First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleh Hladkovsky who headed the Ukrainian delegation to the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2017 (the United Arab Emirates) has discussed expansion of defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey and some Asian countries, the press service of the NSDC reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, at the exhibition Hladkovsky met Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, high-ranking officials in the defense sector of the country and heads of defense agencies of some Asian countries.

The parties discussed the potential of defense cooperation in the areas of joint defense research and development (R&D) and joint production of defense goods.

"We have what to offer to the UAE and the world community. Along with purchase and sale of defense goods, our countries should focus on joint research and opening of joint enterprises," he said.

According to the report, at the IDEX 2017 Hladkovsky also held talks with top officials of Turkey's Hladkovsky and discussed Ukrainian-Turkish defense cooperation in aircraft building. Antonov State Enterprise President Oleksandr Kotsiuba took part in the meeting.

The IDEX 2017 is held from February 19 through February 23 in Abu-Dhabi. It is the only international defense exhibition and conference in the MENA region demonstrating the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defense.

Ukraine exhibits new robototronics, promising armored vehicles and guided missile and artillery armament.

Specialists and journalists have showed their interest to the tactical unmanned multipurpose vehicle Phantom with the anti-tank missile system Barrier exhibited at IDEX 2017.