1. Defence Procurement International - Winter 2014
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UAE SOLDIERS IN US COAST GUARD
TRAINING (US NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION
SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS NATHAN SCHAEFFER)
The UAE’s C4ISR Transformation
THE UAE HAS PROCURED SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED ARMAMENTS IN THE WORLD. BUT IF RECENT ACQUISITIONS
ARE ANYTHING TO GO BY, ENHANCED C4ISR CAPABILITIES ARE THE NEXT AREA SLATED FOR INVESTMENT.
BY MATTHEW HEDGES
S
ituated in the southern Arabian Gulf and surrounded by
an array of symmetrical and asymmetrical threats, the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has, for the past decade,
been at the forefront of global defence spending. According to
the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s 2013
Trends in Military Expenditure, in 2012 the UAE’s defence
spending equalled 4.7% of GDP, which is more than most
NATO member countries, which spend less than 2% of their
GDP on defence, as well as the two largest global defence
spenders—the United States (3.8% of GDP in 2013) and
China (an estimated 2%).
Since the uni cation of the UAE in 1 71, the state has
undertaken three distinct periods of heightened defence
spending. Having built up considerable capabilities, it is now
focusing its attention on the transformation of forces to C4ISR.
Since 2001, the UAE has been an avid supporter and sponsor
of Western efforts to combat terrorism and rogue regimes
within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In
September, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs con rmed that
its Air Force launched its rst air strikes against ISI as part of
an international effort against the Islamic militant group.
This blossoming relationship with the West has resulted
in some of the world’s most advanced armaments being
procured by the UAE. Marquee contracts such as ockheed
Martin’s F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 60 and the recent
upgrade to Block 61 (the world’s most advanced variants),
Patriot and Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD)
missile defence systems, Raytheon’s AN/TPY-2 radar,
Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster III and the Abu Dhabi Ship
Building Company’s (ADSB) Baynunah-class corvettes, are

2. all examples of the modernisation of the UAE’s Armed Forces.
Combined with their combat experience in Afghanistan and
ibya, as well as other supporting operations in orth Africa
and the Indian Ocean, the UAE has embarked on a period of
signi cant transformation.
The experience gained on operations has been strengthened
by the educational developments undertaken in the UAE. The
ational efence College recently passed out their rst intake
of higher staff individuals from a wide span of organisations
to fully prepare them for future leadership roles. In addition,
more and more members of the UAE Armed Forces are
being exposed to advance training methods, both virtual
and synthetic, at home and abroad, from a wide range of
nations. The drive to raise professional standards across
the Armed Forces is being led by the strategic leadership
of the UAE: They understand that a coherent force ready to
defend the nation, either alone or as part of a coalition, is
the overarching aim of the Armed Forces’ modernisation.
ACQUIRING C4ISR-ENABLED FORCES
There is widespread acceptance that warfare is progressively
advancing and there is a need to stay abreast of technological
developments in order to fully utilise the advanced technology
that is being procured. Not only has the UAE acquired the
systems mentioned above, but it has also expanded its
communications capacity and is currently going through
a process to fully develop and exploit cyber defence
capabilities. The UAE has built, and continues to build,
satellites for dual military and civil use; Yahsat satellites Y1A
and Y1B are both in orbit.
It is in advanced negotiations with Airbus Defence and
Thales Alenia Space (who supported the development of the
Yahsat satellites) to provide two Falcon Eye satellites.Through
these satellites, and in combination with an array of assets
and sources, the UAE will be able to effectively manage and
utilise its missile defence network, secure communications
inside and outside of its borders, and ultimately be more
combat ready and ef cient in a wide array of operations.
These secure communication networks will empower the
UAE Armed Forces to exercise critical dialogue, resulting in
ef cient command from tactical and operational units up to
the command hierarchy. 2011 saw a landmark deal tabled
for the UAE to acquire ink 16 ultifunctional Information
Distribution System- ow olume Terminals ( IDS T) on
board their F-16 eet. This announcement is a clear indication
of the UAE’s disposition to acquire C4ISR-enabled forces.
But until this system is installed throughout its eet, questions
still remain. ow, for example, will the UAE incorporate ink
16 into its communications architecture, and then effectively
distribute the necessary data across its battle eld networks
MISSILE DEFENCE MOVES FORWARD
The purchase of Saab’s Erieye long-range Airborne Early
Warning & Control (AEW&C) system based on active phased-
Defence Procurement International - Winter 2014
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A UAE CREW CHIEF ASSIGNED TO THE SAHEEN 3 SQUADRON, USES A HEADSET TO COMMUNICATE DURING AN ENGINE TEST AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE,
DURING A COMBAT TRAINING EXERCISE INVOLVING THE AIR FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES
(US AIR FORCE PHOTO BY TECH. SGT. MICHAEL R. HOLZWORTH)

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Defence Procurement International - Winter 2014
array pulse-Doppler radar was another sign that the UAE is
looking to distribute information and intelligence gained from
its battle eld-wide sensors to tactical and strategic assets.
It was clear from the start that Erieye was only a stop-gap
measure whilst the UAE sourced a longer term AEW&C unit
with Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Hawkeye E-2D and
RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft, as well as Boeing’s Wedgetail,
viewed as longer-term alternatives to the Erieye.
Whilst in areas such as missile defence the UAE is moving
forward in terms of C4ISR-enabled forces, other elements
such as the Baynunah Corvette eet, and the wide array of
land forces’ assets are not yet ready to receive and utilise
the data captured and transmitted between their air assets.
The Baynunah Corvette is e uipped with ink and ink
mk2 secure communications systems. Whilst its sailors and
other members of the Armed Forces develop the know-how
and capacity to fully utilise these data links, the challenges
of integration with ink networks, and eventually its wider
C4ISR networks, will provide technical hurdles, which can
only be remedied with time and patience.
The prioritisation of strategic battlespace management is
abundantly clear and the UAE is still in advanced negotiations
with ockheed artin to ac uire the DIA ONDShield, an
integrated air and missile defence system that will assist
the UAE’s extended air defence ground environment
transformation. On a tactical level, the UAE is actively looking
towards Software De ned Radios. However, without the
appropriate communication gateways, these procurement
efforts are unlikely to realise their full potential.
UNMANNED SYSTEMS
Until secure communications are elded across the UAE’s
Armed Forces, it may be vulnerable and exploited by
adversaries. The recent establishment of the National
Electronic Security Authority (NESA) and the development of
the UAE’s Cyber Command are clear indications of not only its
willingness but also heightened priority on computer-related
defensive systems. This priority is coupled with the UAE’s
entrance into the outer orbit eld with its domestically-built
satellites. A nationwide cyber awareness campaign has been
initiated where the leaders of tomorrow will be technically
able and pro cient to utilise the technology procured today to
prepare them for tomorrow’s challenges.
Without a modern advanced sensory network the UAE
will only be able to project portions of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Through the procurement of advanced satellites,
upgrades to the UAE F- eet, the commissioning of
Baynunah Corvettes and the Fincantieri-built Abu Dhabi Class
Corvette, the UAE is attempting to expand its
sensory network.
Understanding manpower limitations enforced on the UAE,
it is looking towards unmanned systems to help propel itself
forward. It has agreed to buy General Atomics’ Predator
P and enjoys long-standing cooperation with Austrian rm
NORTHROP GRUMMAN’S ADVANCED HAWKEYE E-2D IS VIEWED AS A LONGER-TERM ALTERNATIVE TO THE ERIEYE AEW&C
(PHOTO: NORTHROP GRUMMAN)

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Schiebel. The UAE utilises Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100
Unmanned Aerial ehicle UA ) and through ADASI Abu
Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments), a subsidiary of
Tawazun, a joint programme saw the birth of the Al Sabr
system, which the UAE is trying to sell to potential customers
on the international market.
Another Emirati entity, ADC , has developed UA s
indigenously, and with Ukrainian assistance, a number of
UA s including the abhon class and armed United 40, a
medium-altitude long endurance UA . Uncon rmed reports
suggest that the UAE has agreed the sale of the United
40 to the Russian Federation. It is also making inroads in
unmanned surface vessels US ) with Al Seer arine making
huge progress with the Sea Serpent, scar and Bravo US s.
It is abundantly clear that unmanned systems are a priority.
The UAE continues to sound out international defence
contractors for potential cooperation in order to develop
advanced technical capacity and practical pro ciency in
unmanned systems. It can be assumed that it will develop
key relationships with a select few partners, and as a result,
further develop indigenous products and expand pro ciency in
this important domain.
Expanding the UAE’s sensory network is a clear requirement
if it is to fully transform its armed forces to be C4ISR
‘enabled’. By increasing the volume and quality of data
captured, the UAE will be able to more readily respond to
future threats. Protecting the expanded networks will pose
a challenge; the creation of NESA and the development of
military cyber capabilities will ensure the UAE is better able to
effectively protect and deter potential adversaries.
Key challenges await the UAE with its response to how
it handles and manages big data analytics. Whilst it has
procured a lot of advanced Western technologies, it still
has to contend with export and ITAR restrictions. Given the
priority on the Armed Forces to fully modernise, the UAE has
to ensure that its next generation of manpower is technically
pro cient to fully exploit the advanced technology acquired.
Hence, an education drive is needed to ensure younger
members of the population become more pro cient in areas
such as IT and engineering. The UAE defence industry acts
as a catalyst to enable human capital development. It is also
adopting a sophisticated joint logistics model; it is imperative
that the UAE has a workforce, both civilian and military, which
is capable of handling the increased requirements imposed on
it. How the UAE utilises its intelligence sources and protects
its communications through its rapidly expanding cyber-
protected networks will be the true litmus test as to how well
and how quickly it can modernise its armed forces to the latest
C4ISR standards.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matthew Hedges, is a Gulf-based defence analyst. He has
worked in the Arabian Gulf for ve years and his research
has focused on the development of the Armed Forces in the
region. Hedges holds a Masters degree from the University
of Exeter.
A UAE AIR FORCE MIRAGE 2000 FIGHTER (PHOTO BY STAFF SGT AARON ALLMON USAF)