EDGE, a top-tier global advanced technology and defence company, has unveiled the ‘X RANGE’ facility, a pioneering testing, evaluation, and training ground for defence, aerospace, and commercial products within the GCC region.
Launched at the Dubai Airshow 2023, the X RANGE stands as the region’s first international defence testing ground, offering comprehensive testing services for a variety of domains, including air, land, sea, and electronic warfare.
Located on a 350km2 secured island, the X RANGE is equipped with a 3,800m runway for large aircraft and a 1,200m runway for unmanned aircraft. The facility boasts capabilities for testing a vast array of systems, from infantry and smart weapons to C4I and EW solutions, with a focus on providing detailed analytics to hasten product development.
Mansour Al Mulla, EDGE Group’s Managing Director and CEO, described X RANGE as a significant addition to the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South Asia’s defence capabilities, reflecting EDGE’s dedication to advancing global and local defence and security.
The facility features a range of testing environments, including an urban training village, a digital communications network, and a dedicated shoreline for marine exercises. High-precision video, telemetry, and data acquisition systems support the testing of various munitions and EW equipment.
X RANGE is poised to expand its capabilities to include unmanned aircraft performance, missile guidance tests, helicopter fire testing, and environmental stress testing for land vehicles, among other services.
Omar Al Zaabi, President of Trading & Mission Support at EDGE Group, emphasised the strategic importance of the X RANGE, noting that it provides customers and partners with access to state-of-the-art testing solutions, right in the UAE.
The comprehensive X RANGE facility is divided into several sectors:
- X RANGE North offers shoreline training for amphibious operations, modern shooting ranges, and an urban training village.
- X RANGE East includes a fully operational runway, UAV testing zones, and a range control center, among other advanced testing and support facilities.
- X RANGE South focuses on aerial propulsion, environmental stress testing, and directed-energy weapons testing.
- X RANGE West features a runway for unmanned aircraft, moving robotic targets, and a dedicated missile target area.
With these capabilities, the X RANGE aims to become a strategic asset for the future of security and defence testing in the region and beyond