Idex 2017: Edic merges Burkan Munitions and Caracal

Barij Munitions will produce 14 kinds of small, mid and large-sized ammunition.

Abu Dhabi-owned Emirates Defence Industries Company (Edic) has merged its two ammunition companies to form Barij Munitions, seeking to meet the needs of the UAE Armed Forces, its chief executive said yesterday.

The new company, which combines Burkan Munitions Systems and Caracal, will produce 14 kinds of small, mid and large-sized munitions, some of which are 100 per cent made locally, Abdulateef Al Butih said at a press conference at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) taking place in Abu Dhabi. The company imports raw materials from various regions to manufacture the ammunition.

About 95 per cent of the ammunition will be sold to the UAE Armed Forces and the remainder will go to regional countries, he said.

“Our profile is growing,” said Mr Al Butih.

Edic is a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi fund Mubadala Development Company and Abu Dhabi-owned Tawazun Holding.

Mubadala, Tawazun Holding and Emirates Advanced Investment Group agreed in 2014 to combine their defence services businesses into Edic to develop the local defence industry.

Edic provides manufacturing, training, mapping, logistics, technology development and communications as well as maintenance, repair and operations services for air, land and sea platforms.

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Karim Sahib / AFP

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