EDGE Jeniah Combat Drone Marks UAE Move Into Heavy Stealth Combat Drones.

EDGE Group displays the Jeniah Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle at UMEX 2026, an unmanned defense systems exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, showcasing one of the largest and most advanced platforms in its unmanned portfolio. The appearance reinforces the United Arab Emirates’ growing focus on indigenous, multi-mission autonomous air combat systems.

EDGE Group from the United Arab Emirates brought one of its most imposing unmanned platforms to the floor at UMEX 2026, showcasing the Jeniah UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle), developed by its subsidiary ADASI, at the defense exhibition in Umm Al Quwain. While not a first-time reveal, the aircraft’s size, configuration, and combat-oriented design drew attention as a visible marker of the UAE’s expanding ambitions in autonomous strike and reconnaissance aviation.
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The Jeniah UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle), EDGE Group’s largest and most advanced combat drone, showcased at the EDGE pavilion during UMEX 2026 in Abu Dhabi, highlighting its stealth design, high-speed capability, and modular strike payload system. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

As the heaviest and most formidable combat drone in EDGE’s current portfolio, Jeniah represents a major leap in the UAE’s indigenous drone development. Purpose-built for long-range strike, electronic warfare, and high-risk reconnaissance missions, the platform is engineered to conduct deep penetration operations in denied airspace while remaining largely invisible to enemy radar systems.

With a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 4,000 kg, Jeniah dwarfs previous UAVs fielded by the Emirates. Its 11-m fuselage and 7-m wingspan give it a commanding footprint while retaining a low-observable profile thanks to its angular design and internal payload carriage. The UCAV’s (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) aerodynamic efficiency is matched by its high-performance turbofan engine, allowing it to cruise at Mach 0.7 and reach speeds of over 1,000 km/h - putting it in a rare class of high-speed combat drones.

What distinguishes Jeniah in the crowded UCAV space is its modular payload capacity and operational flexibility. Capable of carrying up to 480 kilograms internally, the platform can be armed with a mix of precision-guided munitions, loitering drones, electronic attack pods, or advanced sensor payloads. Its mission adaptability makes it viable for both land strike campaigns and naval support roles, positioning it as a joint-domain combat enabler for the UAE Armed Forces.

Though EDGE has not disclosed full details about the onboard mission systems, industry insiders suggest Jeniah integrates a next-generation avionics suite designed for full-spectrum ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), autonomous target recognition, and electronic warfare. It is also expected to feature an open-systems architecture, allowing rapid integration of AI-driven capabilities and cross-platform interoperability for swarm or MUM-T (Manned-Unmanned Teaming) operations.

The public unveiling of Jeniah also reflects the UAE’s increasingly assertive defense doctrine, which seeks to transition from operator to originator of cutting-edge combat technologies. The drone’s design and mission profile indicate a strategic intent to build capabilities equivalent to those of more established drone powers like the United States, China, and Turkey, while remaining unbound by foreign export controls such as ITAR restrictions.

Jeniah’s emergence underscores EDGE’s rapid ascent as one of the most disruptive defense groups in the Global South. With an emphasis on speed-to-field, digital engineering, and export flexibility, EDGE is using platforms like Jeniah not only to meet the operational needs of the UAE military but to reshape the global UCAV market. Already, the company is showcasing Jeniah to international partners across Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe - regions actively seeking affordable, sovereign-controlled alternatives to Western drone offerings.

At a time when contested airspaces and grey-zone conflicts are reshaping the future of aerial warfare, Jeniah's introduction marks a strategic inflection point. It’s a statement of intent from the UAE’s defense establishment, and a warning to adversaries: the Gulf state's capabilities are no longer confined to the tarmac, but now reach deep into the skies - fast, silent, and armed.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.