The United Arab Emirates government deleted a contract, signed in 2021, with French aircraft manufacturer Airbus Helicopters. The order, worth almost 800 million Euros, involved the purchase of 12 H-225 "Caracal" heavy multi-purpose helicopters. According to the executive, the cancellation is dictated by financial and technical reasons: "There was no serious motivation to satisfy our requests". 

"We found it difficult to continue the contract due to various factors: the high life-cycle cost, the limitations in adapting to the modular designs of future mission requirements, the complex technical proposal". Now "our main objective is to develop the country's value in collaboration with our local and international partners", explained Muammar Abdulla Abushehab, government affairs manager for defense and security, interviewed by the information site "Breaking Defense".

UAE will focus more on R&D to support new aircraft acquisitions, generate intellectual property, develop new products and nurture domestic talent, thanks to partner companies such as Raytheon, Boeing, Leonardo, Saab, L3 Harris and others. The aim is to accelerate the transfer of technology and know-how, providing job opportunities and improving the supply chain.