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2021-04-15

EDGE and IAI Ink Strategic Agreement

EDGE, the UAE’s advanced technology group for defence and beyond, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) - Israel’s major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, to develop an advanced C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System) Solution tailored to the UAE market. The agreement will provide wide ranging benefits for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and beyond.

Through leveraging IAI’s proven C-UAS solutions that are applied around the world to detect, identify, classify, and intercept a broad range of threats, EDGE, a young and disruptive company that launched a series of Electronic Warfare solutions at a rapid pace, is leveraging its subsidiary, SIGN4L, a leading provider of electronic warfare services and solutions for national security, to collaborate with the Israeli defence manufacturer to build the tailored C-UAS Solution.

Comprising advanced 3D radar, COMINT (communications intelligence), and Electro-Optic technologies that are integrated into a unified command and control system, the C-UAS is fully autonomous requiring no human intervention.

A series of countermeasures, ranging from soft-kill solutions such as spoofing and jamming, to hard-kill capabilities such as lasers and electromagnetic pulses, are offered based on the level of threat and targeted operating environment.

Both SIGN4L and IAI will leverage their technical capabilities to jointly develop the system in response to specific customer needs.

Further support will be available via IAI’s partnership with Belgium Advanced Technology Systems, Belgium, which has a local technical and marketing presence in the region.

Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director, EDGE, said: “In line with the recent Abraham Accords and the UAE’s newly established cooperation and spirit of collaboration with Israel, EDGE and IAI are joining forces to deal with this growing threat. As EDGE invests extensively in autonomous capabilities, our co-development of a Counter-UAS in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries will help strengthen our advanced technology portfolio and partnerships in the region and internationally.”

Boaz Levy, President and CEO of IAI, added: “IAI is proud to join forces with EDGE, to provide the UAE and the wider region with an advanced solution in what is a key area of expertise for IAI. We believe that this collaboration will help both companies through the transfer of knowledge and sharing of capabilities. This MoU serves as a stepping-stone for further business and strategic alliances between our countries, and will enhance cooperation for R&D and technological innovation.”

EDGE, an advanced technology group for defence, was ranked among the top 25 military suppliers in the world by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a think tank that specialises in data analysis of military expenditure and arms trade among other peace and security related matters.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, EDGE is dedicated to bringing innovative technologies and services to the market. Consolidating over 25 entities and employing 13,000 brilliant minds, EDGE offers expertise across five core clusters: Platforms and Systems; Missiles & Weapons; Cyber Defence; Electronic Warfare & Intelligence; and Mission Support.

SIGN4L, on its part, develops, acquires and supplies lifecycle support for defence and security forces in three main areas of focus: integrated electronic warfare; aircraft electronic survival systems; and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) sensors for battle-space awareness.

In another development, HALCON, which is a part of the Missiles & Weapons cluster within EDGE, recently unveiled SkyKnight - the first UAE designed and manufactured counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missile system, at the International Defence and Exhibition Conference (IDEX) 2021.

EDGE has been developing a short-range air defence system, as has Germany-based Rheinmetall AG, which was actively seeking a missile system to form part of its Skynex air defence system. The companies decided to jointly offer a solution, with HALCON providing SkyKnight, the missile system to the highly regarded Oerlikon Skynex Air Defence System, which sets new standards with its unique open

architecture.

Also in February, EDGE launched its first family of multirotor loitering munitions, the QX range. In addition, Shadow 50 and Shadow 25, Rash 2 gliding munition kit, as well as new variants of the RW24 range – all designed and manufactured in the company’s first year of operations – were unveiled on the first day of IDEX 2021.

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