EDGE Group’s LAHAB Reaches Full-Rate 40mm Ammunition Production
LAHAB, a business of the UAE’s EDGE Group, says its automated 40mm grenade ammunition line has reached full-rate production, with capacity for up to 1.5 million rounds a year. The announcement was reported on October 22.
The line has been running since late 2025 and delivers finished, belted 40x53mm rounds. EDGE said manual labour requirements fell by nearly 60%.
LAHAB Moves Its 40mm Line to Full-Rate Production
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operator | LAHAB, an EDGE Group business |
| Product | 40x53mm grenade ammunition, supplied as finished belted rounds |
| Capacity | Up to 1.5 million rounds a year |
| Status | Full-rate production; line running since late 2025 |
| Labour effect | Manual labour requirements down by nearly 60% |
| Customers | Not named |
| Reported | October 22, 2026 |
Mohammed Arbabi, chief executive of LAHAB, said the change “enables greater annual output, improved efficiency, and reduced reliance on manual operations.” The company has not named customers for the rounds.
Three Automated Modules and a Live Dashboard
The line is split into three automated modules. One handles cartridge case assembly and filling, a second handles projectile filling and assembly, and a third covers final assembly and belting.
A live dashboard shows throughput and the status of each module, so operators can correct deviations during a run. The company presents this as part of a broader move to what it calls Industry 4.0 production methods.
EDGE’s Wider Automation Push
LAHAB is one of several EDGE units to automate. The group said that in 2025 it completed more than 68 Industry 4.0 projects across 28 production facilities and doubled capacity at 13 entities.
| Unit | Change | Reported result |
|---|---|---|
| LAHAB (40mm line) | Three-module automated line | Manual labour down nearly 60%; up to 1.5 million rounds a year |
| HALCON (DESERT STING 16) | Automated assembly | Production volume up 130%; labour content down 23% |
| CARACAL | Automated storage and retrieval | Storage density up about 80%; operations three times faster; no extra warehouse needed |
Small-calibre grenade ammunition is consumed in volume, and several countries have moved to expand output since the war in Ukraine began. Whether the 1.5 million figure matters commercially will depend on who buys the rounds, which EDGE has not said. That reading is analysis, not a company claim.
EDGE Group Company Profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Founded | November 5, 2019 |
| Founder | Faisal Al Bannai |
| Employees | About 12,000 or more (Wikipedia, undated) |
| Structure | About 25 companies, formed from Emirates Defence Industries Company, Emirates Advanced Investments Group and Tawazun Holding |
| Known products | REACH-S UAV, Desert Sting and Thunder guided munitions, SHADOW and HUNTER loitering munitions |
LAHAB 40mm Ammunition FAQ
What is LAHAB?
A business within EDGE Group, the UAE defence conglomerate, that produces ammunition.
What does the line produce?
Finished, belted 40x53mm grenade ammunition.
How many rounds can it make?
Up to 1.5 million rounds a year at full-rate production.
How much labour does automation save?
EDGE says manual labour requirements fell by nearly 60%.
Who buys the ammunition?
No customers have been named.
- Defence Industry Europe – “EDGE’s 40mm ammunition line reaches full-rate production with capacity for 1.5 million rounds a year” (October 22, 2026): defence-industry.eu
- Wikipedia – EDGE Group (company data)
