Day two of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and Simulation and Training Exhibition (SIMTEX) in Abu Dhabi concluded with a flurry of significant contracts. The UAE military awarded deals valued at AED 1.4 billion (approximately $403 million) to local defense companies, solidifying the Emirates’ burgeoning role as a central hub for cutting-edge unmanned technologies and underlining an ambitious strategic vision for security and defense.
Local Champions Rise: EDGE Group Secures Major Contracts
Manea Abdulkarim Al Mansoori, an official spokesperson for the Tawazun Council for Defense Enablement, confirmed that three key contracts signed by the Emirati Ministry of Defense on Wednesday were awarded to the UAE’s leading defense giant, EDGE Group. The first, a substantial AED 1.396 billion ($380 million) agreement, is for the procurement of an undisclosed number of heavy-lift, long-range Anavia HT-750 drones. A second contract allocates AED 45.140 million ($12.3 million) towards the crucial research and development of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dubbed QX. Finally, a third deal, valued at AED 10.556 million ($2.876 million), targets the transformation of EDGE’s armored vehicle, the Nimr, into an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). These new contracts bring EDGE’s total contracted value from the exhibition to roughly $635 million, building on the $240 million announced on day one. An additional contract, worth AED 28 million ($7.63 million), was awarded to Emirati firm Houbara Defense and Security for an undisclosed number of remotely operated explosive ordnance disposal vehicles. Through Tawazun, a government entity, the UAE aims to develop a robust local defense industry, capable of creating an indigenous supply chain for advanced military and security systems.
Global Tech Meets Gulf Ambition: US Firms Showcase Innovation
The UAE’s vision is clear: to position itself as a central player in the development and adoption of unmanned systems across military and security domains. This ambition is supported not only by domestic investment but also by burgeoning international collaborations. American drone giant General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced a Memorandum of Understanding with Calidus Aerospace to explore the co-production of its MQ-9B and Gambit drones within the UAE. This initiative would mark the first time GA-ASI drones could be manufactured in the Middle East, as stated by GA-ASI president David Alexander, emphasizing the importance of connecting with key local experts and capabilities.
X-BAT: Autonomous Fighter Jet Future Debuts in the Region
A highlight of the exhibition was the regional debut of Shield AI’s X-BAT – an AI-piloted vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) jet-powered UAV. Touted as the first autonomous VTOL jet fighter, the X-BAT is capable of detecting and engaging enemy targets in real-time, penetrating up to 2,000 nautical miles deep into hostile territory. Bob Harward, Shield AI’s Executive Vice President of international business and strategy and a retired US vice admiral, highlighted the proven effectiveness of Shield AI’s older V-BAT design, whose use in Ukraine demonstrated exceptional ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) and anti-jamming capabilities, operating up to 100 miles behind Russian lines and guiding Ukrainian artillery and HIMARS missiles. The UAE military has already acquired approximately a dozen V-BAT drones, and Shield AI is actively collaborating with Emirati defense companies to ensure compatibility of its platforms with locally produced payloads, including missiles and sensors. Harward underscored the UAE’s significance, referring to them as „one of Shield AI’s biggest partners” and expressing interest in the X-BAT, though future sales are contingent on the US government lifting export controls.
