The Emirates Defence Industries Company (Edic) is showcasing a wide range of air platform businesses at the ongoing Dubai AirShow 2015, following its national debut at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference this year.

The event which kicked off today (November 8), will run until November 12.

Edic is an integrated defence manufacturing and services platform employing 10,000 people in the air, land and sea platforms.

Eight of Edic’s companies are exhibiting at the show including Ammroc and GAL, premiere providers of maintenance, repair and overhaul services for fixed and rotary wing aircraft to the UAE Armed Forces; Adasi, which offers a comprehensive range of services for all types of autonomous systems; and Tawazun Precision Industries, a world-class manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE, operating in the defence, aerospace and oil and gas business.

“The Dubai Airshow is a great opportunity for our companies in the air platform to showcase their growing capabilities in maintenance, repair and overhaul, unmanned systems and advanced manufacturing,” remarked Edic CEO Luc Vigneron.

The company is in the process of consolidating several companies within its portfolio, identifying synergies across the group and building on economies of scale.

Many of the companies have been in operation for decades and are building a platform for the next phase of growth. Once the consolidation is complete by 2017, Edic is set to be a substantial industrial services player and one of the largest such groups in the Gulf region.

"We are aligning capabilities within the platform to best meet the demands of the UAE Armed Forces. For example, GAL, which specialises in first line, light maintenance of military aviation, is working increasingly closely with Ammroc, which offers second line, deep level maintenance, repair and overhaul services. This comprehensive service offering allows us to help keep the Armed Forces at a peak state of readiness," he added.

Edic will take advantage of the airshow to engage with its international partners.

Vigneron said the company was focused on localising elements of the defence industry supply chain, especially maintenance and certification.

"As we progress forward, we are seeking committed partners who will work with us to identify and address challenges in terms of technology transfer and developing UAE National talent," he added.-TradeArabia News Service