The agreement includes the company’s Desert Sting 16 air-to-surface glide weapon and Thunder P-31 munition conversion kits.
UAE state enterprise EDGE Group has received a contract to equip the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with precision-guided weapons.
Signed at a biennial aerospace expo in Marrakech, the agreement includes the company’s Desert Sting 16 air-to-surface glide weapon and Thunder P-31 munition conversion kits.
The deal covers aircraft modifications, software integration, and long-term sustainment for the North African military’s unmanned fleet.
The 23-kilogram (51-pound) Desert Sting 16 has a glide range of up to 15 kilometers (9 miles). It carries a 12-kilogram (26-pound) blast-fragmentation warhead with a blast diameter of 120 meters (394 feet).
The Thunder P-31 guidance kit converts standard Mk 81 aerial bombs into precision strike weapons with a range reaching 10 kilometers (6 miles) when launched from a combat UAS.
Both systems use satellite-assisted navigation with laser guidance available as an option.
EDGE did not disclose the contract’s financial value, delivery schedule, or the number of weapons involved.
“This contract is built around delivering the performance that the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s missions demand,” said Saif Al Dahbashi, president of missiles and weapons at EDGE.
“By putting mission-ready precision capabilities in the hands of the Royal Moroccan Air Force, we are establishing EDGE as a trusted partner to the Kingdom and laying the foundations for an enduring relationship.”
Eyeing Domestic Arms Production
At the Marrakech event, EDGE also signed a memorandum of understanding to explore local manufacturing opportunities in Morocco.
The proposed arrangement covers the production of small arms and aeronautical engines, with EDGE subsidiaries Caracal and Powertech expected to lead the respective efforts.
“Our model is built on knowledge exchange, local production, and technology transfer,” said Hamad Al Marar, managing director and CEO of EDGE.
“We are helping to build an industrial backbone that meets the Kingdom’s defense requirements.”
Source: Drone Front
