A Finnish export approval indicates that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has placed an order for the Wahash 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) developed by the local company Calidus.
The Wahash that was unveiled during IDEX 2019. (Jane’s/Patrick Allen)
Official documentation shows that, during a 12 March session, the Finnish government gave Sisu Axles and Katsa licenses to export axles and transmissions that Calidus would use in its own products. The Wahash is the only land vehicle promoted by Calidus.
Both companies produce similar parts for the Patria AMV 8×8 IFV, 40 of which were delivered to the UAE in 2016 as an urgent requirement while it continued to develop an indigenous counterpart.
A version of the Turkish company Otokar’s Arma 8×8 called the Rabdan appeared to have won the contest when it was announced during the IDEX show held in Abu Dhabi in February 2017 that the Emirati military had ordered 400 from a joint venture called Al-Jasoor (now part of the UAE’s Edge defence conglomerate).
Otokar said it would produce the first 100 Rabdans in Turkey and some of these were delivered in time for the IDEX show held in February 2019. However, the Wahash was unveiled by the leaders of Abu Dhabi and Dubai during the same show, prompting speculation that the competition might still be open.
At the time, Calidus had no known manufacturing capability. Nevertheless, it was announced during the Dubai Air Show in November 2019 that the UAE’s air force had ordered 24 of the B-250 light attack aircraft developed by the company.
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