Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
The second day of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) continued to witness the latest innovations in defence and military technology with a prominent international presence.
The event witnessed live demonstrations and networking among stakeholders, enhancing cooperation between countries and companies to strengthen security and address global challenges.
Participating in the exhibition, EDGE Group entity ADASI, a regional leader in autonomous systems and services headquartered in the UAE, is highlighting their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Reach-S, a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle capable of autonomous flight operations.
Speaking to Aletihad, Shamma Alnuaimi Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer at ADASI, said: "The Reach S is a fixed-wing, medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV. When I say long-endurance, I mean it can stay in the air for 24 hours without having to land."
"This UAV can carry a payload of 150kg and it's mainly used for ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] missions and it can also be used for combat missions. This UAV can reach altitudes of 22,000 feet and a maximum speed of 200 kilometres per hour," Alnuaimi said.
Another EDGE entity, Milrem Robotics, a world leader in robotics and autonomous systems development, has launched their 8×8 Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) at IDEX 2025.
The RCV weighs less than conventional manned 8×8 vehicles, and boasts superior off-road performance, making it highly effective in rugged terrains, according to the Milrem website.
It has a baseline payload capacity of five tonnes, suitable for mission-specific payloads or weapon systems.
Speaking to Altetihad, Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics, said: "The new 8x8 RCV, is an addition to our fleet of vehicles, but on top of that, we are showcasing our command and control or orchestration layer and how different robotic systems both in the air and on the ground can be integrated as a unified system."
Also speaking to Aletihad, Ebraheem Alsamahi, VP Business Development and Strategy at EDGE, said: "Milrem is one of the leading companies in the production of automated systems. These automated systems are an additional capability for our armed forces. They are equipped with robots that reduce the number of human casualties during operations."
"Furthermore, you can carry out rescue operations, evacuation, and transport of ammunition. It has many uses," he added.
The 17th edition of IDEX and the eighth edition of the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) run until February 21 at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi.
