Mubadala Development Company and Sikorsky Aerospace Services have signed a heads of agreement towards establishing a joint aviation military maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) centre.

Mubadala is a business development and investment company based in Abu Dhabi, while Sikorsky Aerospace Services is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

The agreement between the two parties was signed during the International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2009 in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. 

The new military MRO centre will be set up in close collaboration with the general head quarters of UAE Armed Forces to support the entire spectrum of logistics maintenance capabilities for the UAE Armed Forces Fixed and Rotary wing platforms.

The centre aims to become the military’s MRO centre of excellence by providing a broad scope of unique aviation capabilities from first line, second line and depot level MRO services. The centre is expected to enhance fleet readiness and meet the growing demands of the UAE Armed Forces and the regional military.

“Mubadala’s strategy to help build a self sustaining and commercially viable support system for the UAE and regional military is in line with the global military trend of using sophisticated outsourced support services,” said Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, COO of Mubadala. “Our partnership with Sikorsky Aerospace Services fits our commercial strategy to evolve the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s existing aerospace industry into a global aerospace hub”. 

The centre will work with military logistic providers in the UAE to provide a streamlined, efficient, and full system support as the UAE’s military continues to advance its capability by focusing on core operations.

“The goal of the military MRO centre of excellence is to be a one-stop shop for all logistics needs for the UAE Armed Forces,” said David Adler, president of Sikorsky Aerospace Services. “We will leverage our sophisticated, unique capabilities to establish, operate and manage the centre with our UAE partners. We are excited for the opportunity to provide world-class sustainment solutions for the UAE and the Middle East.” – TradeArabia News Centre