Leonardo Displays its Defence Capabilities at DIMDEX

By Editor 21-Mar-2018

Italian aerospace and defence manufacturer, Leonardo has showcased its state of the art capabilities in defence and aerospace sectors at the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX). At the 10th anniversary of DIMDEX exhibition, held in Doha in March, Leonardo has demonstrated its top products in defence, security and aerospace sectors aimed at promoting security in Qatar and the surrounding region by protecting civil infrastructures in the Gulf, such as airports, ports, sports stadium and oil and gas platforms.

Leonardo’s focus at the show has been to promote its range of naval capabilities, spanning from turnkey combat management systems for all classes of military vessels to naval guns, ammunitions and underwater defence systems which are increasingly being recognised in the Gulf region as the gold-standard for integrated maritime security. At DIMDEX, Leonardo has arranged a retrospective display of its solid foundation of over 20 years in the industry partnering with Qatar.

Qatar has ordered 21 new-generation AW139 helicopters for a number of military applications, while, in the commercial market, Gulf Helicopters operates a fleet of AW139s for offshore transport missions and of AW189s for the same application. In addition, the company has a strong position in the Gulf’s commercial and military helicopter markets and sees significant future opportunities for a number of its helicopter types on display in Doha.

In the avionics domain, the visitors have been able to see some of Leonardo’s most advanced electronics products including airborne radars, Directed Infra-Red Counter-Measure (DIRCM) systems and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment. An interactive display on the stand has also given visitors the opportunity to find out about Leonardo’s ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) capabilities.

Of note is Leonardo’s significant contribution to the Eurofighter Typhoon, 24 of which ordered by Qatar at the end of 2017. Qatar’s Typhoon platforms will be the most advanced type and will include the Leonardo-led ‘Captor-E’ E-scan/AESA radar. Beside a significant share of the airframe, Leonardo provides more than 60 percent of the avionics for the Typhoon, including leading the consortia responsible for providing the aircraft’s radar, defensive aids suite and infrared search and track (IRST) system.