UMEX 2024: Edge Group to supply 200 rotary-wing UAVs to UAE MoD

Edge Group's HT-100 was revealed at Dubai Airshow 2023. (Edge Group)

The United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) Edge Group signed a contract to supply 200 HT-100 and HT-750 unmanned helicopters to the country's Ministry of Defence (MoD) during the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) 2024 show held in Abu Dhabi from 23 to 25 January.

In a statement issued on 25 January, Edge Group said the deal is the largest order for unmanned helicopter systems from the UAE MoD. The rotary-wing unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) will be manufactured by Switzerland-based Edge entity, Anavia, which specialises in the development and manufacturing of autonomous aerial capabilities, the statement said.

Both HT-100 and HT-750 are characterised as being multirole rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed and developed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and logistics missions.

The HT-100 is a rotary-wing UAV that can carry a maximum payload of 65 kg for up to four hours 10 minutes at a speed of 120 km/h. The UAV is equipped with a 15 kW shaft turbine and utilises Jet A1 fuel. HT-100 has a length of 2.82 m, a width of 0.72 m, and a height of 1 m.

The HT-100 features a Flettner double rotor system with a rotor diameter of 3.75 m. It has a maximum fuel carrying capacity of 48.17 kg and a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 120 kg. The UAV has a service ceiling of 3,000 m (9,840 ft), and can operate in a temperature range of -25–55°C.

Technical data regarding the HT-750 UAV was not made available by Edge Group at the time of publication.