UAE’s EDGE to Display ISR-configured Bombardier Challenger 650 Business Jet at Dubai Airshow 2019

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s “Edge,” a new government-owned defense company launched on November 5, will display its new, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)– configured Bombardier Challenger 650 jet at the upcoming Dubai Airshow 2019 (17-21 November).

Under the project, two Bombardier business planes will be modified to carry an imaging synthetic aperture radar sensor, including moving target indicator (MTI) and inverse search and rescue (ISAR) modes, plus signals intelligence (SIGINT), and sensors. There will be four operator workstations inside the aircraft; mobile and fixed ground stations will also be provided, reports AINonline.

The conversion is performed by Aquila Aerospace (formed in early 2019), owned by ADASI, which in turn, is one the over-25 companies consolidated under UAE’s Edge.

The project was reportedly launched after the UAE incurred problems with “Project Dolphin,” which involves conversion of two Bombardier Global 6000s, undertaken by the United Kingdom. “The UAE had become frustrated at the long delays and expense of converting the two Global 6000s abroad,” a company official had told AINonline.

At this year’s edition of International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) held in Abu Dhabi (17-21 February), the UAE Joint Aviation Command showed off its new UH-60M Armed Black Hawks (ABH), for the first time. Abu Dhabi has announced it will display the gunship at the Dubai Airshow-2019.

The country was the launch customer for ABH integrated weaponization kit, announcing an order for 24 UH-60Ms plus the weapons kit at IDEX-2011. Installation of the kits is performed by AMMROC (Advanced Military Maintenance Repair Overhaul Center), an Abu Dhabi-based joint venture between the Emirates Defense Industries Company (EDIC), Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin.

AMMROC comes under the umbrella of defense firms under Edge. The other subsidiaries include Nimr, Abu Dhabi Ship Building, Al Tariq, Caracal, Emirates Advanced Research and Technology Holding, Al Hosn, Al Jasoor, Al Taif, APT, Beacon RED, EPI, ERS, ETS, GAL, Halcon, Horizon, Jaheziya, Knowledge Point, Lahab, Remaya, and Sign4l. Edge will also adsorb Emirates Defence Industries Company, Tawazun Holding as well as Advanced Investments Group.