UAE Orders 76 HT-100 and 92 HT-750 Unmanned Helicopters From EDGE
The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence has awarded two contracts to EDGE Group for a combined total of 168 unmanned helicopters.
These comprise the production and delivery of 76 HT-100 and 92 HT-750 rotary-wing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) from ANAVIA, a Switzerland-based EDGE entity specializing in designing and manufacturing advanced UAS.
EDGE described the landmark deals, which were announced at the Unmanned Systems Exhibition & Conference (UMEX) and Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX) 2026, “one of the world’s largest orders to date for autonomous unmanned aerial systems.”
Meanwhile, ANAVIA CEO Jon Andri Jörg said the contracts underscore the company’s commitment to advancing unmanned intelligence and logistics through cutting-edge autonomous systems, while continuing to innovate and support the UAE’s growing defense technology ecosystem.
Unmanned Helicopters
Optimized for intelligence and data-gathering operations across varied terrain and weather conditions, the HT-100 is powered by a 15-kilowatt turbine engine that enables it to fly continuously up to six hours while carrying payloads of up to 60 kilograms (132 pounds).
The unmanned rotorcraft cruises at around 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour, and reaches a maximum range of 600 kilometers (373 miles) with a 23-kilogram (51-pound) load.
Its modular avionics allow rapid integration of a wide range of mission payloads, particularly for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
The HT-100 can operate at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), matching the ceiling of the larger HT-750.
Primarily configured for heavy-lift logistics missions, the HT-750 can carry payloads of up to 750 kilograms (1,653 pounds) and remain airborne for as long as 15 hours at speeds, reaching 222 kilometers (138 miles) per hour.
Despite its logistics focus, the unmanned helicopter is also designed to integrate a wide range of sensor payloads, including electro-optical/infrared, synthetic aperture radar, signals intelligence, LiDAR, and hyperspectral imaging.
