Houbara on Target to Replicate Next-Generation Threats for the UAE

As the well-known military saying goes, “train hard, fight easy”.

Four words which extol the virtues of thorough preparation for the full spectrum of threats Armed Forces personnel will face when deployed on operations. However, in an era where the blistering pace of technological development is able to create potential threats as fast as military planners are able to devise strategies to counter them, how should training practices reflect this?

Historically, peer to peer, or conventional conflicts between technologically matched nations, have driven advances in capability and training designed to stay one step ahead of any foe. Asymmetric conflict, however, or countering threats from technologically inferior opponents using cheap and ready-made devices, has often blunted a nations conventional warfighting capability and seamlessly switching between the two is very challenging. An expensive anti-air missile system is not the answer to a micro-drone.

Globalisation, the proliferation of disruptive technologies and human ingenuity means future conflicts are likely to include a strong asymmetric dimension. Militaries will therefore face the threat of inexpensive unmanned platforms through to supersonic and even hypersonic missile systems potentially in the same conflict zone within a very short space of time. This creates a substantial training burden to ensure operators are able to respond in an appropriate way.

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) threat, first seen as the unguided Vergeltungswaffe (V1) Rockets which terrified the population of London during the summer of 1944, has evolved considerably and become increasingly prevalent in the region. Both military forces and commercial companies have sunk millions into solutions to defeat them, and are set to continue to do so as the threat evolves. A small UAV bought online now has the payload capability and reach to cause significant damage in areas previously only vulnerable to traditional military strikes. A large UAV, still available to buy online, multiplies this destructive power even more so. Yet these systems are often so difficult to detect and defeat, and present a threat beyond the scope of traditional air defense systems.

The same is true of the Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) threat. Regardless of whether or not these vessels are manned, (or increasingly) unmanned, they can wreak havoc amongst naval vessels or commercial marine traffic if not detected, deterred or destroyed.  

Increasingly, military planners are contemplating countering asymmetric threats which may involve elements of ‘swarming’ air, land and sea platforms simultaneously. How do militaries train for the nightmare scenario of a combined swarm of UAV’s and FIAC platforms intent on overwhelming an isolated naval ship’s defences? Training for this is important not only from a weapons effect perspective, but also in terms of how to effectively ‘fight the ship’ through the command, control and coordination of simultaneous engagements of multiple air and surface threats, closing at speeds in excess of 60 knots.

With a pressing need to answer these questions, the UAE’s defence sector has been working to address them. One such company is Houbara, a UAE science and technology company, focused on developing realistic threat representation systems for these types of scenarios. As a joint venture the company enjoys the backing of the UAE’s Middle East General Enterprises and the technical expertise of UK defence contractor, QinetiQ plc, who have conducted military target exercises for over forty customers worldwide.

Based in Tawazun Industrial Park, Houbara is now established to provide the UAE Armed Forces with comprehensive military targets which range from supersonic capable anti-ship missile targets, to swarming UAV’s and high-speed vessels. One particular area of development has been the introduction of the QinetiQ Hammerhead fast attack craft target, which is able to operate at speeds of up to 30 knots and in swarms of up to thirty craft. Tim Allen, Houbara’s CEO, said, “our customers have an increasing need to train against swarming or multiple unmanned vehicles alongside the more traditional area defence role”; he continued, “where we add value is in our ability to layer different threat types in a complex environment, including the use of electronic warfare decoys, and being able to customise targets to accurately replicate a specific threat profile”.

Houbara’s strategy for the UAE is to move toward a local manufacturing capability of aerial and surface targets and to help design and build new target systems tailored to the requirements of the UAE Armed Forces and its allies. In doing so they hope to provide training and development opportunities for the next generation of Emirati engineers, who will help keep the UAE one step ahead of tomorrow’s emerging threats.

This article first appeared in Nation Shield Magazine in July 2019.