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Even With Financial Markets in Decline,
Need for Surveillance Remains Strong
The Asian market is waking up to the unmanned aerial vehicle call. This, at least is the impression Show News gathers from exhibitors here at Changi who are competing for new orders expected in the region. Despite the current economic downturn, surveillance and reconnaissance are considered to be high priority missions that frequently relate to national security peacetime use.
Malaysia is one of the countries interested in UAVs for surveillance missions, as is Thailand, which recently fielded a unit for the first time. Singapore, which was disappointed with the IAI/Malat Searcher, could elect to have another try with the much improved Searcher Mk II, which made its debut at the show here. Singapore has also shown interest in a UAV for close range, for intelligence and fire support.
Bombardier, SAGEM, South Africa's ATE, Israel Aircraft Industries and Silver Arrow will bid on this program, as will AAI. The relatively long list of would-be vendors reflects the still-unclear requirement of the Singapore army, which has yet to determine exactly what it needs these systems to do. The unclear situation could be solved when the army decides on the status of another program, for an even smaller UAV, designed for battalion-level mission support.
Other countries with interest in UAVs are the Philippines and Taiwan; both have requirements for a tactical UAV. Their focus will likely be on low-cost systems, such as Silver Arrow's new Sniper, the IAI/Malat Eye View, and Sagem's Sperwer.
The Czech company Omnipol is also here at Changi, and could propose its Skoje III system, which is already operational in Czech Republic.
--Tamir Eshel
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