Flight International - 04

Defence Strategy
Design for Jeniah unmanned
combat air vehicle was unveiled
Edge
million stake in High Lander, an
Israeli specialist in air traffic management
solutions for unmanned
air vehicles (UAVs). It was Edge’s
second Israeli tie-up since the
signing of the Abraham Accords,
after agreeing in 2021 to
work with Israel Aerospace
Industries on
counter-UAV systems.
While the Israeli
deals are politically
symbolic – until 2020,
the UAE did not acknowledge
the Jewish
State’s existence – Almulla
says that when it
comes to potential partners,
“we look at
capabilities, not
countries”. Abu
Dhabi has
“excellent
relationships with most countries”,
he notes; a fact borne out
at IDEX, which featured exhibitors
from Russia and China as well as
Ukraine, Israel and NATO members.
“The bottom line is that if we feel
we can achieve our objectives
with an acquisition
or business partnership,
we will take it to the
board,” he says. The
idea is to integrate
Edge chief executive Mansour Almulla
technologies that
help to supercharge
Edge’s existing portfolio.
“We are seeking
true partnerships
to achieve
capabilities that
sit with us
and can be
exported,”
he adds.
Edge’s growth comes with
challenges, Almulla admits. One
of these is industrialising and nurturing
an extensive supply chain
within and beyond the UAE. “We
have now to be ready to deliver in
large numbers,” he says. However,
he believes the business is focusing
on the growth areas of the future,
including counter-UAV systems and
all aspects of cyber warfare.
Intellectual property
Most importantly, he maintains that
his nation does not want to remain
dependent on foreign partners
for its security. “We are a country
which has traditionally bought
all the equipment we need from
overseas,” he says. “Now we are
setting about developing our own
capabilities and retaining our IP
[intellectual property].” ◗
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April 2023 Flight International 19