications systems and exchange of information for the UAE Navy; AED 100.4m
• HESCO Group (UK): defensive walls (fortifications); AED91.4m
• Thales Underwater System (France): sonars; AED85.2m
• Royal Jet (local): management, operation, training and localisation of International Movements Operations Centre (IMOC); AED80m
• Beltech Export (Belarus): spare parts, repair services and technical assistance for armoured vehicles BMP-3; AED52.8m
• GAL Air Traffic Control (local): technical and specialist support; AED50m
• Watts Defence Optics & Hall (UK): monitoring equipment for ground forces; AED40.8m
• Rosenbauer International (Austria): extinguishing mechanisms; AED36.5m
• Star Satellite Telecom (local): replacement satellite telecommunication parts; AED30.3mEmirates Defence Technology (local): technical assistance (maintenance and supply of spare parts for machinery); AED30m
• Abu Dhabi Drilling (local): maintenance and services for the UAE Navy; AED 17.3m
• North Star Aviation (local): technical and logistical support for BELL 407 helicopters; AED15m
• Al-Rumaithy Establishment (local): technical support for ground forces; AED15m
• Naval Advanced Solutions (local): development of marine meteorological system for the UAE Navy; AED13.7m
• Al-Jaber Company (local): supply of rocket launchers; AED6.6m

 It is understood that the 2015 edition of Idex generated deals worth in excess of AED18.3bn.