Company insight
to utilise those capabilities to perform specific missions.”
The fruits of those efforts will be on show at IDEX 2025, where the next- generation of manned vehicles and weapons systems from EDGE’s vehicle divisions will be on show, alongside its new capabilities in autonomous technology. NIMR is a standout manufacturer of combat-proven light and medium-weight wheeled military vehicles, capable of carrying a variety of platforms to meet diverse user requirements. The division provides complete end-to-end solutions including mission system integration for military vehicles based on 4x4 and 6x6 chassis, as well as monocoque hull design, to provide unmatched tactical mobility. All models are extensively tested for reliability and performance in the most demanding environments. EDGE’s AL JASOOR division delivers armoured land vehicles that combine agility, mobility and versatility, and its RABDAN range of armoured fighting vehicles is a prime example of what the company offers in terms of operational advantages on both land and water. The RABDAN vehicle programme focuses on modular, multi-wheeled, amphibious armoured vehicles in both 8x8 and 6x6 configuration built for a range of mission objectives and terrain styles. The development of these components of the manned fleet to be more cost-efficient leaves the way open to develop more sophisticated unmanned systems, leveraging the autonomous capability that is rapidly emerging with the development of sophisticated robotic systems. In this area, EDGE’s acquisition of Milrem Robotics is a huge step forward. Estonia-based Milrem is Europe’s leading developer of robotics and autonomous systems, which it has been producing since 2013. These innovative robotic solutions are particularly well suited to challenging environments. Milrem’s main product is the THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle, which is the most mature UGV on the market and currently being adopted by 19 countries. “Milrem follows the same school of thought as us,” remarks Al Zaabi. “We can develop something internally or partner with someone who has gone
a bit further ahead, so the rationale for the acquisition is that they have gone beyond us in certain strengths, so we can leapfrog forward and develop further products. That allows us to move much faster and be more agile.”
“Milrem already had an autonomous vehicle that was performing how we wanted it to perform, and we had no autonomous capability, only remote- control options. So, with the acquisition, we immediately became a company with autonomous capability,” he adds.
Innovation and expansion on show Bringing such an innovative company into the fold is a major step forward for EDGE, though Milrem will operate independently, allowing it to further expand the scope of its systems development unhindered by any integration process with the rest of the group. Its role will be to maintain the essence of what made it successful in the first place, complementing the rest of the portfolio with new and more sophisticated autonomous systems that will allow the whole fleet to become even more agile and competitive. “We don’t want to lose its secret sauce,” explains Al Zaabi. “We want to maintain Milrem as a centre of excellence, drawing on its innovations to inform the choice of capabilities we want to invest in further.” That open-minded attitude is typical of EDGE’s design philosophy and its customer-driven approach to innovation, which is enabling the company to not only build a solid base of sovereign capability, but also reach out to new
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
The AJBAN MK2 is a 4x4 ballistic and blast protected light tactical patrol vehicle for a crew of five. markets across the globe.
Focusing on the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, EDGE is intent on driving sovereign capabilities for global export, as well as for the preservation of national security through advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. “We must ensure we have the ability to design and make systems in the UAE,” says Al Zaabi. “For some systems and capabilities, that is not straightforward. But it delivers reliability for our customers, which supports our objective of becoming a major driver of the economy. The result of that approach is that IDEX 2025 will see us exhibiting fewer concepts and more products that are ready to be deployed.”
While it will be showcasing major steps forward in autonomous capability, with revolutionary systems emerging from its expanded portfolio of companies, EDGE will also be emphasising that when it comes to rigorously tested, battlefield- ready vehicle systems, it is still determined to lead the way. EDGE is all about creating effective force multipliers, which not only means creating technologically sophisticated capabilities that complement traditional platforms, but also providing the rugged, reliable and adaptable platforms on which those new systems rely. At IDEX 2025, EDGE will be proving that it has the full force package. ●
www.edgegroup.ae
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