TKMS AG & Co. KGaA (TKMS) and EDGE Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within the framework of the state visit of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Germany.
The MoU is a part of an initiative agreed by the German government and the UAE for a closer cooperation in the area of defense and security and aims to explore the joint development of underwater surveillance and protection capabilities. Under the MoU, TKMS and EDGE intend to evaluate opportunities towards establishing an integrated multi-system approach for underwater security and to thereby strengthen the maritime defense capabilities of both partners.
The MoU was signed in Munich, during the UAE state visit to Germany, by Miguel Ángel López Borrego, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TKMS, and Omar Al Zaabi, President - Commercial at EDGE.
Oliver Burkhard, CEO of TKMS, said: “We welcome the initiative of the German government and the UAE to strengthen cooperation in the defence and security areas. TKMS’s long-standing partnership with the UAE represents a solid foundation for our joint commitment. This cooperation will strengthen underwater surveillance and defence capabilities in the long term an important contribution given the current security situation. TKMS is committed to continuing its long-standing engagement in the UAE and contributing to the further development of the national security architecture.”
Hamad Al Marar Managing Director and CEO, EDGE, said: “The security of the maritime domain is fundamental to the UAE's national and economic resilience, and the demands placed on it are growing. EDGE is working to build the sovereign capability to meet them, working with partners such as TKMS whose expertise strengthens what we deliver.”
Integration of multiple platforms and sensor systems could provide the basis for establishing a comprehensive situational picture, providing a solution for the variety and complexity of maritime threats. In this context the parties intend to explore how TKMS platform capabilities, complemented by EDGE systems competences, could contribute to enabling a suitable and effective surveillance and protection solution.
The MoU agreement comes amidst heightened geopolitical security challenges that have increased the demand for naval capabilities for maintaining maritime security and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of commercial shipping.
Launched in November 2019, the UAE’s EDGE is one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly skilled talent to thrive.
With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers.
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 35 entities into six core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Advanced Sensing, Secure Intelligence Systems, Technologies & Industrialisation, and Homeland Security.
TKMS is one of the world’s leading naval companies with more than 9,700 employees (including temporary workers) at three shipyards in Kiel, Wismar and Itajaí (Brazil), and with locations worldwide. The company is active as a systems supplier for submarines and naval surface vessels as well as for maritime electronics and security technologies.
Around 3,700 employees work at the Kiel site, making it the largest shipyard location in Germany. 185 years of history and the constant striving for improvement allow the company to set new standards time and time again.
