Eurosatory 2026: Iran’s attacks on UAE have “accelerated” Edge’s plans, says company
The UAE’s Edge has undergone massive changes since it was formed in 2019, from acquisitions to partnerships, and has now set up a European division in Paris.
The ATR 42-600 pre-series aircraft has had a successful first flight from Toulouse.
The aircraft, powered with Pratt & Whitney PW127M engines, completed a two-hour flight, thus starting a flight test campaign of approximately 75 hours. Among other checks, the aircraft underwent tests regarding engine performance and the function of its specifically developed Thales avionics suite, which integrates the newest computer systems and software for navigational aids, flight data recording, automatic piloting and communications. The pilots also tested hydraulic and electrical systems and blades balancing.
“The first flight of the ATR 42-600 is the culmination of the dedication and strong efforts of our team and our partners in order to prepare this new aircraft for its flight test campaign,” emphasised Stéphane Mayer, ATR’s chief executive officer. “With the ATR 42-600, we are proud to develop a new aircraft that has been specifically designed to optimally match the 50-seat regional market requirements, both in terms of comfort and performance.”
The ATR ‘-600’ series was launched in October 2007 since when ATR has gained 59 firm orders (5 ATR 42-600s and 54 ATR 72-600s).
The UAE’s Edge has undergone massive changes since it was formed in 2019, from acquisitions to partnerships, and has now set up a European division in Paris.
Washington and Ottawa’s Arctic and homeland radar initiatives aim to strengthen early warning against cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons and long-range aerospace threats approaching North America.
Dozens of partnership agreements, joint ventures and industrial cooperation arrangements were announced at Eurosatory 2026, highlighting how defence companies are expanding production capacity, localising manufacturing and accelerating capability development in anticipation of rising defence spending.
European law enforcement and public security agencies are entering a new cycle of investment in personal protection equipment (PPE), driven by evolving threat profiles, officer welfare requirements and advances in materials technology.
European militaries face a rapidly evolving security landscape and defence production must accelerate to meet surging demand for platforms and equipment. Industry needs to adapt to ensure it gets its products into the hands of the end user, Evelyn Rafferty, Senior Director Aerospace and Defence - Europe at Plexus told Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan.
Autonomous systems developer Milrem has evolved a model for an interoperable robotised approach to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), showing how uncrewed systems could provide a multi-layered defence architecture in the air and on land along NATO’s eastern borders.