EDGE Group Fires First UAE-Made 155mm Extended-Range Artillery Round
EDGE Group’s LAHAB has completed the first dynamic firing test of a 155mm extended-range artillery projectile designed and manufactured in the United Arab Emirates. The company reported the trial on October 28, calling it the first milestone towards qualification under a programme called HAZEEM.
HAZEEM is meant to create an entirely UAE-made range of artillery ammunition. EDGE said every round fired from a 52-calibre barrel followed its predicted trajectory and landed in the target area.
LAHAB Completes the First Live Firing
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company | EDGE Group (LAHAB) |
| Round | 155mm Extended Range Full Bore, with a deep intrusion fuze well |
| Barrel | 52-calibre |
| Programme | HAZEEM, a UAE-made artillery ammunition range |
| Result | All rounds on predicted trajectories, inside the target area |
| Reported grouping | Consistent grouping and tight dispersion, per EDGE |
| Reported | October 28, 2026 |
“This first firing confirms that chamber pressures, projectile performance, and component integrity all met our expectations,” said Saif Al Dahbashi, president of EDGE’s Missiles & Weapons division. He said the design had moved “from the drawing board to demonstrated performance”.
The trial checked compatibility with weapons built to the Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding standard, agreement between predicted and measured pressures and impact points, and the projectile’s structural integrity. EDGE said each objective was met.
Why a Domestic 155mm Supply Matters to the UAE
“Artillery ammunition has become the clearest test of whether a country can supply itself,” Al Dahbashi said, adding that domestic production means customers “are not waiting in someone else’s production queue”. The programme aims to give the UAE and EDGE’s customers assured access to ammunition that is designed, made and supported at home.
Europe has faced the same problem since 2022, a theme covered in our report on India’s 155 mm shell bodies for Europe. EDGE’s pitch is that a Gulf supplier with its own ammunition line can offer an alternative source. That is analysis, not a company statement.
What a 52-Calibre Barrel Means
Calibre length is the barrel length divided by the bore diameter. A 52-calibre 155mm gun has a barrel of about 8 metres. Longer barrels let propellant burn for longer behind the shell and generally allow longer range, so extended-range projectiles are designed for them.
| Howitzer | Barrel length | Note |
|---|---|---|
| M777 | 39 calibre | Towed howitzer used by the US and allies |
| PzH 2000 | 52 calibre | German self-propelled howitzer |
| CAESAR | 52 calibre | French truck-mounted howitzer |
| Archer | 52 calibre | Swedish wheeled self-propelled howitzer |
The Qualification Road Ahead
Arena testing will next measure the projectile’s effectiveness. After that comes qualification against Military Standard requirements and NATO Standardization Agreement 4224, which EDGE called the next major milestone towards proving Safety and Suitability for Service. For how such standards work, see our explainer on NATO STANAG standards.
| Stage | Status |
|---|---|
| Dynamic firing test | Completed October 2026 |
| Arena effectiveness testing | Next |
| Qualification to Military Standard and STANAG 4224 | To follow |
| Safety and Suitability for Service | Goal |
EDGE Group Company Profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Formed from | Emirates Defence Industries Company, Emirates Advanced Investments Group and Tawazun Holding |
| Subsidiaries include | HALCON, ADASI, Milrem Robotics, KATIM |
| Orders | More than $5 billion in 2022, per Wikipedia |
| Known products | REACH-S UAV, Desert Sting and Thunder munitions, HUNTER loitering munition |
EDGE 155mm Extended-Range Round FAQ
What did EDGE test?
The first dynamic firing of a 155mm Extended Range Full Bore artillery projectile designed and made in the UAE.
What is HAZEEM?
A programme to establish an entirely UAE-made range of artillery ammunition.
Did the round meet its goals?
EDGE said all rounds followed predicted trajectories and landed in the target area, and that each test objective was met.
What comes next?
Arena effectiveness testing, then qualification against Military Standard requirements and NATO STANAG 4224.
Has EDGE disclosed the range?
No. The company has not published range or accuracy figures.
- Defence Industry Europe – “UAE’s EDGE Group completes first live-fire test of 155mm extended-range artillery ammunition” (October 28, 2026, reporting EDGE Group): defence-industry.eu
- Wikipedia – Edge Group (company data)
- Wikipedia – M777 howitzer; PzH 2000; CAESAR; Archer (barrel lengths)
