BAE Systems, seeking to consolidate its presence in the region has announced two new initiatives, one in the UAE and the other in Qatar.

The British company is also in talks with regional governments to provide protection to their human and physical assets in the oil and gas sector, a BAE official said.
A joint venture between BAE Systems and Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (Gamco) is expected to materialise in the first quarter of 2005, a BAE official has said.
“The purpose of the venture is to provide servicing and maintenance of Hawk aircraft,” said BAE Systems Middle East communications and public relations director Jayne Thomson.
“The servicing will be accomplished through the Gamco venture which will be a totally new company, with BAE Systems holding approximately 50 per cent of the shares and the UAE company taking the remainder,” said Thomson.
The Hawk business is part of four military aircraft businesses of BAE Air Systems Business Unit, the others being Typhoon, Nimrod and JSF.
Gamco, a joint business venture between the Abu Dhabi government and Gulf Air, is a major provider of aircraft engineering and maintenance services for both civilian and military customers with a customer portfolio extending well beyond the Gulf to other Asian markets, Africa, Europe and North America.
The other venture BAE Systems is looking at is with Qatar Aeronautical College.  “Our purpose there is to make it a centre of excellence in training,” said Thomson.
“What we’re trying to do is to form a joint venture between BAE Systems and the Qatari government. We’ll take the existing college, upgrade their facilities and courses and extend them. That would include pilot training, air traffic control, aeronautics engineering, meteorology and English language courses.”
BAE has an ongoing project with the Bahrain government. In January 2003 the kingdom contracted with BAE Systems for the supply of Hawk advanced jet training aircraft together with necessary synthetics and simulators to provide a complete indigenous flying school in the kingdom.     
“The training is good for handling other aircraft as well, as it is a comprehensive package covering the primary stage to advanced grades,” Thomson said. All Gulf states except Qatar have Hawk aircraft.
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space.  The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, fighting vehicles, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems.