With UAE based EDGE Group PJSC (EDGE) marking its maiden participation at the Indo Defence Expo & Forum, one of its Group entity’s, the precision-guided munitions manufacturer, AL TARIQ is showcasing its impressive range of weapons in Jakarta. In an exclusive interaction with Daily News on the sidelines of the show, Theunis Christoffel Botha – Chief Executive Officer, Al Tariq provided insights into its plans for the Indonesian market. AL TARIQ is partnered with South Africa’s Denel Dynamics and through cutting-edge technology and continual innovation and Botha has over 35 years of experience in the development of air to ground stand-off weapons. EDGE Group is participating at Indo Defence & Expo Forum for the first time to build brand awareness, he says, adding that from an AL-TARIQ point of view, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is showing particular interest in the company’s long range precision guided munitions solutions.
AL-TARIQ has only a small sample of its weapons family for display at the show. The AL-TARIQ product is not just one weapon but a very unique family of long-range precision guided munitions. The whole family of these munitions consists of more than 20 different operational configurations today. These long range, precision guided munitions have the longest range in their class in the world today, Botha adds, stating that they also have superior modularity compared to any other weapon in its class. This is due to its choice of three different high technology seekers, which can be integrated on three different MK80 series bomb – 20 kg, 250 kg and 400 kg. These munitions are in operational use, with AL-TARIQ having produced 1000s till date. Botha states that AL-TARIQ has more than one customer and the market for these products is expanding. We believe that based on the requirements from the Indonesian Air Force, we have several solutions to meet their need,” adding that the airforce is showing particular interest in long-range precision guided munitions solutions.
“We are engaged in broad ranging and busy in discussions with Indonesian firms such as PT PAL, PT LEN, PT PINDAD,” Botha told Daily News. Based on these discussions, there is a growing understanding of the capability of the local Indonesian industry. “We’ve identified some gaps in the market here, that they have requirements for and we are trying to fill those gaps with support of our partners locally. So, I think there’s definitely an exciting period lying ahead, so we are actively engaging with them at this event as well. I think things are progressing quite well.”
With Indonesia having a strong requirement for high technology weapons, “I think there is a general support of the Indonesian defence force to engage with the UAE. The UAE is willing to share technologies and we believe we have good offerings,” Botha says. Stating that EDGE Group’s presence was mainly on building brand awareness, Botha says, “Indonesia is an important market for the UAE because of good political relationship between the two countries. There exists a strong driving force for both sides to engage in the high technology, military domain, in support of each other.” The closer and growing ties are now in evidence with increased bi-lateral visits between both nations. EDGE is well positioned to engage in a sharing of technologies that will satisfy Indonesian requirements in Indonesia. Botha says, that at AL-TARIQ, they believe they offer the right solutions for the perceived requirements of not only this market, which is our primary focus, but also in the region.
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