Today, the Balanced Economic Council "Tawazun" announced its cooperation with "Airbus" and the National Center for Space Science and Technology from the UAE University to establish and develop a center for the assembly, integration and testing of satellites.
The council stated that the center, due to start its operations in the beginning of 2021, will manufacture, assemble, integrate and test small and medium-sized satellite components ranging in size from 50 to 250 kilograms and used for communications, navigation and spectroscopy purposes.
He explained that the center will be established within the National Center for Space Science and Technology in Al Ain in cooperation with the Airbus company, which will support the project in all stages of design, preparation and operation, in addition to managing equipment purchases, installation and operational qualification.
He pointed out that this cooperation between Tawazun and its partners comes from the basis of its pioneering role in enabling the national defense and security industries system through securing and developing technologies and building specialized national competencies and skills.
"This center represents our second project after" Yahsat ", where we are currently working on developing a series of projects aimed at advancing the UAE space sector in support of the continuous efforts made by the state to gain knowledge of the crisis to consolidate its regional position," said Matar Ali Al Rumaithi, Chief Executive of Economic Development at the Economic Balance Council. As a leading center for research and development activities in the space sector, this project will form an important part of these plans, as we will seek to build and operate it as a sustainable resource for space technologies for the next five to seven years. ”
Al-Rumaithi expressed his appreciation for the great contributions that Airbus will make to ensure the sustainability of the center and build and develop national competencies, stressing the keenness of the National Center for Space Science and Technology to gain valuable knowledge and experiences through its partnership with Airbus in the implementation of this distinguished project as well as developing and enhancing the skills of national cadres Operating in it.
For his part, President of Airbus in Africa and the Middle East, Michael Hawari, said: "The space sector in the UAE is considered among the important and strategic sectors, as it contributes to developing advanced high-level competencies and advancing innovation in general."
He added: "Airbus is committed to supporting the development of all the major elements of the aviation industry at the level of the Emirates, where we have worked closely in the past years with the most important industrial players in the country, through numerous partnerships aimed at providing new technological solutions as well as providing local competencies with global expertise." This new cooperation comes to support the future growth of companies operating within the space sector and those operating satellite, which contributes to the economic diversification strategy of the country, in addition to supporting the Emiratization efforts that will be important to ensure the sustainable and long-term development of the sector. "
The UAE space sector currently provides 3,000 jobs within 50 specialized institutions, five research and development centers and three universities offering degrees in space science. It is also expected that the new project will provide 32 new jobs, 22 of which are for citizens, in addition to enhancing knowledge transfer and providing training opportunities within Airbus facilities in France and the UAE.
For his part, the Supreme President of the UAE University, Saeed Ahmed Ghobash, emphasized the importance of scientific and research cooperation with the Economic Balance Council in line with the vision and strategy of the Emirates University in enhancing research, academic and professional cooperation with institutions, bodies and centers and creating a communication link between the university and local, regional and international institutions as a research university It seeks leadership and scientific excellence to achieve the vision of the rational government and targeting the requirements of the national agenda in achieving sustainable development and harmonizing modern trends in the implementation of development projects, where the university has distinct scientific and technical capabilities that enabled it to keep pace with the global development of applied scientific research in the era of the fourth industrial revolution and the requirements of artificial intelligence And space science and technology, which contributes to building a knowledge and digital economy and using it to achieve progress and welfare for society and achieve sustainable development of the state.
The director of the National Center for Space Science and Technology Dr. Khaled Al-Hashemi said: "This partnership with" Tawazun "and" Airbus "constitutes an important step towards achieving the goals of the National Center for Space Science and Technology represented in building and developing local capabilities in the assembly, integration and testing of satellites, where the project will contribute to The UAE has independent capabilities in manufacturing satellite components, which will bring many benefits to satellite programs in the country and enhance its capabilities in this field, in addition to strengthening the position of the National Center for Space Science and Technology as an important center for knowledge transfer from Airbus to support the UAE space sector.
It is worth noting that the UAE Space Agency is currently financing two projects that will be completed under the management and operation of the National Center for Space Science and Technology where the first project aims to build a satellite to enhance the navigational capabilities of the UAE, while the second project is the project of manufacturing the Arab satellite “813” announced His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the two projects currently under implementation will be completed with the support of "Airbus" in the new center.