NEW firearms and ammunition will be tested on indoor and outdoor shooting ranges in Bahrain, as part of a major defence expo scheduled for later this year.
The sniper and night-vison shooting demonstration will take place at purpose-built facilities on the Bahrain National Guard grounds as part of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (BIDEC) 2019, which will run from October 28 to 30.
It is part of a number of other off-site activities available at the BIDEC, including military vehicle demonstrations, parachute demonstrations and war ship displays.
The three-day biennial event will gather military, security and defence officials and experts from around the world at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC), Sanabis under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad.
“Sponsors will get a chance to demonstrate weapons in front of the National Guard, the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) and the Ministry of the Interior,” said organisers in a statement.
Exclusive
“(Those who wish to test the firearms and ammunition will have) dedicated shooting areas, which include six outdoor shooting lanes (up to 100m), six indoor shooting lanes (up to 25m) and indoor shooting simulator.
“Sponsors will also get a chance for an exclusive use of Bahrain Defence Force long-distance shooting range.
“The vehicle demonstration will be at a custom built demo area including severe gradient obstacle, water hazard, gap crossing, concrete humps and rolling hills.”
At the pioneering parachute demo, defence and security firms will showcase their latest systems, with those with the appropriate free-fall licence given a chance to try the products.
Each day of the conference will witness at least 50 jumpers, with all the jumping done according to UK standards and regulations.
“Sponsors will get a chance at an exclusive use of two BDF Black Hawk Helicopters, each trip including seven instructors and seven jumpers,” added the statement.
“Each day will see between 50 to 80 jumpers and all jumping to UK standards and regulations.
“The jumpers will include members of the BDF, Interior Ministry, National Guard, Bahrain Navy Special Forces, Royal Guard Special Forces and the United States Navy Seals.”
Another display will feature the most technologically advanced warships and naval fleets at the Mina Salman Port, with shuttle services facilitating visitors from the BIECC.
Warships on display at the 2017 edition of the conference included RBNS Sabha (FFG 90) and Al Manama Class Lurssen FPB 62 from the Royal Bahrain Naval Force, UAE Navy’s Baynunah – Class Corvette, USS Gladiator MCM 11 (Minesweeper) and USS SQUALL PC 7 (Patrol Coastal) from the US navy.
The GDN previously reported that more than 200 companies will take part in this year’s expo, which is Bahrain’s only tri-service defence exhibition.
They include key defence exhibitors and companies such as Al Tadrea (Saudi Arabia), Otokar (Turkey), DEPO (Pakistan), MKEK (Turkey), Leonardo (Italy), Lockheed Martin (USA), Al Ghassan (Bahrain), Delta (Bahrain), Cambli (Canada), Yahsat (UAE), BAE Systems (UK), Bell Helicopter (USA), Beretta (Italy) and the world leader in missile system, MBDA (France).
The Middle East Military Technology Conference (Memtec) will also be held on the sidelines of the BIDEC, which is expected to draw over 10,000 people from all over the world.
The event is being supported by the BDF and organised by Clarion Events.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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