IDEF 2025: Emirati company Calidus offers MATV 4x4 armored vehicle armed with Alheda missiles for rapid strike capability.

At IDEF 2025, held in Türkiye, UAE defense company Calidus presented one of its latest variants of its 4×4 MATV (Multirole All-Terrain Vehicle), designated MATV004, equipped with two quadruple launchers for the Alheda missile system. This marked the first appearance of the MATV-Alheda configuration at a Turkish venue. The MATV004 was displayed alongside several other Emirati systems, including the Wahash 8×8 Light Infantry Fighting Vehicle (LIFV) and the Barq rocket launcher.
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The combination of the MATV004 and Alheda missile system illustrates a coherent effort by Calidus to offer a scalable, protected, and highly mobile strike capability for modern battlefield conditions. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The MATV001, first introduced at IDEX 2025, serves as the base version in the series. It is a 4×4 armored multipurpose vehicle with a gross vehicle mass of 14,000 kg, powered by a 360 horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. This combination yields a power-to-mass ratio of nearly 26 horsepower per tonne. The platform is equipped with a double-wishbone independent suspension, two-speed transfer case, and 395/85R20 tires. It reaches speeds of up to 120 km/h on roads and has a combat range of 700 kilometers. Its off-road capabilities include climbing gradients of 70%, negotiating 40% side slopes, traversing 400 mm vertical obstacles and 750 mm-wide trenches, and fording water depths of up to 850 mm. The MATV001 measures 6.2 meters in length, 2.6 meters in width, 2.4 meters in height, and offers 40 mm of ground clearance. The cabin accommodates five personnel, two in the front and three in the rear, accessible via two front-hinged doors on each side, with a flatbed at the rear for carrying resupply loads or mission equipment.

The MATV004 variant, designed to carry the Alheda missile system, is a modified configuration of the base vehicle, optimized for firepower integration. Unlike the five-seat MATV001, the MATV004 is configured for three personnel, creating space for the missile launcher. It retains the same suspension, drivetrain, and off-road capabilities, while enabling installation of weapon systems such as two quadruple Alheda missile pods. Protection levels for all MATV variants remain undisclosed and are described only as “High Protection Level as per STANAG 4569.” This designation implies a resistance level consistent with MRAP-class vehicles. The vehicle supports a payload of 3,900 kg, allowing for modular armor packages, weapon mounts, or specialized systems. Other MATV variants include a troop transport configuration accommodating ten personnel, and a two-person reconnaissance version. The entire MATV family was developed and manufactured by Emirati engineers, with emphasis on modular design and localized production capacity.

The Alheda missile, also spelled as Al Heda or Al-Heda, was originally revealed during IDEX 2023 and is produced by the Missile & Defence division of Calidus under a memorandum of understanding signed with Tawazun Technology & Innovation (TTI), the UAE’s defense R&D authority. Alheda is a 140 mm-diameter, 1.8-meter-long, 37 kg missile designed for short-range ground-to-ground and air-to-ground engagements. It has a maximum range of approximately 10 kilometers. The missile’s guidance options include semi-active laser (SAL) and imaging infrared (IIR) seekers. Mid-course navigation is managed by an inertial navigation system (INS), and terminal targeting is handled by either SAL or IIR, depending on configuration. Warhead types are modular and selectable between high-explosive and anti-tank variants, making the system suitable for engaging both stationary and mobile targets. Alheda launchers were seen at IDEX 2025 mounted on MATV004, the Wahash-based 8×8 LIFV using the Nefer turret with a Russian 2A42 30 mm cannon, and the Nimr Hafeet 6×6 integrated with the Mirsad-II electro-optical system combining day and thermal imaging, short-wave infrared, and laser designator components.

Additional versions of the Alheda missile launcher were exhibited, including a single-rail system and a twin-rail configuration intended for unmanned ground vehicles. A similar missile, Suhail, was also on display in the Tawazun Council pavilion. The Suhail is designed for anti-ship roles, targeting small naval craft from land or sea-based platforms with an 8 km range and IIR guidance. Alheda was described as adaptable across vehicle types and operational scenarios. During IDEX 2025, Calidus also exhibited other systems including a reconnaissance 4×4 vehicle with enhanced mobility and surveillance equipment, a twin 35 mm close-in air defense turret mounted on the Wahash 8×8, and the Lahab 155 mm artillery turret, which was highlighted as the first of its kind produced in the region. These systems were developed within Calidus’s Abu Dhabi-based manufacturing facilities by trained UAE personnel.

Procurement details related to MATV and Alheda systems were officially announced during IDEX 2025. On the first day, the Tawazun Council disclosed an AED 1.809 billion contract, approximately €456 million, for the acquisition of an unspecified number of MATV vehicles. On the second day, a larger contract valued at AED 3.76 billion, approximately $1 billion, was signed for the Alheda missile system, making it the largest single defense agreement of the exhibition. These agreements were part of a broader total of AED 9.8 billion in deals signed during the event, covering 18 contracts with both domestic and international companies. According to Breaking Defense, Calidus displayed multiple Alheda-equipped vehicles, including heavy trucks and light armored platforms, in an outdoor exhibit space. Official imagery released by Tawazun confirmed the Alheda mounted on multiple vehicle types, although the total number of missiles and launchers purchased was not disclosed.

The appearance of Calidus at IDEF 2025 and the signing of major procurement contracts highlight the UAE’s emphasis on indigenous system development. Calidus is not limited to ground platforms; its B-250 trainer aircraft is already in service with the UAE Air Force, and the company has previously signaled intent to expand its portfolio further. At IDEX 2025, Calidus announced plans to develop seven new defense systems, including the first 8×8 vehicle fully designed and built in the region. As part of its long-term strategy, the company plans to establish additional technology partnerships with foreign defense firms and create local production lines for advanced weapon systems. These developments form part of the UAE’s defense industrialization efforts aimed at achieving self-sufficiency, promoting national talent, and reducing dependence on foreign imports through sustained investment in local R&D and manufacturing infrastructure.

The MATV004 equipped with the Alheda missile system illustrates a combination of vehicle mobility, modular design, and short-range precision strike capabilities. While the MATV family offers protected mobility across multiple terrain types and configurations, the Alheda missile brings a tactical firepower element with configurable seekers and warheads. The dual contracts awarded for these systems reinforce their status within the UAE’s modernization plans and represent a large portion of the state’s announced defense investments for 2025. Their deployment at IDEF 2025, alongside other UAE-designed platforms and munitions, contributes to a wider pattern of Emirati participation in international defense events and signals continued commitment to expanding its domestic defense production capabilities.