India-UAE ‘Transfer for Technology’

In its first-ever Transfer of Technology (ToT) in defence articles, Indian firm ICOMM, a group company of Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), signed an agreement with UAE-based small arms company CARACAL.

• UAE’s EDGE Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BAE Systems, a global leader in advanced technology solutions, to explore potential collaboration and co-creation opportunities to enhance technologies and capabilities across the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Under the MoU announced at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), the new strategic partnership will see both companies bring their collective expertise in cyber, maritime, air, and defence technologies in support of the UAE’s industrialisation ambitions to become a leading global hub for future defence and security solutions.

Key points:

• It marks the first-ever transfer of technology for defence articles from the UAE to India.
• As per the agreement, ICOMM will locally manufacture the Abu Dhabi-headquartered CARACAL’s complete line of small arms for the Indian market under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.

• ICOMM will manufacture the full range of CARACAL small arms, including;
  • The versatile CARACAL EF pistol, modern CMP 9 submachine gun, CAR 814, CAR 816 and CAR 817 tactical rifles, CAR 817 DMR tactical sniper rifle, CSR 50 anti-material sniper rifle, CSR 338 and CSR 308 bolt action sniper rifles and the CSA 338 semi-automatic sniper rifle.
• CARACAL’s complete line of small arms will be produced at the ICOMM’s design, development and manufacturing centre in Hyderabad.

Significance of the pact:

• ICOMM for collaboration in the Indian market is a key objective for CARACAL, as India continues to realise its sovereign defence ambitions.

India-UAE defence ties:

• Under the 11th India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting that took place in New Delhi, the two sides focus on further expansion of the scope and complexities of the existing joint exercises between the armed forces of both sides.
• UAE also helped in the overflight of Rafales fighter jets from France to India. It had provided support by sending its own Airbus MRTT refuelling aircraft to support new Rafale fighters on their journey over a 7,000-km flight from France to India.
• In 2020 and 2021, former Army Chief Gen MM Naravane and the former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria visited that country respectively.
• In IDEX and NAVDEX 2021, India had significant participation in both exhibitions based in Abu Dhabi.
• Also, IAF participated in the Dubai Air show in 2021, and for the fourth time in five years participated in a major multinational air combat exercise in the UAE “Desert Flag’’.