Global national security concerns require collective defence approach: Chief Executive for Lockheed Martin in ME

ABU DHABI, 18th February, 2019  -- Bob Harward, Chief Executive for Lockheed Martin in the Middle East, has said that 2019 will be a cornerstone for delivering Lockheed Martin’s most advanced capabilities in the region.

"All the major programmes of the Lockheed Martin are required by the nations of the region, including the newest generation of Fighting Falcon, Thaad, etc. But they have to be scaled and in line with the budgets of these countries; Harward told the Emirates News Agency, WAM, on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) which started in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

"So we are working very closely on how to bring as much capability to match their budgets and make sure we can sustain and integrate them in the overall efforts of this year which I think will be a cornerstone for delivering this sort of capabilities."

The UAE and Lockheed Martin have been close partners for four decades now and thanks to "our collaboration the UAE holds a military advantage in the region. Look at the F-16: the UAE has the most advanced 4th Generation fighter aircraft operating in the world today. And we will remain committed to such sorts of products and programmes that help the UAE maintain their national security and meet their objectives," Harward enthused.

At IDEX, Harward continued to say, "Lockheed Martin highlights a diverse portfolio of defence capabilities, products and services at the event, that are designed to address the national security concerns of the nations of the region, including ground-based air defence that could defend and protect against all airborne threats, such as Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), drones, etc, in addition to tactical aircraft, rotary systems, unmanned vehicles, etc,"

He underlined the paramount importance his company is attaching to innovation. "At Lockheed Martin, we recognise that next-generation technological innovations shape the future of global security and progress. As such, our core focus is to create and develop advanced defense capabilities, which will support all our regional partners in ensuring the safety of their citizens and stability of their nations against evolving threats in this modern age.

"IDEX provides the perfect stage for us to engage with both our regional and international customers, and to exhibit the most advanced solutions that will help us navigate today’s complex security landscape."

On how Lockheed Martin assesses global national security concerns, Harward said, "Iran has built a large fleet of intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach any country in the region; so having the ability to detect regional threats, track and defend against them is necessary for everyone in the region, and I’d say this year we will really go to focus collectively because this is something everything is very concerned about."