U.A.E.’s EDGE Unveils the Region’s First Multi-Domain Test Range

U.A.E.'s EDGE revealed the inauguration of 'X RANGE,' marking the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region's first international facility for testing, evaluating, and training in defense, aerospace, and commercial products.

The facility, situated on a highly secure 350km2 island, will cater to air, land, sea, and electronic warfare domains.

Mansour Al Mulla, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, emphasized that the X RANGE would deliver sophisticated, flexible, and comprehensive testing capabilities to the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South Asia.

The X RANGE will provide exclusive testing services and facilities for platforms, systems, and subsystems, offering modular advanced testing capabilities with industry-leading mobile equipment and instrumentation. The facility aims to accelerate the development of various defense technologies, including infantry weapons, smart weapons, autonomous systems, naval vessels, C4I systems, ISTAR systems, and EW solutions. It will be made available for commercial use by third-party clients in the near future.

The X RANGE, organized into four distinct sectors – North, East, South, and West – features a diverse array of facilities designed to cater to specific testing needs.

X RANGE North: This section encompasses a dedicated shoreline for conducting amphibious landing training and exercises. Additionally, it includes modern shooting ranges and training facilities, as well as an Urban Training Village specifically designed for Close Quarters Battle (CQB), physical combat, and fast-roping training.

X RANGE East: The East sector is equipped with a fully operational 3,800x60m illuminated concrete runway. It also hosts UAV testing zones, a Test Planning Centre, Range Control Centre, surveillance radar, a state-of-the-art digital telemetry system, a vehicle test facility, a large drone hangar, and facilities for client accommodation, office space, storage, and workshops.

X RANGE South: This section focuses on various testing areas, including aerial propulsion testing, environmental stress testing, an arena testing facility with instrumentation, a crew cabin, and a control cabin. Additionally, it accommodates tests for directed-energy weapons, GPS spoofing, signal jamming, and features a floating dock with a crew cabin and control cabin.

X RANGE West: The West sector features a 1,200m concrete runway designed specifically for unmanned aircraft. It includes facilities for testing robotic moving targets for direct fire support weapons, a dedicated missile target area, and mobile demonstration platforms.