AL JASOOR’s armoured vehicles are on the forefront of innovation and design, ensuring a distinct competitive advantage with their immense potential as a flexible fighting vehicle devised for future multi-terrain combat. Fahad Al Absi, Chief Executive Officer, AL JASOOR, speaks about a new generation of faster, more mobile, and more versatile vehicles with advanced offensive and defensive capabilities in this interview. Excerpts:
Rabdan 8X8 is a next-generation amphibious armoured vehicle that offers unique operational, tactical, and technical advantages on land and water. It caters to the operational requirements of Armed Forces around the world. Supplied as a complete built unit, the vehicle features a modular multi-wheeled structure, and comes with a dedicated long-term package of military-grade integrated logistics support services
Fahad Al Absi
Chief Executive Officer, AL JASOOR
Fahad Al Absi is the Chief Executive Officer at AL JASOOR, an EDGE entity and the UAE’s national specialist in armoured vehicles. In this role, he is responsible for developing and expanding national defense industry capabilities within medium to heavy armoured vehicles industry. Al Absi brings to his role 27 years of experience in national and multinational industries.
Armoured vehicles play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of those on the frontline, and new models with the latest defensive and offensive tech are emerging. Where does AL JASOOR stand globally in armoured vehicle manufacturing, and what are its major achievements?
AL JASOOR is the UAE’s armoured vehicles specialist, the exclusive supplier of the Rabdan 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), and a proud partner of the UAE Armed Forces. The company leverages advanced technologies and innovations to build highly mobile and versatile vehicles that provide guaranteed protection to those on the frontlines through enhanced ground force capability and tactical flexibility.
Could you tell us more about your Rabdan 8×8 vehicle and its capabilities?
The Rabdan is a next-generation amphibious armoured vehicle that offers unique operational, tactical, and technical advantages on land and water.The advanced, mission-ready vehicle, built for a range of objectives and terrain styles, is available in several configurations with a maximum capacity of 11 troops and a top speed of 100km/h. Providing Level 4 ballistic and mine protection, it can be equipped with different types of exterior armour and a high-calibre turret-based weapon system.
Rabdan 8X8 has been developed and tested to the most rigorous military standards, the Rabdancaters to the operational requirements of Armed Forces around the world. Supplied as a complete built unit, the vehicle features a modular multi-wheeled structure, and comes with a dedicated long-term package of military-grade integrated logistics support services.
In addition, it has a significant technology and systems development potential in the years to come.
What are the key aspects of this package of services?
The package includes on site client acceptance support, repair, refurbishment, preventive maintenance, 20-year supply of spare parts, special tools, technical support, local retrofitting, customisation to meet a range of mission objectives, as well as operational and maintenance training and know-how.
Is AL JASOOR considering South Asia and Africa as target markets for expanding its business?
With defence modernisation programmes accelerating globally, including the replacement of ageing vehicle fleets, the demand for 8×8 vehicles is growing rapidly. AL JASOOR is very keen to use this opportunity to enter the wider Middle East and Asia markets.
The Indian army is proceeding with the modernisation of its armoured vehicle fleet. What could AL JASOOR offer the countryin this context?
The battlefield of the future presents a diverse and complex environment with increasingly challenging combat scenarios. This demands a new generation of land vehicles that can provide swift insights and intelligence, flexible planning, and responsive tactics.
The safety and survivability of soldiers is a top priority for any military, and AL JASOOR ensures that those on the front lines are protected by a new generation of faster, more mobile, and more versatile vehicles with advanced offensive and defensive capabilities. AL JASOOR’s military vehicles are on the forefront of innovation and design, and offers customers a distinct competitive advantage.With its powerful combination of performance and value, the Rabdan has an immense potential as a flexible fighting vehicle designed for future multi-terrain combat.
In addition, the Indian army could benefit from our R&D capabilities that play an important role in ensuring frontline survivability. We leverage modern testing techniques, battlefield intelligence, and cutting-edge technology toolsto develop platforms that support mission success and occupant protection while anticipating existing and future threats. Our R&D involves direct interaction with our customers so that we can better understand theirrequirements for armoured vehicles and the potential needs of their occupants.
Could you shed some light on your production facilities with a focus on design, use of advanced technologies, quality assurance, etc.?
We have a dedicated team of engineers and technicians specialising in the heavy vehicles industry (HVI). All Rabdan vehicles are inspected to the highest international standards through our onsite testing and acceptance processes.
We incorporate the latest technological innovations, including artificial intelligence (AI) and survivability equipment, into engineering disciplines that are crucial to the armoured vehicle manufacturing process, such as electrical and mechanical engineering. AI offers significant benefits to the armoured vehicles segment. The speed with which AI-enabled sensors, computers, and targeting systems process and analyse information is growing at an unprecedented pace, supporting ever-increasing degrees of autonomy.
