The Reach-M UAV is seen at the EDGE Group stand at Dubai Airshow 2023. (Agnes Helou/Breaking Defense)
DUBAI AIRSHOW — EDGE Group, the UAE’s national defense champion, used day one of the Dubai Airshow to announce 11 new systems, as well as the creation of a first-of-its-kind testing facility for unmanned systems in the region.
Four of the new technologies are unmanned aerial systems: REACH-M, a Medium Altitude Low- Endurance (MALE) UAV that the company claims has a 350kg payload and 24 flying hour capability; the Sinyar, based on the LAR 01 small personal jet design by Poland’s Flaris firm, in which EDGE acquired a 50 percent stake last week; and the HT-100 multirole unmanned helicopter, originally produced by Swiss firm Anavia.
The “HT-100 UAV is already operational, while Sinyar, the unmanned version is expected to enter the market in the next two years,” Miles Chambers, EDGE Group vice president of international business told Breaking Defense. “We expect a rapid development on the REACH-M so its likely going into final testing and development during the course of next year and production into 2025.”
Also featured at the booth were the Hunter series of swarming drones, the first such technology to be produced in an Arab country. “Deliveries of the Hunter platform will be during 2024,” Chambers told Breaking Defense.
The seven other new capabilities unveiled by EDGE were a mix of guided munitions and jammer systems. They include the NASEF-20 and NASEF-125 sub-sonic cruise missiles, RASH-3H guided munition, and the MANSUP-ER (National Surface Anti-Ship Missile) codeveloped with Brazilian company SIATT, another firm in which EDGE has purchased a 50 percent stake.
Finally, EDGE subsidiary Remaya unveiled a 350 square kilometer unmanned systems testing facility, dubbed X Range, that is expected to become a regional hub for testing unmanned aerial, naval and ground systems.
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“The X range contains 13 testing areas which can be combined or split depending on the clientele and on test requirements. We can test any product at any part of the lifecycle of development of the product, hence the center is flexible and comprehensive,” Haitham Awinat, Remaya acting CEO, told Breaking Defense,
He added that the firm targets local and international clients and that, while the facility is being formally announced now, all of EDGE group unmanned systems have been previously tested and validated in X Range. The facility covers ammunition, platform testing as well as electronic warfare, according to the firm’s official.
“In the second half of 2024 we will start welcoming our international clients, we will be ready by then. Currently we have runway of 3.8 Kilometer on the island [AbuDhabi Yas Island] and it’s already operational,” Awinat said.
EDGE Presence At Dubai Hard To Miss
Walking around the airshow on day one, it was impossible to miss EDGE, which has both a large indoor area as well as its chalet and precision munition display outside — not a surprise, given how important EDGE is to the UAE’s defense industry goals, but striking nonetheless.
One aspect to EDGE over the last year has been acquisitions made by the conglomerate of non-regional firms, with M&A activity happening in Latin America, Eastern Europe and South East Asia.
“Obviously technology is one drive, and expanding our capabilities. Either there’s investment in developing a capability in house ourselves, or to accelerate growth you through industry partners and make investments which is one way to bring capability into the group much quicker,” Chambers told Breaking Defense when asked about those moves.
Part of the thinking, according to Chambers, is “strategic investments” to take a position or a market share in particular regions. Similarly, in Eastern Europe, “various acquisitions that we’ve done there are being able to provide us access into those markets. We’re having a footprint under EU procurement programs, where they want to see acquisitions from, EU companies.”
Asked about how the Intellectual Property of the systems produced by firms EDGE has invested in works out, Chambers said that it varies.
“The details of the acquisition and what we’re looking to achieve out of it is case-related. What’s important to us is to see this as a means of growing the development and capability in the UAE. Obviously, having strong ownership of intellectual property in the UAE, where we have sovereign control of the capability is always key. But that’s not always, [the case] it’s not the only requirement,” he replied.
He highlighted that in some areas the target is simply what makes business sense for both parties.
On their future plans and acquisition interests, Chambers said: “We’re always looking at making investments in autonomous capabilities, precision guided munitions and electronic warfare. These are the broad domains, so wherever we can find, startups or companies that are well established with either unique capability or great vision and leadership in these organizations will always be an area that we’re looking to invest in.”
