UAE

How UAE-made drone swarms can defeat enemy ground targets

'If one drone misses the target, other drones will be able to identify it,' says designer Khalifa Al Tamimi

Nilanjana Gupta
Nilanjana Gupta

February 21, 2022

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New aerial drones introduced by an Emirati defence company have the ability to communicate and swarm to attack enemies on the ground.

Edge's showcase event for the Hunter 2 aerial fleet took place at the Unmanned System Exhibition and Conference (Umex) in Abu Dhabi.

“Many countries are investing in counter UAV capability and technology,” said Miles Chambers, director of business development, platforms and systems at Edge.

“To combat these systems, we need to be able to invest heavily in launching multiple systems to affect the target.”

Edge's swarming drones can be sent to strike airfields or road convoys. They are based on the Hunter 2 series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) developed by its Halcon subsidiary.

“If one drone misses the target, other drones will be able to identify it,” said Khalifa Al Tamimi, design engineer at Halcon.

The aim is to hit targets precisely and minimise collateral damage. The swarming drones can be airborne in a matter of seconds. At take-off weight of 8 kilograms, the devices have a wingspan of 1.44 metres and are 1.25 metres long.

“Instead of sending a single drone, you have multiple drones that communicate with each other. They can cover more area and also identify targets faster and more efficiently,” Mr Al Tamimi said.

The Edge stand at Umex displayed drones from the Hunter range, including the tube-launched Hunter 10 that can be fired from the back of a vehicle. It carries a payload of 10kg.

The Hunter 5 was also on show at Umex. It can carry a 5kg payload to an altitude of 1,500 metres. All the aerial vehicles are designed, manufactured and assembled in the UAE.

“All of these drones are tube-launched, making them very easy to deploy rapidly in any environment,” Mr Chambers said.

Another UAV displayed at Umex was the surveillance and combat drone Reach S. With a take-off weight of 400kg it can carry a payload of up to 120kg. The drone has a wingspan of 10 metres and is 5.5 metres long.

“Edge is really focusing on developing indigenous defence capabilities in the UAE, that's both to serve the indigenous market, as well as internationally. It is certainly going to play an ever-increasing role and importance in national security around the world,” Mr Chambers said.

The Scorpio-B can be equipped with remote weapon systems, twin 40mm grenade launchers, pan-tilt-zoom cameras and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensors with the possibility to mount various payloads of up to 200kg. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
The Scorpio-B can be equipped with remote weapon systems, twin 40mm grenade launchers, pan-tilt-zoom cameras and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensors with the possibility to mount various payloads of up to 200kg. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
The VooDoo-M Multi-Mission Thermal Sight by Pixels.
The VooDoo-M Multi-Mission Thermal Sight by Pixels.
The UKRSPEC Systems drone.
The UKRSPEC Systems drone.
Robotic Targets by Marathon Target Australia.
Robotic Targets by Marathon Target Australia.
Abu Dhabi Police smart Police Car.
Abu Dhabi Police smart Police Car.
AUH Police Smart Police Car.
AUH Police Smart Police Car.
AM Industries stall.
AM Industries stall.
Mahgoub Omer attaches the foam mixer of the RS3 firefighting robot by Thermite.
Mahgoub Omer attaches the foam mixer of the RS3 firefighting robot by Thermite.
The Abu Dhabi Police VR Rowing Machine.
The Abu Dhabi Police VR Rowing Machine.
Cristanini CBRN decontamination system.
Cristanini CBRN decontamination system.
Schiebel Camcopter S-100.
Schiebel Camcopter S-100.
The Kaman Kargo drone. Victor Besa / The National
The Kaman Kargo drone. Victor Besa / The National
Emirati aeronautical engineers test the Interdata system at UMEX.
Emirati aeronautical engineers test the Interdata system at UMEX.
The Skeldar V-150.
The Skeldar V-150.
The PE-04 by Etimad.
The PE-04 by Etimad.
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DOK-ING presented Komodo, an innovative remote-controlled robotic system for operations in extreme nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) conditions at its headquarters in Zagreb. It is a unique machine that can operate in conditions of an open fire, explosion, collapse, high concentrations of explosive and toxic substances, as well as in terrorist threats.
Edge's Shadow series drone is displayed on the opening day of Umex at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Edge's Shadow series drone is displayed on the opening day of Umex at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
A Hunter 2-S drone, which can be used in 'swarming' air-to-ground attacks.
A Hunter 2-S drone, which can be used in 'swarming' air-to-ground attacks.
The Edge stand at Umex.
The Edge stand at Umex.
The Garmoosha by Edge is displayed on the opening day of Umex.
The Garmoosha by Edge is displayed on the opening day of Umex.
The QX-6, another Edge product.
The QX-6, another Edge product.
An unmanned Amed Robotic Vehicle.
An unmanned Amed Robotic Vehicle.
The 71S by Edge.
The 71S by Edge.
The QX-3 by Edge.
The QX-3 by Edge.
The Scorpio-B by Edge.
The Scorpio-B by Edge.
The Edge Shadow series.
The Edge Shadow series.
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The low down

Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films

Director: Namrata Singh Gujral

Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark

Rating: 2/5

MATCH INFO

Championship play-offs, second legs:

Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0

(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)

Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')

Derby County 0

(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)

Final

Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE) 

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

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Price: From Dh149,900

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO

Age: 30

Favourite book: The Power of Habit

Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"

Favourite exercise: The snatch

Favourite colour: Blue

8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21

  1. Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
  2. Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
  3. Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
  4. Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
  5. Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
  6. Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
  7. Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
  8. Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
RESULTS

Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.

Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.

Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.

Catchweight 80kg​​​​​​​
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.

Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.

Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.

Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.

Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.

Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.

Updated: February 21, 2022, 1:24 PM`