UAE's Edge completes first live test launch of long-range 155mm artillery shell
The UAE-based EDGE Group announced the successful completion of the first dynamic firing test of a 155mm long-range artillery shell, designed and manufactured entirely in the UAE by its LAHAB arm. The test marks the first milestone in the HAZEEM program, which aims to develop a fully Emirati-made artillery ammunition system.
The company stated that all shells fired from a 52-gauge barrel followed their predicted trajectories and landed within the target area, demonstrating consistent hit clustering and narrow dispersion.
Saif Al Dhabash, Head of Missiles and Weapons at EDGE, said: “This first firing confirms that the chamber pressures, shell performance, and component integrity have all met our expectations. It’s the moment our design moves from the drawing board to proven performance.”
The test verified the projectile's compatibility with weapons manufactured according to the Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU) standard, the agreement between expected and measured pressures and impact points, and the integrity of the projectile's structure. EDGE confirmed that the Extended Range Full Bore ammunition, which utilizes a deep-penetrating fuse cavity, met all these objectives.
Al Dabbashi added, “Artillery ammunition has become the clearest test of a nation’s ability to meet its own needs, and building this capability in the UAE means our customers are not waiting in line for someone else’s production.” The program aims to provide the UAE and EDGE’s customers with guaranteed access to ammunition designed, manufactured, and supported locally.
The next phase begins with arena testing to assess the projectile’s effectiveness, followed by qualification according to the requirements of the military standard and NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG 4224). Qualification remains the next major step toward proving safety and serviceability.
