Spain’s Escribano Mechanical & Engineering secured the sale of 516 Guardian 30 remote weapon stations (RWSs) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Army at the beginning of this year, the company announced at the end of May 2023.
The order follows the sale of more than 800 small-calibre weapon stations to the UAE in 2019 and positions the company as a leading to the Emirates.
Acquisition of the Guardian 30 RWSs is part of an Emirati Army modernisation programme designed to equip its vehicles with small- and medium-calibre weapon stations, replacing the current manual stations with more advanced remotely operated stations, the requirements for which will be expanded in successive phases.
In an initial three-year phase, the contract covers the delivery of 516 Guardian 30 RWSs, each equipped with a 30 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun, as well as two electro-optical systems for targeting and advanced observation. Escribano, the only manufacturer of electro-optical systems in Spain, will supply 1,000 electro-optical systems under this contract.
During the IDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February 2023, Escribano signed an agreement with the UAE’s International Golden Group (IGG) to set up a joint venture for the local production of its 30 mm Guardian RWSs, meaning that locally manufactured RWSs will be used to modernise the wheeled and tracked vehicles of the UAE Army.
Escribano, which recently consolidated its position in the Spanish defence sector with the acquisition of a 3% stake in Indra, says it currently has an orderbook of more than EUR 1 Bn for defence systems in more than 20 countries worldwide. The company, which has maintained an annual growth rate of more than 35% over the last 10 years, has grown from 80 to 700 employees, and will have an estimated turnover of EUR 140 M in 2023.
Escribano says its success and growth are based on the vertical integration of its manufacturing and engineering capabilities, which allows it to have full control over its systems, designed and manufactured entirely in its facilities in Alcalá de Henares. The company also relies on its commitment and investment in research and development to develop cutting-edge technologies, such as guidance and navigation systems for intelligent munitions or the incorporation of visible and infrared vision technologies for its defence and security solutions.
Peter Felstead
