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"Milrem and IGG Aselsan are jointly developing an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) platform tailored to the needs of the Emirates' armed forces," Milrem CEO Kuldar Vaarsi said in a press release. "The two companies' primary goal is to launch a trials program in the framework of which the vehicle will be tested for capabilities by the Emirates' soldiers."

The joint product based on Milrem's UGV THeMIS and Aselsan's remote-controlled weapon system SARP is exhibited on the stand of International Golden Group at the IDEX 2017 defense industry fair taking place in Abu Dhabi this week.

According to the head of IAIS, Khalifa Al Boloushi, Milrem's THeMIS makes an ideal platform for SARP. The jointly developed unmanned weapon platform will be the first of its kind in the UAE and it meets all the customer's tactical battlefield needs, he said.

"This is a historic agreement for the entire Estonian defense industry. Milrem's partnership with the leading defense industry enterprise of the UAE is certain to be a trailblazer for other Estonian enterprises in this region," Estonian Minister of Defense Margus Tsahkna said.

Milrem is represented on the stand of Advanced Electronics Company, one of Saudi Arabia's largest electronics industry businesses, as well. The companies aim to jointly market THeMIS in Saudi Arabia and adjust the vehicle to local conditions.

The Estonian stand at IDEX 2017 features an improvised explosive device detection system based on Milrem's THeMIS platform and the GroundEye sensor system developed by Raytheon UK.

"The Middle East market is very important to Milrem as the region's countries are greatly interested in introducing unmanned solutions as a new military capability. We wish to be a premier technology partner to those countries' armed forces," Vaarsi said.

Milrem is an Estonian technology solutions provider specializing in military and commercial engineering, repair and maintenance. The company's two main lines of business include the research and development of unmanned vehicles and repair and maintenance of heavy-duty military vehicles. Milrem is a member of the Estonian Defense Industry Association.