United Arab Emirates (UAE)

United Arab Emirates defense conglomerate Edge Group says it has acquired 100% of Brazilian aerospace and engineering firm Akaer, expanding its foothold in the South American country.

Visitors to the FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach, New York, are set to witness what is believed to be the first public display in the United States by a modern Chinese-built military aircraft.

The UAE's drive to lead in AAM continues with Abu Dhabi-based Lodd Autonomous launching the certification program for its Hili hybrid-electric uncrewed cargo aircraft.

MBDA’s Diamond Loitering Munition Cements UAE Ties

MBDA and its partner Fly-R have agreed to develop the Diamond loitering attack munition in the United Arab Emirates.

The war in Iran that has drawn in the wider Gulf region has also become somewhat of a testing ground for Edge Group.

The head of the UAE’s air traffic control service has explained how his country has largely kept its airspace open since the outbreak of hostilities in the Gulf this year.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Edge acquires Italian propulsion firm CMD to expand its expertise in engines and create a European propulsion hub for aeronautical, automotive and marine sectors.

Archer says it is pursuing a restricted type certificate for its Midnight eVTOL in the UAE that could enable operations in Abu Dhabi ahead of full FAA certification.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) lifted all flight restrictions over the weekend, marking the resumption of air traffic operations across the UAE.

The UAE government says it has ordered 10 Embraer C-390 airlifters with options to buy another 10.

Space42 is looking to get the go-ahead for a new generation of Earth-observation systems, while finalizing with Viasat an expansion of Equatys.

The phones are ringing at defense companies from governments urgently seeking more weapons. Often, they are being put on hold.

Kuwait, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates have asked to buy more than $16 billion worth of U.S. defense equipment.

Regime change has long been considered a boots-on-the-ground operation. Now the U.S. and Israel are trying to do it from the sky.

Gulf airlines are operating miniscule schedules, if any, after the U.S. and Israel started their war against Iran. Threats to security could slow recovery, too.

The South Korean-developed KM-SAM Block II surface-to-air missile has made its combat debut with the United Arab Emirates military.

Emirati defense group Edge has signed an MOU with Safran on the potential joint development and production of air-to-ground weapon systems.

Emirates confirmed plans to end service to Algeria in early 2027 after Algiers formally moved to terminate its bilateral air services agreement with the UAE.

Gama Aviation has opened a Business Aviation Center at Sharjah International Airport, northeast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

ST Engineering and Lodd Autonomous signed agreements for the DrN-600 UAS to be trialed in the Middle East and Hili cargo eVTOL to be marketed in Asia-Pacific.

Lockheed Martin could quadruple production of high-altitude interceptors after signing a framework for a future agreement with the U.S. military.

The UAE is eyeing major SAF export opportunities to other markets such as the European Union, which is struggling to scale up its own SAF production.

P&WC advances hybrid propulsion; GE’s hybrid Passport success; Europe’s Clean Aviation launches ultraefficient regional projects; UAE orders uncrewed VTOLs.