The United Arab Emirates’ Joint Aviation Command flies a diverse mix of European and U.S. made rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft in support of the country’s Army and special operations forces. Here a mix of helicopters flown by the organization led by a Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, and joined by Sikorsky Black Hawks, Airbus AS550 Fennecs Bell 407s and Boeing CH-47 Chinooks take part in the opening show flypast.
The United Arab Emirates Joint Aviation Command flies several versions of Sikorsky’s ubiquitous UH-60 Black Hawk including several armed versions capable of launching anti-armor weapons including the Hellfire missile, to supplement the command’s Apache gunships.
The United Arab Emirates Air Force ordered five Airbus C295s for transport duties in 2017 supplementing the country’s hardworking fleets of Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Boeing C-17 Globemaster airlifters. This one which appeared in the opening flypast wears no national markings.
Joint Aviation Command operates several Cessna C208 Caravans in an armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance configuration. This aircraft appeared in the opening flypast of the Dubai Airshow on November 13.
Joint Aviation Command uses a variety of fixed-wing types for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and light transport missions including this sinisterly painted black de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter.
The Saab GlobalEye is the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) eye in the sky, providing airborne early warning and surveillance. The UAE was the launch customer for the Global 6000 business jet-based platform, and the service has five aircraft on order with three already delivered. The remaining two are due to be delivered in 2024.
The UAE Air Force operates a trio of Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft and is growing the fleet having ordered an additional two MRTTs in 2021, which are due to be delivered in 2024. With their hose and drogue and boom refuelling systems they can pass fuel to both the Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Desert Falcon and Dassault Mirage 2000-9s fighters operated by the air force.
Infra-red decoy flares are punched out of UAE Air Force F-16 following a rehearsal flypast ahead of the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.
Decoy flares light up the underside of a UAE Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to provide a spectacular finale to the opening flypast of the Dubai Airshow. Generally used to protect the aircraft, the create an impressive firework display when released en mass.
Here are some UAE photos from Dubai Airshow 2023, including the United Arab Emirates' Joint Aviation Command helicopters and Sikorsky's UH-60 Black Hawk.
