Saif Al Dahbashi,
President of the Missiles & Weapons Cluster,
EDGE Group
The Missiles & Weapons cluster at EDGE comprises four major companies: AL TARIQ, CARACAL, HALCON, and LAHAB. This cluster specializes in developing high-performance munitions, light weapons, complex weaponry, and advanced missile control systems. “We are displaying an advanced suite of autonomous aerial vehicles that enable data-centric and networked ISR operations, including our GARMOOSHA rotary-wing UAV and REACH-S MALE UAV. We are also showcasing our SKYKNIGHT air defense missile system and our comprehensive line of highly effective smart weapons that offer precision strike capabilities across a range of operations,” said Saif Al Dahbashi, President of the Missiles & Weapons Cluster at EDGE Group. In an interview with Aeromag, Al Dahbashi discussed the company’s participation in the Egypt International Airshow 2024, highlighting major milestones, key products, export operations, and future prospects of the cluster.
Since its inception, EDGE has aimed to lead globally in autonomous systems, smart weapons, and electronic warfare. How successful has EDGE been in achieving these goals, and what are its major milestones?
We have been highly successful in the areas of autonomous systems, smart weapons, and electronic warfare. In just under five years, we have increased our product portfolio by 500 percent, signed major export deals with key customers across five continents, and established a footprint in over 50 countries. It’s important to understand that our success in disrupting the global defence industry is based on offering a highly competitive portfolio of systems and solutions for export, which we back up through aggressive research and development, calculated investments, and strategic partnerships.
Taking a closer look at our progress, in 2019, we started with just three smart weapons products. Today, we have domestically developed over 20 smart weapon solutions that are tailored to end-user requirements in the air, land, and sea domains. Looking beyond our shores, we are making careful investments to rapidly bring high-technology solutions to the global market and expand our industrial footprint. For example, through our investment in Brazil’s leading missile manufacturer, SIATT, we are significantly improving the development time of the MANSUP-ER surface-to-surface anti-ship missile, while enabling a major industrial expansion of SIATT’s facilities. Lastly, our collaborative approach to strategic partnerships has enabled multiple platform integration programmes for our smart weapons, and opened the door to jointly develop next-generation technologies.
The net result of our dynamic approach is that as a young company, we have received an unprecedented buy-in from our customers and partners, and captured a major share of the global precision-guided weapons market, second to only two companies that have existed for over a century.
EDGE recently launched two Centres of Excellence in the UAE: the Radar and Electronic Warfare Centre of Excellence, and the Electro-Optic Centre of Excellence. How does this initiative align with the UAE’s vision and EDGE’s growth strategy, while supporting the commercial objectives of its 35 entities?
Through centralising our radar, electronic warfare, and electro-optic capabilities, we are developing innovative technologies, improving company efficiencies, offering tailored solutions to customers, and streamlining product delivery. It is important to remember that we are dedicated to rapidly developing a robust industrial base in the UAE while simultaneously offering solutions that address evolving customer requirements. What this means in terms of the two new Centres of Excellence is that we are establishing advanced research and development, and maintenance hubs that can facilitate the integration of sophisticated technology into our platforms, systems, and smart weapons. In terms of supporting the UAE’s vision, we are developing unique UAE intellectual property, incubating national talent, and contributing towards growing a knowledge-based economy.
Ultimately, we will be offering state-of-the-art radar, electronic warfare, and electro-optic/infrared solutions that are cost-effective and produced with an increasingly networked theatre in mind.
LAHAB recently signed agreements with PT Pindad to enhance collaboration and ammunition supply. As the UAE’s sole ammunition manufacturer, how do these two agreements strengthen industrial collaboration between the two defence industries?
While I cannot get into the specifics of the collaboration, I can tell you that the two agreements directly relate to and are an example of an ongoing effort between both countries to bolster the capabilities of the Indonesian defence industry. Currently, LAHAB and PT Pindad are exploring investment opportunities for manufacturing capabilities in Indonesia. They have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for LAHAB to supply ordnance-related materiel to PT Pindad.
Like I said, we place a strong focus on strategic partnerships, and through LAHAB’s ongoing collaboration with PT Pindad, we have the opportunity to expand our global footprint and supply chain network. However, the most important point about these agreements is that it will boost Indonesia’s manufacturing capabilities and defence industry sovereignty.
EDGE entities EPI and HALCON will provide end-to-end industrial production solutions to Thales under the Tawazun-enabled ‘Go-To-UAE’ initiative. How does HALCON, a regional leader in guided weapons system design and production, view this development?
EDGE and all entities eagerly support localised manufacturing initiatives whenever possible. What people may not realise is that HALCON has an advanced and smart Special Manufacturing group that is open to the wider defence industry as well as commercial industries.
In terms of advanced manufacturing, HALCON’s 5-7-axis CNC machines can produce metal machined parts from nano-sized to half a metre. Additionally, the facility boasts laser cutting and welding, a fully equipped metrology lab, and a plastic injection moulding capability. HALCON is now investing in additive manufacturing and has established extensive 3D printing technology, including metal printing.
HALCON also has a PCB assembly facility, a cable and wiring harness production facility, and a comprehensive surface treatment facility. The PCB assembly facility is capable of delivering fully tested, high volume, multi-layer PCBAs, utilising either leaded or lead-free technology up to IPC/J-STD-0001, Class 3 standards. The surface treatment facility, offering the UAE’s only cathodic electrodeposition coating service, provides a wide range of surface coating and painting services for small to large components and equipment.
CARACAL is an internationally recognised small-arms manufacturer with over 15 years of production legacy. Could you discuss CARACAL’s product line, key technologies, and unique features?
CARACAL offers high-performance small arms that excel in the harshest conditions. The current products chambered in 9x19mm includes the CARACAL EF and CARACAL F GEN II combat pistols, and the CMP 9 submachine gun.
Assault rifles include the mission-proven CAR 816 assault rifle, chambered in 5.56x45mm, and the CAR 817 assault rifle, chambered in 7.62mm.
In the higher calibres, CARACAL offers a range of rugged precision sniper rifles, including the CSR family of bolt-action sniper rifles, chambered in .308 Winchester, .338 Lapua Magnum, and 12.7x99mm, the CAR 817 DMR, chambered in 7.62x51mm, and the CSA 338 semi-automatic sniper rifle, chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum.
CARACAL also offer the lightweight CLMG 556 machine gun, chambered in 5.56x45mm.
In the competitive global small arms industry, we must consider what it means to be a supplier of choice. I think what is really important to our customers is firstly, how our solutions best address operational requirements and challenges in unique landscapes. Secondly, the ability of our small arms to meet and exceed end-user expectations in terms of ergonomics, reliability, accuracy, and adaptability. Finally, how our inclusive and adaptive approach to business models can add value, including opportunities for knowledge sharing.
Precision-guided munitions have transformed warfare, and AL TARIQ is the first UAE-based manufacturer of such munitions. Can you elaborate on AL TARIQ’s expertise in providing smaller, smarter, and faster aerial weaponry, as well as short and long-range munitions?
It is crucial to remember that the operational environment and associated risks are major considerations for mission planners. Airmen operating in today’s dynamic theatre require an effector with an advantageous standoff range and modular configuration. AL TARIQ, our high-technology producer of the AL TARIQ range of mission-proven and modular precision-guided munitions, has developed their line of smart weapons to ease mission planning through a number of advanced and flexible features.
What this means is that the AL TARIQ system can operate in all weather conditions, such as fog or dust, thanks to the sensor fusion achieved between its standard GNSS/INS guidance unit and an optional imaging infrared sensor with automated target recognition. For GPS-denied environments, the AL TARIQ’s recent Block II upgrades included an advanced GPS anti-jammer, which in conjunction with dual seekers, greatly minimises the risk of collateral damage. Considering the risk to pilot and platform safety in contested airspace, the AL TARIQ system can be fitted with an aerodynamic wing kit, boosting the maximum range of 45km to 120km. This industry-leading standoff range cuts out the consideration of complex flight paths in high-risk areas, reduces the logistics burden, and provides greater flexibility as the system can be used to engage targets across a wider area of the theatre.
How robust are EDGE’s export operations, and what are its plans for expansion? Do you have plans for expanding into the Southeast Asian market, apart from Indonesia and Malaysia?
As I said, we aimed to be a global leader in key defence technologies by offering a multi-domain portfolio of highly competitive solutions for export, and now the numbers speak for themselves. Since 2019, we have increased our international orders by over 300 percent, and last year, the international business represented a third of our order intake. To put the strength of our exports and expansion plans into perspective, we really need to consider our recent orders, acquisitions, and partnerships, which have given us a significant footprint in five continents.
We recently announced orders from major international customers in Africa and South America, which include landmark contracts for best-in-class corvettes, unmanned helicopters, and precision surface-to-surface missiles.
We have acquired high-technology companies in Europe and South America, in addition to established subsidiaries, facilities, or offices throughout Europe, and in North Africa, North America, and South America.
Thirdly, we have ongoing partnerships across most regions in Asia.
Beyond Indonesia and Malaysia in the Southeast Asian market, ORYXLABS, our cybersecurity company, and Thailand’s Digitech One, recently signed a partnership agreement to enhance critical infrastructure capabilities and increase local cybersecurity awareness across Thailand.
The bottom line is that we have established a meaningful presence in almost all regions of the globe, and our plan is to address the requirements of existing and prospective customers within those regions through taking a collaborative approach to product development and production, investing in innovative technologies, and offering advanced solutions that disrupt the global defence industry.
As the new president of the Missiles & Weapons cluster at EDGE, what is your vision for the cluster’s future? Could you share insights into any major agreements or orders currently in the pipeline?
My objectives as the President of the Missiles & Weapons Cluster are to grow our existing product and manufacturing capabilities, mature the UAE defence industry, grow our order book, deliver on product development milestones, and deliver on our contracts.
I cannot speak about any unannounced agreements or orders, but what I can say is that we are currently working hard to deliver on existing orders, which include billion-dollar contracts for our DESERT STING family of precision-guided glide weapons and THUNDER family of cost-effective precision-guided munitions.
We are also forging ahead with the development of our rapidly deployable SKYKNIGHT inner-layer air defence missile system. An important point to remember about the SKYKNIGHT is that, as a stand-alone system, it provides effective protection against a wide range of conventional and asymmetric threats. However, it is designed to integrate with a larger networked air defence system, complementing cannon-based systems as an effector to counter saturation attacks.
What are the major products that EDGE is showcasing at Egypt International Airshow?
Our participation and products showcase are directly aimed at meeting unique and evolving national security requirements in North Africa and the Middle East. We are displaying an advanced suite of autonomous aerial vehicles that enable data-centric and networked ISR operations, including our GARMOOSHA rotary-wing UAV and REACH-S MALE UAV. We are also displaying our SKYKNIGHT air defence missile system and our comprehensive line of highly effective smart weapons that offer precision strike capabilities across a range of operations.
