{"id":42929,"date":"2015-02-17T20:35:33","date_gmt":"2015-02-17T20:35:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2015\/02\/17\/land-forces-rise-to-meet-new-challenges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:33:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:33:00","slug":"land-forces-rise-to-meet-new-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/idex\/2015\/02\/17\/land-forces-rise-to-meet-new-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Land Forces Rise To Meet New Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ABU DHABI \u2014 Land forces development is expected to continue its rapid growth across the Middle East due to increasing transnational threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within the last year two gulf countries, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, have introduced mandatory military service <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">for it&#8217;s citizens <\/span>to increase readiness and manpower. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">amongst its forces. <\/span>In addition, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">to that <\/span>gulf countries have initiated a unified military command to coordinate <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">organize <\/span>their land, air and sea forces&#8217; response to <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">the <\/span>threats while also upgrading <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">and have upgraded <\/span>their special operations <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">forces&#8217; <\/span>capabilities. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">within the same time period.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Countries in the region are expected to spend up to $344.2 million by 2016 on <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">lead global spending on <\/span>guided munitions alone, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">up to $344.2 million by 2016 <\/span>as well as driving the <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">being the sole drivers with Asia on the <\/span>armored vehicle market along with Asia, according to Texas-based research and consultancy Markets and Markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><a href=\"http:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/idex\/\" title=\"http:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/idex\/\">Digital Show Daily: Complete coverage from IDEX 2015<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">United Arab Emirates <\/span>and Iraq are leading the surge in purchases, the reports stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">In light of its militaries <\/span>fight against Islamic State extremists in Iraq is driving the <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">a <\/span>massive procurements. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">drive is ongoing. <\/span>According to reports from Baghdad, the fall of oil prices will not derail some major <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">affect some <\/span>armament projects. Sources have stated that the Iraqi Defense Ministry is determined to buy 500 four-wheel-drive<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">4&#215;4<\/span> military vehicles this year to make up for the losses against the Islamic State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, in December Iraq <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">has <\/span>requested to buy from the United States <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">in December <\/span><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">the purchase of <\/span>1,000 M1151A1 up-armored Humvees, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), <\/span>1,000 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, and 1,000 MK-19 40mm grenade launchers with universal mounts, commercial radios, communication equipment and <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">, repair and <\/span>spare parts and training estimated at $579 million, according to the US Defense and Security Cooperation Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the same month Iraq also requested the sale of 175 full track M1A1 Abrams tanks with the upgraded 120mm gun, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">modified and upgraded to the M1A1 Abrams configuration, <\/span>15 M88A2 improved tank recovery vehicles, 175 .50 caliber M2 machine guns, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">with Chrysler Mount, machine guns, <\/span>communication systems and ammunition valued at $2.4 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Iraq also requested in November <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">logistical support, truing and equipment for field operations valued at $600 million which include <\/span>spare parts to support the Abrams tanks and <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">M1A1 Battle Tanks, <\/span>M1070 heavy equipment tactical trucks. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">and heavy and light machine guns.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proliferation<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">referation<\/span> of land forces armament <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">in the region <\/span>has also driven countries to seek partnerships for weapon development from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In June, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">last year <\/span>the Qatar Armed Forces Industry Committee (AFIC) <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">has <\/span>applied to Turkey&#8217;s Competition Board to acquire 49 percent of commercial and <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">military <\/span>military vehicle manufacturer BMC. The move underscores <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">signifies <\/span>the priority the gulf state places on <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">&#8216;s<\/span><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">priority of <\/span>maintaining a steady flow of armored vehicles into its <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">their <\/span>inventory <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">cache <\/span><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">with an investment of $357.5 million <\/span>while boosting <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">their regional allies <\/span>industrial capability of regional allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2013, the UAE <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">has <\/span>also partnered with Turkey to develop the Jobaria <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">land systems, which feature a <\/span>multiple cradle rocket launcher that can launch<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">es<\/span> 240 rockets. The system has four rocket launchers attached to the trailer each carrying 60<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">sixty<\/span> 122mm rockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The system fires Roketsan 122mm TR-122 rockets fitted with a high-explosive warhead that can be detonated with <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">by using <\/span>either a point detonating fuze or <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">by <\/span>a proximity fuze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the armored vehicle market analysis, wheeled vehicles are clearly on the rise in the region as more <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">and more <\/span>governments look at six- and eight-wheel-drive <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">6&#215;6 and 8&#215;8 <\/span>vehicles to cope with the terrain and because of their lower maintenance costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A decade ago, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">In response to the surge in demand, <\/span>UAE weapons manufacturer Tawazun Holdings instituted indigenous armored vehicle manufacturer Nimr in 2005. The Nimr vehicles are designed to carry out military, police and peacekeeping missions in the Middle East area thanks to a cooling system that allows the vehicle to withstand the harsh desert climate which can reach as high as 55 degrees Celsius. The vehicle also features composite ceramic armor and a central tire inflation system. The vehicle is based on a flexible modular concept to provide support for a wide range of missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three prototypes were made in 2000 and an armored six-wheel-drive<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">6&#215;6<\/span> version was<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">were<\/span> inaugurated in 2013 with anti-ballistic technology. The vehicles are in use in Jordan, Lebanon and Libya. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UAE armed forces last year <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">has <\/span>ordered 1,800 Nimr<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">IMR<\/span> armored vehicles from Tawazun. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">Holdings. <\/span>The firm also signed an agreement in 2012 to establish a joint company producing Nimr<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">IMR<\/span> armored vehicles in Algeria. The deal with Groupement de la Promotion de l&#8217;IndustrieM\u00e9canique (GPIM) was designed to create an Algerian-based armored vehicle manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This month a new integrated production facility was initiated for the vehicles at the Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi. The facility is expected to be fully operational by October. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">2015.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The new integrated facility, the first of its kind in the region, will help Nimr Automotive re-establish itself as a well-recognized brand in the international military vehicles industry and render it in a better position to serve its growing customer base,&#8221; said Tawazun Chief Executive Officer <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">of Tawazun, <\/span>Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The facility, according to the company, will see Nimr production capacity doubled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The new facility will double current production capacity of four- and six-wheel-drive <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">4X4 and 6X6 <\/span>platforms and will lead to tapping new markets in the MENA [Mideast and North Africa] <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">MENA <\/span>region, while supporting our production activities in Nimr Algeria,&#8221; according to <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">Dr. <\/span>Fahad Saif Harhara, CEO <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">Chief Executive Officer <\/span>of Nimr Automotive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the UAE <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">also <\/span>recently upgraded its 436-strong fleet of Nexter <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">Systems <\/span>Leclerc battle tanks <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">MBTs <\/span>and armored recovery vehicles, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">(ARVs), <\/span>it also has a requirement for 600 eight-wheel-drive <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">8&#215;8<\/span><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">wheeled <\/span>combat vehicles and has five<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">5<\/span> eight-wheel-drive Patria armored modular vehicles <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">AMV <\/span><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">eight-wheel-drive <\/span>vehicles <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">8x8s <\/span>on order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Saudi Arabia, with a limited indigenous defense industry, relies heavily on imports from its allies such as the US. Most armored vehicles are imported, although the Al-Fahd infantry fighting vehicle<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">IFV<\/span> and the Al-Faris 8-400 armored personnel carrier<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">APC<\/span> were manufactured by the Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries. Saudi is negotiating a deal for 655 humvees<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">HMMWVs<\/span> with a further batch of 724 light armored vehicles <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">LAV II 8&#215;8 are <\/span>being delivered and 84 more requested. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turkey&#8217;s Altay battle tank<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">MBT<\/span> is a possible option for the kingdom as talks between the nations are ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The market analysis report states that Qatar reportedly is <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">has been reported to be<\/span> procuring 118 Leopard armored vehicles from Germany along with 16 <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">tank <\/span>howitzers for an undisclosed sum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The deal is in addition to the 62 Leopard tanks and 24 howitzers that the German government agreed to supply in early 2013. The armored vehicles will be manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Army is now assessing whether to retire swathes of its armored vehicles <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">APCs and IFVs, <\/span>as part of its modernization and replacement programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Special forces capabilities in the region were enhanced when the UAE struck <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">made <\/span>a $150 million deal with the US Marine Corps to provide training and logistical support <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">training <\/span><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">contract <\/span>for the UAE Presidential Guard.<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> for training and logistical support<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Presidential Guard will be trained for counterterrorism, counterpiracy, critical infrastructure protection and national defense. It <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">The UAE Presidential Guard <\/span>is a military unit that operates outside of the conventional framework of traditional armed forces. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">such as ground, marine and air forces formed between 2010 and 2011.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Former Australian Special Operations Command and special operations <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">SAS <\/span>chief Maj. Gen. Mike Hindmarsh was appointed to organize the strike force under a national security adviser designation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Email: <a href=\"mailto:amustafa@defensenews.com\">amustafa@defensenews.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Twitter: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/awadz\" title=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/awadz\">@awadz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Land forces development is expected to continue its rapid growth across the Middle East due to increasing transnational threats.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":83672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":89,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[29,33,89],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3433],"class_list":["post-42929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-show-dailies","category-home","category-idex"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"RUZ73PZYXNAIXBM5YREEKN22NI","arc_canonical_url":"\/digital-show-dailies\/idex\/2015\/02\/17\/land-forces-rise-to-meet-new-challenges\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Land Forces Rise To Meet New Challenges - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Land forces development is expected to continue its rapid growth across the Middle East due to increasing transnational threats.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Land Forces Rise To Meet New Challenges\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Land forces development is expected to continue its rapid growth across the Middle East due to increasing transnational threats.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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