Can you give us an overview of EDGE?

 

EDGE is an advanced technology group, bringing about agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond. Consolidating over 25 leading entities and employing more than 12,000 brilliant minds, EDGE offers expertise in five core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Cyber Defence, Electronic Warfare & Intelligence and Mission Support. We are reimagining capabilities through integrated innovation and technology leadership with research and development at its core.

 

How will the formation of EDGE benefit the defence industry in the Middle East and beyond?

 

In servicing the UAE Armed Forces and Security Agencies, EDGE is a strategic partner for customers, vendors and countries, helping to secure nations with a wide range of disruptive products in line with world-class standards. We work closely with front-line operators to ensure that we understand the intricate and intuitive needs of the defence industry. Converging commercial market innovation with military capabilities, EDGE will work with everyone: partners big or small; start-up or established; local or global.

 

What technologies do you predict will impact the aerospace and defence industry in the next five years?

 

Technology is constantly changing, impacting the way we seek opportunities and deal with challenges. At EDGE, we are leveraging advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials, with a focus on artificial intelligence across all of our products and services. These technologies are expected to create an absolute impact in the industry, bringing in supply chain efficiencies and new value propositions. EDGE will invest extensively across R&D, attracting exceptional talent from around the world to design and deploy transformational technologies. We are looking to disrupt across a wide array of industries within the UAE economy, and those regionally and internationally too. 

 

What are EDGE’s long-term plans? 

 

EDGE will develop breakthrough technologies with an initial focus on national security. However, our longer-term plans include the diversification and adaptation of our innovations to fit other industries, through technology spinoffs.

 

What are EDGE’s key objectives at the Dubai Airshow 2019?

 

The aerospace industry offers us a variety of prospects while being a key enabler for economic growth. Our primary objective at the Dubai Airshow is to showcase some of the advanced technologies we intend to apply within the aerospace industry. We aim to display the capabilities and expertise of our 11 participating subsidiaries, that include: ADASI, AMMROC, Al Tariq, Beacon Red, EARTH, EPI, ETS, GAL, Halcon, Horizon and Jaheziya. We will also focus on establishing our credentials in the aerospace and defence industry, making key announcements and deepening our relationships with industry partners.