UAE Orders Strap-on Bomb Guidance Kits

Strap-on bomb kits to convert free-fall bombs to guided bombs are being provided to the United Arab Emirates by Tawazun Dynamics under a $492 million contract.

The Al-Tariq bomb guidance kits manufactured by the company, which is a joint venture between South Africa's Denel Group and Tawazun Holdings of the UAE, will be used on Mirage jets.

The kit system, called Umbani by Denel, which developed the system, is attached to NATO standard Mk81, Mk82 or Mk83 bombs.

Riaz Saloojee, Denel's chief executive officer, said the contract demonstrates Denel's competence in designing munition systems and validates its decision to enter into the joint venture to expand business internationally.

"It strengthens our global profile and opens new markets for Denel's growing range of defense and security-related products and services,' he said.

Tawazun Dynamics opened a manufacturing facility last year in the UAE and expects that the Al-Tariq system will be used on the country's other fighter aircraft in the future.

Announcement of the contract was made at an international airshow in Dubai. [via]