Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), and Sikorsky Aerospace Services today announced the signing of a Heads of Agreement (HOA), paving the way for a joint venture establishing an aviation military maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) center in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Mubadala is a business development and investment company based in Abu Dhabi. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

The agreement between the two parties was signed during the International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2009 in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The new military MRO center will be set up in close collaboration with the General Head Quarters (GHQ) of UAE Armed Forces to support the entire spectrum of logistics maintenance capabilities for the UAE Armed Forces Fixed and Rotary wing platforms.

The center aims to become the military’s MRO center of excellence by providing a broad scope of unique aviation capabilities from 1st line, 2nd line and depot level MRO services. The center is expected to enhance fleet readiness and meet the growing demands of the UAE Armed Forces and the regional military.

“Mubadala’s strategy to help build a self sustaining and commercially viable support system for the UAE and regional military is in line with the global military trend of using sophisticated outsourced support services,” said Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, COO of Mubadala. “Our partnership with Sikorsky Aerospace Services fits our commercial strategy to evolve the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s existing aerospace industry into a global aerospace hub”.

The center will work with military logistic providers in the UAE to provide a streamlined, efficient, and full system support as the UAE’s military continues to advance its capability by focusing on core operations.

“The goal of the military MRO center of excellence is to be a one-stop shop for all logistics needs for the UAE Armed Forces,” said David Adler, President of Sikorsky Aerospace Services. “We will leverage our sophisticated, unique capabilities to establish, operate and manage the center with our UAE partners. We are excited for the opportunity to provide world-class sustainment solutions for the UAE and the Middle East.”

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