Fearless, perfect, a superpower in the world of military orchestra – this is how the Middle East’s leading English-language newspaper The National has described the Armenian Military Orchestra’s performance at the opening ceremony of IDEX 2019 in Abu Dhabi.
The brilliantly performed drill commands and music by the Guards of Honor and the Armenian Military Orchestra impressed Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, as the two were seen on big screens leading the applause.
“No-one was quite sure why the Armenian Military Orchestra was taking part, until they started, that is. Armenia, it turns out, is a superpower in the world of military orchestras. A general fearlessly marched a gauntlet of swords slashing up and down in perfect symmetry, allowing him the pass through unharmed. An impressed Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, were pictured on big screens leading the applause”, The National said in an article on IDEX 2019 entitled “A show of military might and modern warfare”.
The performance of the Armenian military was so impressing that even The Guardian mentioned it in an unrelated article about the expo. “Khaleeji bagpipe band, a colourful aircraft display, a performance by the Armenian Military Orchestra and a big show of support from the Emirate royal families”, The Guardian said. Gulf News also weighed in, noting the performance to be one of the outstanding moments of the inauguration. “The opening ceremony was marked by a mock military operation as well as performances by the UAE military band, Abu Dhabi police band and Armenian military orchestra.”
The ceremonial guards were among the Armenian military delegation led by Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan to the 2019 International Defense Exhibition and Conference, one of the largest arms expos in the Middle East.
The Armenian Defense Ministry participated at the IDEX 2019 arms expo, presenting the following Armenia-made defense technologies.
- Electro-optic countermeasure system 3K01
- Pancratic sniper sight 3*9
- Sniper Rifle K-8
- Thermal imaging gunner sight for T72A tank
- Inductive mine detector RIA-1
- Bulletproof vest GS-47/0717
- Various types of reconnaissance UAVs, all in final stages of development, with proven technologies
- Military and tactical boots
- MJ-25 sectoral search semi-stationary VHF radar (Model 1:10)
- Microwave transistor amplifier for target detection HFAS-75G
Earlier in January, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, invited Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan to participate at the event.