902 has been operating great since 2007 as HEMS in Qatar. Pretty hostile desert environment there with a good amount of heat. 900 w/207E has been on VVIP duty in UAE since 2006. The ship works great in the desert and has been into some really abrasive areas regularly. Don't forget the shipis built in the Arizona desert and regularly sees over 110 F and DAs of 8000 or more. Mexico has had a 900 since the early days operating in Mexico city at 12,000 DAs for years and several more operating off-shore with their Navy armed with rockets and GAU-19. The ship has no problems in hostile and harsh environments.