Abu Dhabi, UAE: EDGE Group entity, HALCON, a regional leader in the design and production of guided weapons systems and beyond, announced it has secured a contract worth AED 4.7 billion with the UAE Armed Forces to supply advanced precision-guided glide munitions.

The new contract will provide the UAE Armed Forces with HALCON’s DESERT STING 25 (DS-25), a light weight, air-to-surface precision-guided munition, designed to be deployed on multiple racks on aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Saeed Al Mansoori, Senior Vice President of ADVANCED CONCEPTS, said: “The DS-25 is a precision munition with an effective standoff range and capable of integration onto a wide range of aircraft types. This contract will provide the UAE Armed Forces with flexibility in their air strike operations. We are delighted to be able to provide the UAE Armed Forces with this capability and further our relationship as we seek to provide innovative, UAE-made products.”

He added: “HALCON is also proud to be at the forefront of developing sovereign defence capabilities in line with the UAE’s ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative. Additionally, the DS-25 will be produced at our cutting-edge manufacturing facilities which exemplifies the UAE government’s Industry 4.0 initiative.”

The DS-25 is part of HALCON’s DESERT STING line of lightweight, precision-guided glide weapons, designed to accurately strike targets with differing payloads and stand-off ranges. The contract for DS-25 PGMs underpins EDGE and HALCON’s commitment to the UAE Armed Forces in providing advanced systems and solutions that enable mission flexibility and ensure the safeguarding of the UAE.

ADVANCED CONCEPTS is a new business unit within EDGE which is dedicated to the design and deployment of advanced, innovative technologies. Complementing existing EDGE capabilities in developing, producing, and commercialising new products, ADVANCED CONCEPTS focuses on accelerating the rapid development of critical innovation projects from concept definition and technical feasibility stage (TRL6+) to detailed engineering design, before handing these projects back to EDGE’s large portfolio of companies for industrialisation and commercialisation.

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About EDGE

Launched in November 2019, the UAE’s EDGE is one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly-skilled talent to thrive. With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 20 entities into four core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Electronic Warfare & Cyber Technologies, and Trading & Mission Support.

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