Correction: Cynax has already completed facial recognition work and have reportedly moved on to working on an additional risk analysis score technology.

ABU DHABI — Unmanned ground and aerial systems developed by Emirati companies dominated the tradeshow floor at the country’s unmanned systems expo UMEX, which took place Feb. 21-23, but foreign businesses also pitched their wares.

Defense conglomerate Edge Group unveiled the Scorpio-B unmanned ground vehicle, developed by its subsidiary Adasi. The UGV featured twin 40mm grenade launchers, pan-tilt-zoom cameras, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors, and a 7IS remote controlled weapon station made of 80% 3D-printed material.

The weapon station weighs less than 40 kilograms (88 pounds) and can carry 50 rounds of munition, according to Saeed Al Mansoori, the CEO of Halcon, another Edge subsidiary. “Now we are in the demonstration phase until we sign a contract,” he told Defense News.

Beside the Edge booth, private company Ahmed Almazrouei Group showcased several of its UGVs, including a hybrid-powered robot that can be controlled from a distance of up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and can be equipped with weapon systems. The business, which is also based in the United Arab Emirates, also brought surveillance and training ground vehicles as well as laser-guided autonomous shooting systems.

“The hybrid robot was tested with the UAE armed forces in harsh conditions in the country, during [high temperatures in] July … and in the desert. It has entered production lines to produce 100 systems,” Ahmed Almazrouei, the company’s CEO, told Defense News.

Two combat drones were also on display: the MQ-9 SeaGuardian by American company General Atomics, and the Bayraktar TB-2 by Turkey’s Baykar Makina. The latter was a full-scale mockup and appeared alongside other drones produced by the company.

The full-scale SeaGuardian configuration of the MQ-9 featured maritime surface radar technology and an Emirati flag on its tail. The UAE in January 2021 signed off on a deal to purchase 18 MQ-9s from the United States, but it hasn’t been finalized amid disagreements between the two countries over F-35 fighter jets that are part of the package.

Unmanned systems meant for target practice were also at UMEX. UAE-based company Etimad unveiled four different types showcased with a truck-mounted drone launcher. Italian firm Leonardo exhibited the Mirach 40 target drone.

Houbara — a joint venture between the UAE’s Middle East General Enterprises and the U.K.’s QinetiQ — also showcased the target drone Banshee Jet 80 used by the Emirati Air Force. And French company RTSYS brought along its acoustic NemoSens target system.

Israeli companies also attended the show, with some — like Easy Aerial and Avnon — taking part through the Emirati organization International Golden Group. Others such as Elbit Systems, hosted separate stands. (While Easy Aerial is based in the United States, it has a regional office in Israel.)

China North Industries Group Corporation Limited — NORINCO for short — also had a presence at the IGG stand with several Chinese-made systems, including a sample of the BZK-005E UAV, rotary-wing and mini- drones, the Red Arrow and Blue Arrow missile systems, the Golden Eagle CR500A unmanned helicopter produced at the China-Emirates Science and Technology innovation laboratory.

The China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (better known as CATIC) had a large stand at the show, where it displayed the U8EA helicopter drone alongside other unmanned system mockups.

Russian companies Rostec and Kronshtadt did not attend the show, despite earlier reports that the Russian-made Orion and Orlan drones would be on display. However, Global Energy Transmission brought an autonomous in-flight charging system for drones.

The Russian system includes a waterproof receiving antenna, a high-power electronics module for power conversion, rapid-charging battery pack, and a data module for communication between the charging station and the onboard receiving system that allows drones to charge each other via their antennas, providing continuous flight thanks to in-flight recharging.

Saudi businesses were absent from UMEX; notably, the kingdom is hosting its own defense conference in early March, dubbed World Defense Show.

India’s Zen Technologies allowed UMEX attendees to choose a rifle or machine gun to simulate hitting targets in an environment similar to the Gulf region. The combat training specialist has an office in the UAE.

Australian company Marathon Target brought with it a small robot meant for training scenarios; the robot would mimic human response when shot by bending forward and continuing moving as if injured.

And Emirati firm Cynax unveiled the Kungsörn, a vertical-takeoff-and-landing surveillance drone that can launch from a truck. Data scientists with the company have completed a facial recognition feature and are reportedly working on risk analysis score technology by collecting social media data. They expect the technology will roll out in a few months and be used for security reasons.

DeployNet, as it’s known, is a ruggedized, 5G communication system for military and crisis operations. Unveiled by Saab during the Unmanned Systems Exhibition here, it provides 5G/LTE wireless network for challenging environments, and has high-capacity bandwidth for missions relying on information sources, sensors and user interaction.

The system consists of a core network, radio access network, mast unit, transport layer, user equipment and power distribution. It can offer a secure wireless network at different frequency bands.

“The network is a UAE IP, and it is fully developed in our facilities in the UAE at Tawazun Industrial park, and it was tested already,” Anna-Karin Rosén, managing director of Saab in the UAE, told Defense News.

The system comes as a result of a cooperative deal signed by the Tawazun Economic Council and Saab in December.

The DeployNet showcased at the conference is a demonstrator and won’t move into production until it secures its first contract.

Rosén told Defense News this UAE-developed system will be used locally and is also available for export. The system was tested at Saab facilities in the UAE, but not by the armed forces.

“Saab is investing heavily in the UAE. We are keen to build on our partnership with Tawazun to enhance our significant contributions to the local industry, and to continue playing a central role in the sector’s growth in the UAE,” she said when the agreement was inked in December.

Hunter 2-S is part of the family of the Hunter 2 series of unmanned aerial vehicles. These drones are expected to share information with each other for tracking and maintaining positions and engaging with the right target.

“Through a certain algorithm, the drones can communicate with each other through [a] main channel, which communicates to all of the drones, giving each of them a certain mission to fly to the target,” Saeed Al Mansoori, Halcon’s chief executive, told Defense News.

Al Mansoori told Defense News the communication channel allow the drones to maintain a certain flight profile, particularly when they divide into a smaller group to hit a target.

The maximum take-off weight for Hunter 2-S is 8 kilograms, or nearly 18 pounds. It has a wingspan of 1.44 meters, or just shy of 5 feet, and length of 1.25 meters. The swarm’s targets may include enemy fighter jets on the tarmac at a military base or an incoming convoy of enemy armored vehicles.

Al Mansoori told Defense News the swarming drones application can fire 36 drones and control them. “They are equipped with [friend or foe identification] systems,” he added.

Each Hunter 2-S tube launcher can carry 21 drones, but Al Mansoori told Defense News the company aims at launching and controlling up to 70 drones, launched from one truck equipped with 3 launchers.

Though no contracts have yet been signed for the swarming drones, Al Mansoori said the company has seen interest from the UAE armed forces.

The company plans the first testing of the complete system in 2023 and production by 2025.

“We had the first demonstration internally this week,” he said. “One drone was launched from the tube, spread its wings, the engine worked and started flying. The first trial was successful but we will develop the flying performance.”

Hunter 2-S uses 3D printed parts, specifically the aerospace qualified thermoplastic material.

“France has offered to sell 20 drones; currently the Iraqi [Ministry of Defence] is undertaking technical analysis,” Norman Ricklefs, who leads geopolitical consultancy NAMEA Group and was previously an adviser to Iraq’s interior minister and to the secretary general of the MoD, told Defense News.

An Iraqi delegation is scheduled to visit France in the near future to inspect the drones.

Ricklefs, who has recently spoken to Iraqi defense officials about the procurement plans, said there isn’t yet a contract for the drones. At this point, he believes the delegation will “perform a quality check” on the unmanned systems.

The French Armed Forces Ministry did not respond to several requests for comment on the visit, nor on the types or numbers of aircraft that might be offered.

In a January interview by the Iraqi News Agency with the chief of the country’s land forces, he revealed the negotiations to procure French drones. “Iraq is negotiating many contracts including armed drones capable of flying for 30 hours in Iraqi airspace and of addressing targets and continuously monitoring various regions, with proven ability and effectiveness,” Lt. Gen Qasim Al-Muhammadi said.

Ricklefs said Iraq is also in negotiations for Pakistani UAVs. “Pakistan has also offered to sell Iraq 20 drones, but the MoD is still analyzing the offer,” he told Defense News.

Additionally, Al-Muhammadi said in the interview, “there are plans to increase the number of tanks and increase the divisions and brigades in order to increase the capabilities of the Iraqi Army.” The service currently operates American Abrams and Russian T-90 tanks, he added.

Ricklefs noted that the MoD is seeking additional T-90 tanks from Russia, having already ordered 73 2016. The Iraqi MoD announced in June 2018 that, as part the order’s first batch, 39 of those T-90S tanks were delivered to the 9th Division’s 35th Brigade. This brigade was equipped with M1 Abrams tanks, but they were transferred to the 34th Brigade after the T-90 delivery, the ministry has said.

“There are excellent artillery systems with high accuracy that will be imported from France, in addition to weapon systems equipped with night goggles,” Al-Muhammadi said in the interview. “There are many contracts signed by Iraq to procure equipment, some of which have already arrived at the national port, and others are still under production.”

In terms of local production, he described “a serious desire to develop Iraqi weapons, and there are projects that have been launched already to enable us to manufacture systems ourselves.”

“There is competition between the East and the West to prove their systems’ capabilities, and as armed forces, we support armament sources diversification,” he added.

For its part, the Iraqi Air Force is seeking French Rafale fighter jets. In September 2021, the chairman of the Security and Defense Committee of Iraq’s parliament, Mohammed Redha al-Haidar, revealed Iraq and Paris signed a contract for the aircraft.

“The Iraqi Air Force is intending to purchase 14 French Rafale fighter jets at a cost of $240 million, which will be paid in oil rather than cash,” Ricklefs told Defense News about the deal.

He also said the Air Force is nearing the purchase of Super Mushshak fighter/trainer aircraft, but he was unable to provide further details.

Vivienne Machi in Stuttgart, Germany, contributed to this report.

Washington has warned allies for years that hiring Huawei to provide network services would jeopardize communications and intelligence sharing, and the Biden administration tried to levy security requirements on the F-35 deal to safeguard the high-tech aircraft from Chinese espionage. Experts say that pressure looks like it’s failing.

“F-35 is one of those things the U.S. is using as a way to exert influence over allies and partners around the world,” Emily Harding, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Defense News.

And the UAE’s embrace of Huawei for 5G should only heighten U.S. concerns about Abu Dhabi getting the F-35, said Harding, who is also deputy director at the think tank’s International Security Program.

“Even if the F-35 itself is not using this 5G network, if the UAE is embracing Huawei 5G technology and using it for ground stations, communications towers, on bases, then that is an opportunity for China to draw a lot of intelligence about the way the F-35 operates,” she said. ”This is concerning because it is giving an adversary a lot of insight into our highest-functioning airplane.”

The UAE was negotiating a deal for 50 Lockheed Martin-made F-35s to add a fifth-generation fighter jet capability to its fleet. The proposed sale came at the end of the Trump administration, rising out of a deal that saw the UAE recognize Israel. The $23 billion deal also included armed drones and other defense equipment sought by the Emirates.

After President Joe Biden came into office, his administration put the arms sale and others on hold. That in part was because of the UAE’s involvement in the years-long war in Yemen, which sparked the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and rages on today. But Huawei’s work in the UAE is also part of the equation.

Huawei partnered with du, a UAE-based telecoms firm, to roll out 5G network services, according to an October 2019 statement by the company’s chief technology officer, Saleem Alblooshi. He assured the public that du has its own labs in the UAE, and that “we have not seen any evidence that there are security holes specifically in 5G.”

Two months later, the country’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority — now known as the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority — hired Huawei to open a “5G & IoT Joint OpenLab” in Dubai.

Data security

“5G is advanced because it provides very high-bandwidth connectivity at a short distance, but at long distances it has a more difficult time. The way the militaries are moving in modern warfare [brings with it a] very high data dependency,” Harding told Defense News. “Knowing the adversary’s intentions, [enabling] faster decision-making, securing people and developing more technology — and 5G is enabling that.”

However, “the UAE is saying Huawei’s 5G technology will not touch the military sector. This is an optimistic aspiration, but anybody who has worked in the defense sector for more than a minute understands the bleed-over between the commercial and military sector,” Harding added. “It is entirely possible the Huawei equipment will not end up in the UAE military systems, but it is still a concern.”

“By far it is the cheapest alternative, but when you’re buying it, you are also buying the Chinese window into your operations,” she noted, referring to the Chinese government’s investment in Huawei.

Andreas Kreig, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, said U.S. concerns go deeper than 5G technology. “It is more about how the UAE is working with Chinese companies to advance sophisticated technology — AI technology in particular — which is Chinese-based,” he told Defense News.

One joint effort on artificial intelligence is the China-Emirates Science and Technology Innovation Laboratory, which showcased drones developed by both the UAE and Chinese firm NORINCO at last year’s Dubai Air Show and IDEX defense conference. It’s unclear whether the drones are capable of using 5G telecommunications.

“Looking at the UAE intelligence services … they have solid cooperation with China, and data exploitation is used for that. It is obviously linked into infrastructure that is also relevant for the military. Dual use in that respect — including data and even data that stays in the military domain — will be used and exploited in central hubs and centers that are not necessarily for the military but are part of … national security,” Kreig said.

On the F-35 in particular, Kreig said “data won’t be shared across networks when the fighter jet is in the air. However, the entire flight can be analyzed in exercises against particularly Russian or Chinese aircraft or batteries, when the Emiratis will train to take out these hostile platforms [or] avoid them. The entire data, second by second, will be available and downloaded from the plane into servers that are operated by Chinese companies or Chinese technology, or will be stored in facilities that Chinese companies will have access to.”

Asked about the use of different frequencies to separate military and civil communications, Krieg said they’d still run through the same mast, which 5G network operators could access. One weak node in the network could make the entire setup vulnerable, he added.

“The issue [for the U.S.] was never about using 5G to communicate,” he explained, “but it is about the data exploitation, once it has been transmitted toward the ground, and what is happening to that data on the ground.”

Harding also stressed this point, noting Chinese law allows the government to “pull back anything passing through Chinese business channels.”

Josh Kirshner, a former U.S. State Department arms control official, said the Biden administration appears to want the F-35 deal to succeed, but the UAE’s threats to pull out of the deal and its recent willingness to host a Chinese military facility will create political roadblocks in Washington.

In early December, a top Emirati diplomat acknowledged the UAE stopped construction on a Chinese facility at an Abu Dhabi port that America considered a military base. “We took these American concerns into consideration and we stopped the work on the facilities,” Anwar Gargash told a meeting of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. “But our position remains the same, that these facilities were not really military facilities.”

Asked whether an F-35 sale to the UAE is still possible, Harding expressed doubt, partly because the country signed a deal with France in December to buy 80 upgraded Rafale fighters.

“It depends on how much each side wants it. The UAE has advanced fighter jets now, so they may decide it’s not worth it. The U.S. wants to keep strong ties with the UAE,” she said. “The deal may be revived if the UAE decides to completely eliminate any Huawei [technology associated with] any military activity. It is expensive but doable, and it will require hypervigilance to be sure that every contractor and member of the military [is] creating that wall.”

For his part, Kreig believes the onus falls on the United States.

“Now the ball is in the U.S. court. It is more likely that the Biden administration will come out with a meaningless concession for the Emiratis to be able to publicly say why they allow the deal to go through. This may include creating the U.S.’s own little hub of data companies in the UAE to compete with Chinese companies,” he said.

Joe Gould in Washington and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Arab Organization for Industrialization showed off its locally produced technology during the Egypt Defence Expo, which ran Nov. 29-Dec. 2.

The DJ-400 blocks signals related to the remote control of the drone, data transfers and global navigation satellite systems. It uses a digital frequency synthesizer and power amplifiers based on gallium nitride transistor technology.

Tested in Egypt, the DJ-400 is expected to enter the service with the country’s military. No further details of the deal or delivery timeline were available.

“The significance of this system is its modularity, enabling any configuration of the system for sector or omnidirectional protection against swarm attacks. Also it has various configurations: It can be operated either stationary or deployable” Mohamed al-Kenany, who leads the military studies unit at the Cairo-based Arab Forum for Analyzing Iranian Policies, told Defense News.

The data link frequency bands covered by the system include 400, 900, 1,200, 1,570, 2,400 and 5,800 megahertz.

Benha Electronics also debuted its counter-drone system, UAVSUB, during EDEX. The company falls under the purview of Egypt’s Ministry of Military Production.

“This system will be in service soon with the armed forces, and it was successfully tested,” al-Kenany said.

UAVSUB has two configurations: G0A, which has a 5-kilomter range, and G0B, which has a 30-kilometer range. This system suppresses satellite navigation signals used to operate mini- and micro-UAVs, causing the aircraft to malfunction.

This soft-kill system is equipped with a helical antenna and fixed-frequency techniques to ensure the quality of signal suppression, with a maximum output power of 1,030 watts.

Al-Kenany, who attended EDEX this year, said the Egyptian counter-drone systems garnered attention from several delegations at the show, particularly that of Saudi Arabia.

The Nut drone, which was co-produced by the Arab Organization for Industrialization and the Military Technical College, can perform tactical reconnaissance missions during the day and night using electro-optical technology.

It has a maximum mission payload of 50 kilograms and an endurance of 10 hours. Operators can also integrate onto the system equipment for satellite communication.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi inspected the Nut drone, named after the ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky, on the first day of the show.

The EJune-30 SW drone was also on display at the Egyptian pavilion. The UAV was made by Industrial Complex Engineering Robots in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production.

“EJune-30 looks exactly like the Emirati Yabhon United 40 unmanned aerial vehicle. It is highly probable that this is the Egyptian version of the UAV after technology transfer from the UAE to Egypt, but ICER officials at the show didn’t respond to any question regarding this subject at the show,” Mohamed al-Kenany, who leads the military studies unit at the Cairo-based Arab Forum for Analyzing Iranian Policies, told Defense News.

The Yabhon United 40 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV capable of autonomous flight operations. It is produced by Adcom Systems for the United Arab Emirates Air Force.

EJune-30 SW can automatically take off and land. It is 8.9 meter long and has a wingspan of 12 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 1,400 kilograms, a maximum speed of 260 kph, an endurance of 24 hours, and a maximum operating altitude of 7,000 meters.

There was also a brochure at EDEX for the locally made Thebes-30 drone. There was no mockup at the show since the system is still under development. It is being designed to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

EDEX 2021 is taking place Nov. 29-Dec. 2 and features pavilions for several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France, the United States and South Korea. It’s hosting about 400 exhibitors this year. The show was scheduled to take place in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Some systems were delivered already, but there is no information about the value of the deal or the number of systems that have been acquired,” Moroccan military expert Abdel Hamid Harfi told Defense News. “The contract does not include technology transfer for local manufacturing in Morocco.”

He added that these systems disrupt the connection between the flying threat and its path, taking the target out of service.

“The system is equipped with optical and thermal monitoring devices and a radar that monitors and tracks any suspicious activities. Also, the jamming devices play their role in neutralizing its danger,” Harfi said.

The Skylock Dome is developed by Skylock Systems, a subsidiary of Avnon. Emirati firm International Golden Group displayed the technology in February during the International Defence Exhibition and Conference. Emirati company officials said at the time that the system would undergo testing after the IDEX concludes so the United Arab Emirates’ security services, land forces and border security could consider procurement.

On the Facebook post, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said it has intensified its counter-drone acquisitions toward improving recognition and neutralization of UAV threats. The post also said the military purchased four other counter-drone systems, but it’s unclear what they were.

Harfi said the systems could help protect vital and sensitive installations from drones, such as critical economic, military and government installations. “These systems may not be very effective against military drones that are equipped with electronic anti-jamming systems, but they are very effective against drones used to take pictures inside sensitive places,” he added.

“For example, since the return of the armed Polisario against the kingdom, attempts to use commercial drones for reconnaissance against the kingdom’s forces stationed behind the security belt in the Moroccan Sahara have been observed. The armed forces were able to bring them down completely, but having a specialized counter-drone system would remove a big burden,” he explained.

The Polisario Front is a political-military organization that aims to end Moroccan control of the former Spanish territory of Western Sahara, in northwestern Africa, and gain independence for that region.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz also visited Morocco on Nov. 24, where he signed a memorandum of understanding with his counterpart in the African nation, formalizing defense ties between the two countries that could see improved defense cooperation and intelligence sharing. The visit comes shortly after the Abraham Accords’ one-year anniversary. The diplomatic agreement saw the normalization of relations between some Arab countries and Israel.

The visit is also expected to include the signing of a deal that would see the two countries co-produce kamikaze drones, Defense News previously reported.

“Morocco has been using Israeli drones for years for reconnaissance, electronic warfare and artillery targeting. Today, with normalizing relations between the two countries, the kingdom aspires to benefit from the Israeli experience in order to exploit the industrial infrastructure for civil aviation that Morocco has equipped, and to expand it to include the military side,” Harfi said.

“Israel aspires to be one of the most important economic partners of the kingdom and is ready to take several steps to achieve this goal.”

Two counter-drone systems showcased at the event reflect the United Arab Emirates’ interest in such technology: U.S.-based Fortem Technologies displayed its SkyDome, which is already operational in the Gulf country; and Emirati company International Golden Group showed off the Israeli system Skylock, which underwent testing in the UAE.

Fortem revealed at the show it had integrated a new drogue net to the SkyDome that allows the system to now neutralize UAV threats classified as Group 2 and Group 3. That means the system can now target drones that weigh less than 1,320 pounds, per a 2015 Pentagon report on unmanned aircraft systems. The SkyDome could previously only neutralize drones around 20 pounds or less.

Fortem CEO Timothy Bean claimed the counter-drone system is “100% autonomous, and the company is working on countering drone swarms.”

He added that Boeing, Toshiba and Mubadala are invested in the company, and that the UAE ordered the system.

SkyDome works via radar guidance and physical tracking. The system features TrueView radar systems, an electronic management system and a drone hunter — basically a UAV with two integrated boxes from which nets launch when a threat is detected.

“The drone performs missions against insurgent terrorist drones flying in and hitting bases. Smaller threats are caught with the net and sent to forensic examination to find out who built it and for what purposes, and how to defeat it in the future,” Gary Watson, the vice president for solutions at Fortem, told Defense News.

He added that larger drones are caught with the drogue net, which releases a parachute and brings down the threat.

“We have had a lot of U.S. and foreign government testing, and we’ve been extensively certified for operations by governments. We did a major test with two Japanese agencies [and with the] U.S. We just did a big demonstration in the Netherlands; they are testing it at the airport. And [there is] a lot of testing I can’t talk about as well. All of them successful, and greatly exceeds the requirements that government places us for kill,” Watson said.

What about Skylock?

Close by, the International Golden Group was showing off Skylock’s counter-drone system. Skylock is owned by Israeli company Avnon.

The platform can be used to protect critical assets as well as secure military and police facilities.

Emirati company officials told Defense News that the system was tested twice in the country and that each was a success. “The testing within UAE environment was conducted by UAE armed forces for radio frequency detection and jamming. These tests were successful, and the armed forces showed interest in the system,” an Emirati official said.

The officials confirmed that the UAE has not yet signed a contract for the system.

Edge is only 2 years old, but its CEO, Faisal Al Bannai, says the business as achieved several milestones, including in autonomous technology, electronic warfare and smart weapons. But one of the most critical is its share of the United Arab Emirates’ export market on both a regional and global level.

Defense News spoke with the executive at the air show about his company’s efforts in artificial intelligence and autonomy, collaboration on fifth-generation aircraft, use of 3D printing and additional export potential.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

What has Edge achieved in the areas of AI and autonomy?

The company was launched to be an advanced technology company in the defense industry. Since the launch, we’ve already introduced to the market over 20 products. We have in the road map of development over 40 products, so we’ve been bringing products to market at an extremely fast pace. We said we will focus on the company being a key player in autonomous systems, electronic warfare and smart weapons. Half of the stand here at the air show is for autonomous systems, while 95% of what you see on this stand didn’t exist two years ago. So we have a large presence now in autonomous capability.

On electronic warfare, we have a number of products that we announced in the last two years, and the same thing can be said for smart weapons. At least 60% of these didn’t exist before

Edge is exporting its products within the region as well as to Europe and beyond. Is this a direct consequence of the joint ventures you have with companies in those countries? What are your future export plans?

Regarding our international sales, I can’t disclose our customers, but we have already done over 20 international transactions across the following sectors: autonomy, electronic warfare, smart weapons and ammunition, and armored vehicles. These products have been sold to [customers in] Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the U.S. and Europe — particularly electronic warfare systems, SIGN4L intelligence systems to European countries. Some will be announced in the next few months. These transactions are completed and deliveries took place.

The delivered products are not a result of joint ventures; they are purely 100% UAE products. We are also partnering with foreign companies to jointly collaborate on building certain solutions for the UAE and the international market.

We are no longer a country that only buys defense products; we are developing in-house many products and jointly developing other products.

Edge is developing drones for different missions, from loitering munitions to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance UAVs to cargo drones. What is the company’s next step in autonomous technology development and 3D printing?

Artificial intelligence and machine learning is a part of every product today. At [the unmanned conference] UMEX 2022 next February, Edge subsidiary Adasi will unveil swarming drones — and swarms rely heavily on AI — completely designed and produced in-house.

The Rash 2 munition is [made using] 3D-printed [technology]. We are looking at every aspect now of our platforms and missiles to see how to bring 3D printing to them. Next year, there will be a number of products for which we are trying to push the envelope when it comes to 3D printing. So in 2022 and 2023, you will see a number of products 3D printed.

A body frame of a UAV is relatively easy, and this is what we are looking at developing to be 3D printed, but a missile goes through a different heat arrangement. Early success in this development is represented by kits like Rash — body frames for items that are not going through extreme [temperatures]. I think parts and components could be the entry point. We are experimenting with all of this.

Are you involved with the U.S. on the F-35 fighter jet or with Russia on the Checkmate aircraft?

We are collaborating with many countries. When it comes to fighters, first we wait for the UAE Ministry of Defence to decide what it is going to buy. There is no announcement now. Once that is clear, whether it’s for platform A or B, for sure Edge will play a part in the different subsystems, depending on what they are and what the client needs. It’s too early because a decision is not yet made.

Update us on high-energy laser cooperation and counter-drone technology work with MBDA and CILAS, and with Embraer through Edge subsidiary Halcon to integrate Emirati weapons on the Super Tucano plane.

As for the high-energy laser, we are in the testing phase. It is more a joint development program; Edge has engineers working on the high-powered laser to see how to further develop the system. There are many areas of collaboration there, such as the source of the laser and the form of the laser beam. The solution has a number of components on which both teams are collaborating.

The Halcon agreement on the Super Tucano shows how international players are confident about integrating UAE weapons onto their platforms. Embraer’s work on integrate our weapons made by Halcon onto the Super Tucano means all the aircraft type’s operators will have now access to UAE weapons.