UAE announces formation of airborne brigade

Sheikh Mohammed was driven along the line of forces that were formed up for inspection in the Al-Sameeh area of Abu Dhabi. (WAM news agency)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces has formed a dedicated airborne brigade, it was announced during a large military event to mark the 53rd anniversary of the emirates' independence on 2 December.

The official WAM news agency reported that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the UAE's vice-president and prime minister, had attended a ceremony during which the Khalifa bin Zayed Airborne Brigade was presented with its flag.

“The establishment of the airborne forces marks a significant advancement in defence and strategic capabilities,” WAM reported. “This initiative aligns with the leadership's vision to strengthen the UAE Armed Forces' readiness, equipping them to address the dynamic challenges of an ever-evolving landscape in defence technologies and strategies.”

Sheikh Mohammed also inspected what WAM reported was the largest military parade held in the UAE, which it said was formed by thousands of National Service and Reserve Forces personnel to mark the 10th anniversary of the introduction of conscription in the emirates.

In a social media post, Sheikh Mohammed said there were 23,000 National Service recruits and more than 2,000 vehicles.

The television coverage of the event showed a substantial part of the UAE's armoured vehicle and artillery fleets lined up for the inspection and that the personnel included members of National Guard Command as well as the UAE Armed Forces.

Four Wahash 8×8 armoured vehicles, a locally developed type that was not previously known to have entered service, were positioned in the centre of the line-up, but these appeared to be the prototypes that have been displayed at defence exhibitions, including a fire-support variant with a 105 mm gun.