UAE company EDGE will establish a center on a Gulf Cooperation Council island to support international defense testing and training.
Called the X Range, the site will offer services and facilities to demonstrate military platforms, systems, and subsystems for surface, air, land, and electronic warfare domains.
‘Strategic Asset’
The X RANGE will be constructed on a “highly secure” island measuring 350 square kilometers (135 square miles) with a 3.8-kilometer (2.36 miles) large runway.
The center will incorporate a separate 1.2-kilometer (0.7 miles) runway for unmanned aerial system trials and a 10,000-foot (3,048 meters) air danger area that can elevate higher in the future.
In addition, the island will have an urban village for special operations simulation, a wide-coverage digital communications network, and a specialized shoreline for naval and landing rehearsals.
“The X RANGE testing range will bring sophisticated, flexible and comprehensive testing capabilities to the heart of the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South Asia region,” EDGE Group CEO Mansour Al Mulla stated.
“This ground-breaking launch comes after relentless preparation and pursuit of the latest defence and range technologies.”
“In line with the EDGE growth strategy, X RANGE is a testament to our commitment toward the advancement of defence and security capabilities, both globally and locally, acting as a strategic asset for the future of security in the region.”
Future Integrations
After its launch, X RANGE will receive supplemental capabilities to support live fires, land vehicle stress evaluations, environmental tests, and scenario-based activities for maritime platform assessments.
Other technologies for targeting, navigation, and communications trials, as well as other simulations requiring diverse conditions, will follow on the site.
EDGE added it will offer the X RANGE services for aerospace and commercial projects on top of tactical applications.
“As we realise our goal of becoming the first defence testing range in the [Middle East and North Africa] region, we are ensuring that our local and global customers can access the most cutting-edge testing solutions in the market, accessible right here in the UAE,” EDGE Group Trading & Mission Support President Omar Al Zaabi said.
“We are immensely proud to debut the X RANGE, which will enable our customers and partners to expand their reach to new heights and depths across multiple combat environments.”