GCC Company Files Patent for Advanced Blast Protection System in UAE and Saudi Arabia
A GCC-based entity, Mobile Land Systems (MLS), has recently filed a patent application in both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The intellectual property filing pertains to the innovative design of its Falcon V-Hull Blast Protection system. This development signifies a notable step in the region’s contribution to advanced engineering and intellectual property generation.
The Falcon V-Hull system, designed in collaboration with survivability experts and engineering teams based in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is intended for integration into mine-protected vehicles. The company asserts that the system offers substantial protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines, engineered to comply with the comprehensive standards outlined in STANAG 4569. Industry representatives highlighted the increasing importance of robust blast protection given contemporary threats, underscoring the commitment to enhancing safety for personnel operating such vehicles.
Regional Manufacturing and Development Expansion
Beyond the patent filing, MLS has demonstrated a sustained commitment to regional manufacturing and development. The company launched its Viper MRAP (mine-resistant ambush protected) vehicle during the UAE Summer Trials in 2018, subsequently unveiling the product at IDEX in February. Notably, the Viper MRAP is distinguished as a vehicle designed and developed entirely within the UAE and Saudi Arabia, underscoring regional self-reliance in this specialized manufacturing sector.
MLS is also expanding its operational footprint within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with plans to establish additional manufacturing infrastructure in 2020 to produce its range of vehicles. This expansion follows the establishment of a 35,000m² production complex in the UAE in 2015, aimed at fostering local industry development. Furthermore, the company initiated an integration and support facility in Saudi Arabia in 2016, specifically to support vehicles utilized by the Saudi Armed Forces. These strategic investments highlight a growing trend of localizing advanced manufacturing and technological development within the GCC.