Page 18 - bne magazine September 2020 russia melting

18 I Companies & Markets bne September 2020
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Iran buys six “Caspian Sea Monster” ekranoplans from Russia
bne IntelliNews
Russia has sold Iran six ekranoplan ground-effect vehicles (GEVs), RIA Novosti has reported. Dubbed the “Caspian Sea Monster” by the CIA, the ekranoplan is often mistaken for an airplane, seaplane, hovercraft or hydrofoil – but the GEV, which flies using the lift generated by its large wings when within about four metres above the surface of the water, is recognised as a distinct technology, originally trialled in the 1970s by the Soviets. The technology has been given a new lease of life thanks to the private backing of the ORION company and interest from countries around the Caspian Sea and elsewhere looking for alternative forms of transport for shipping people and cargoes.
The model sold to Iran is the ORION-20 Ekranoplan. It has been in operation in Russia for the past few years.
The ORION-20 has a maximum speed of 180 km/h and can haul one tonne of cargo, plus 12 passengers.
According to a statement from ORION: “A contract for the supply of six vehicles to Iran is being implemented. Of these, three have already been delivered and accepted by the customer.”
It added: “We had to adapt our planes to Iran’s hot and humid climate and also to its rocky coastal areas, which necessitated certain changes to the planes’ original construction.”
The navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 2009 in a military parade showcased ekranoplans that were supposedly developed indigenously, but there was speculation that the GEVs were actually bought from Russia in an earlier order placed by Iran.
Endava strengthens presence in SEE with
Comtrade Digital Services acquisition
bne IntelliNews
Technology services provider Endava announced the acquisition of the Comtrade Digital Services business (CDS), a former division of Comtrade Group BV
that provides strategic software engineering services and solutions, on August 17.
The acquisition of Dublin-based CDS, with delivery centres throughout the Adriatic, reinforces Endava’s presence in Southeast Europe, Endava’s press release said. The company has around 460 technical staff and delivery centres in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Slovenia.
Endava CEO John Cotterell said CDS’ engineering skills, approach to digital transformation and innovative culture are “well aligned with Endava’s. Together we will have a market
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leading presence in the Adriatic region,” he added.
“CDS’s client base strengthens Endava’s industry verticals in payments and financial services, TMT and subsectors within “Other”, including travel, logistics, energy, government and healthcare. EU clients accounted for approximately 85% of CDS’s revenue for the calendar year 2019, with the remainder coming from non-EU Europe and the US. The transaction is expected to be earnings enhancing in year one,” the press release said.
CDS helps companies across industries such as energy, fintech, financial services, government, healthcare, logistics and travel to innovate faster and reinvent their business models digitally.
The technology was first trialled by the Soviets in the 1970s. (Image: Soviet navy archive).