• Air Warfare

  January Drone Digest: MALE, rotary-wing and loitering munition UAVs dominate early 2026

  27th January 2026

  The first month of 2026 has seen activity in the MALE, rotary-wing, and loitering munition UAV markets, with significant investments and commitments from Germany, Turkey, the UAE and the US. At the same time, questions over loitering munition performance in Ukraine highlight the growing scrutiny alongside rising demand.

• Naval Warfare

  Dune joint venture wins four year contract to bolster UAE OPV fleet

  26th March 2025

  The JV between Al Seer Marine and Damen International doubles down on a recent deal to increase the country’s offshore patrol vessel capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  NAVDEX 2025: MAESTRAL JV wins €500 million UAE Navy support contract

  17th February 2025

  The major contract awarded at NAVDEX 2025 will steer fleet maintenance in the UAE Navy across the next five years.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: UAE’s Edge Group notches up $2.9 billion and two dozen agreements

  26th February 2025

  The company cashed on its home ground advantage in Abu Dhabi last week with the launch of 46 products and solutions, while exhibiting a total of 218 items on its 9,000m2 stand, on which its range of subsidiaries were promoted and 16 contracts were signed.

• Defence Notes

  SAHA EXPO 2024 International Defence & Aerospace Exhibition

  13th May 2024

  SAHA EXPO 2024 will bring together the technologies that shape the future with the world between 22-26 October 2024.

• Defence Notes

  How UAE defence giant EDGE Group plans to double its exports

  24th April 2024

  The UAE defence conglomerate has put an aggressive strategy in place to increase its share of exports while navigating the growing gap between East and West.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2023: MBDA to develop and build ‘smart missiles’ in UAE

  14th November 2023

  In a bid to bolster its strategic partnership with the UAE and further its missile capabilities, MBDA established the UAE Missile Engineering Centre earlier this year from where it will produce so-called 'smart weapons'.

• Defence Notes

  MBDA opens missile engineering centre in Abu Dhabi to develop smart weapons

  13th June 2023

  MBDA has inaugurated a missile engineering centre in the United Arab Emirates, jointly staff by personnel from the company and Tawazun Technology Innovation.

• Land Warfare

  GM Defense charts course for electric future at IDEX 2023

  24th February 2023

  GM Defense forged closer ties with the UAE at the Emirati defence show and touted its electric vehicle capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  UAE set to buy a dozen L-15As with scope for more

  9th March 2022

  If a contract materialises for an initial 12 L-15A light attack aircraft, it would be the first time the UAE orders crewed military aircraft from China.

• Digital Battlespace

  Dubai Airshow 2021: Tawazun and Yahsat launch indigenous SATCOM manufacturing JV

  16th November 2021

  How will a new JV help the UAE to develop a self-sustaining SATCOM sector?

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2021: Tawazun deepens involvement with Marakeb

  15th November 2021

  The investment arm of UAE defence acquisition authority Tawazun now owns 50% of autonomous systems specialist Marakeb Technologies.

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2021: UAE venture capital fund targets overseas SMEs

  17th November 2021

  The UAE Strategic Development Fund has money to invest in international start-ups.

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2021: DIT DSE reaffirms UAE cooperation

  18th November 2021

  The director of UK Defence and Security Exports at the Department for International Trade spoke exclusively to Shephard about the UK’s partnership strategy with the UAE.

• Defence Notes

  IDEX 2021: Saab deepens relationship with Tawazun and launches first UAE-made product

  22nd February 2021

  Saab engages with UAE on R&D of sensor systems and produces locally made driver enhancement system.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  HT-100 (January 2026) [UAE]

  Background January 2024 Order In January 2024, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a deal for 200 uncrewed helicopters ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  HT-750 (January 2026) [UAE]

  Background January 2024 Order In January 2024, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a deal for 200 uncrewed helicopters ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | HT-750 (January 2026) [UAE]

  In January 2026, EDGE Group and the Tawazun Council announced that EDGE had received an AED 1.396 billion (US$380 million) contract to deliver 92 HT-750 ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | HT-750 (January 2026) [UAE]

  In January 2026, EDGE Group and the Tawazun Council announced that EDGE had received an AED 1.396 billion (US$380 million) contract to deliver 92 HT-750 ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  HT-100 (January 2024) [UAE]

  Background January 2024 Order In January 2024, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a deal for 200 uncrewed helicopters manufactured ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  National Combat Management System

  The National Combat Management System (NCMS) is a developmental CMS suite for the UAE Navy. It is being developed under a cooperation agreement between Marakeb ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate 2

  The Warmate 2 is a loitering munition manufactured by WB Group. Much larger than the original warmate, the platform is designed to launch and operate ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  HT-750

  The HT-750 is a rotary-wing UAV from EDGE Group and Anavia, its subsidiary. Weighing over a ton, the aircraft is designed for cargo-carrying missions. An optionally ...

• Airborne rockets - guided

  Talon LGR

  Raytheon developed the Talon Laser-Guided Rocket (LGR), a semi-active laser guidance and control kit that connects directly to the front of 70mm unguided rockets. Raytheon ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Draco

  Designed for a range of missions, including air defence, C-RAM and ground combat, the Draco 76mm multirole weapon system is armed with Leonardo’s 76/62 Super ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Arma 8x8

  Otokar presented the 8x8 Arma prototype in 2011. In 2021, as part of the bid to supply the Turkish Land Forces' New Generation Wheeled Armoured ...

• Loitering munitions

  R2-120 RAIJIN

  The R2-120 RAIJIN is a loitering munition manufactured by Fly-R. Equipped with an EO/IR camera for detection and identification, the drone strikes its target using ...

• Airborne rockets - guided

  Cirit

  The Cirit 70mm laser-guided missile was designed to fill the gap between cheap and low-precision unguided rockets and high-cost guided antitank missiles. Cirit can be ...

• Medium UGVs

  Agema

  The Agema UGV is manufactured by Milanion Group. Marketed as a cost-effective multirole infantry support platform, it has a large customisable bed that can be fitted ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  HT-100

  The HT-100 is a small rotary-wing UAS. The platform features a Flettner double-rotor system, an autonomous flight control system, and a range of safety and redundancy ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rabdan 8x8

  The Rabdan 8x8 is a wheeled amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle from Al Jasoor. Modular and featuring integrated CBRN protection, the Rabadan offers a high degree ...