Communications

12.02 - 17.02.2005


The Abu Dhabi Defence exhibit and conference, IDEX 2005, came to an end few days ago with more than favourable results overall for Finmeccanica.

The Finmeccanica companies, Aermacchi, AgustaWestland, Alenia Aeronautica, Galileo Avionica, Oto Melara, Selenia Communications, Telespazio, joint ventures AMS, MBDA and the EUROTORP consortium, participated at the event.

Finmeccanica welcomed numerous Italian and foreign institutional delegations to its stand presenting its state-of-the-art systems in the aerospace and defence industry, as well as instances of the company's excellence in the provision of integrated solutions: military pilot training, security and national systems to manage Exclusive Economic Zones, air traffic management, network-centric operations and satellite services.

During the Abu Dhabi event, the Finmeccanica Group organized various initiatives for its guests.

On 13 February, Italian diplomatic representatives in the United Arab Emirates, local and Italian military delegations, members of the Italian government and representatives from Italian and foreign companies accepted Finmeccanica's invitation to an evening on the Italian Naval Ship, the Grecale.

The Grecale is in port at Abu Dhabi as part of a five month mission to patrol the waters of the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Guests were greeted with a "welcome to Italy" from Commander of the Grecale, Andrea Gueglio.

Among those attending were the Defence Undersecretary of State Filippo Berselli, Ambassadors of Thailand, Malaysia, Sweden, Japan, Hungary and Russia, the Italian Ambassador in Abu Dhabi, Domenico Pedata, the First Secretary of the Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Nicola Minasi, the Defence Secretary-General Gianni Botondi, the head of SMA Leonardo Tricarico and the General Manager of NAVARM Dino Nascetti.

As the evening drew to a close, the Defence Undersecretary remarked that the presence of the Italian defence industry in the Arab Emirates has taken on a significant role in the area thanks to the synergies of those strengths that make up an effective and efficient "country system".

On the same day, at the Finmeccanica stand, a press conference was held with international journalists attending, to present the Group's activities, with a focus on the ATR 72 ASW programme created by Alenia Aeronautica, namely the new patrol and anti-submarine defence aircraft, selected by the Turkish Armed Forces and under consideration as well for other countries in the Gulf area.

In addition to the undeniable image pay-off for the Group, the six days for the fair event have provided a backdrop to important commercial agreements.

On 14 February, AMS signed a letter of intent with Abu DhaBi Ship Building for the creation of a joint venture in the field of integrated systems for naval platforms, the Abu Dhabi Systems Integration (ADSI), with head office in the United Arab Emirates.

During the fair, AgustaWestland received a 56.6 million Euro contract from the United Arab Emirates for the reconstruction of four CH-47 helicopters. The reconstruction shall take place at the Italian facilities at Frosinone.

AgustaWestland has also been awarded a tender contract for the supply of 8 AB139 helicopters to the Emirates armed forces. With this achievement, at a distance of a few days from the contract obtained in the United States for the sale of 20 AB139 helicopters to SEACOR Holding, more than 100 AB139 have been sold throughout the world to more than 40 clients.

Many of the Group's companies had positive opportunities and results in the Emirates. Selenia Communications, a leading subsupplier of Rhode & Schwarz, was awarded a substantial order for the communication network of the Middle East country, while WASS, through the joint consortium EUROTORP with the French industries (TUS and DCN) obtained a 12 thousand Euro order for the supply of new anti-submarine defence systems for the Emirates Navy. Finally, Elettronica, 33% owned by Finmeccanica, was awarded a contract worth 15 million USA dollars for the supply of electronic warfare systems.

For the Finmeccanica Group, the realisation of concrete results and huge achievement in terms of image is the result of six days of IDEX 2005. The Group concludes the event with a welcome acknowledgement: the award for the best stand of the IDEX exhibit and conference (the second Finmeccanica has received, after the award for its participation last year at the Expo-Security in Romania).

For the rest, the succession of international delegations and prestigious guests visiting the stand, including the Minister of Defence - British Procurement Lord Bach and Prince Andrew of British royalty, confirm this result.