UAE's EDGE and Turkey's Baykar sign contract to arm AKINCI drone with AL TARIQ munitions

EDGE, a UAE-based defense group, and Turkey's Baykar signed two agreements at the SAHA 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul on Thursday to expand cooperation on unmanned aerial vehicles and precision-guided munitions, WAM reported.

The deals deepen an existing strategic partnership between the two companies.

What does the EDGE and Baykar AKINCI contract involve?

Under the first contract, Baykar will support EDGE in integrating and demonstrating the AL TARIQ precision-guided munitions on the Bayraktar AKINCI unmanned combat aerial vehicle.

The AL TARIQ is an all-weather, day-and-night, long-range munition. The AKINCI is a high-altitude, long-endurance platform designed for multirole operations.

Who signed the EDGE Baykar agreement at SAHA 2026?

The first contract was signed by Hamad Al Marar, managing director and CEO of EDGE, and Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar. Al Marar said the defense industry is moving toward integrated, end-to-end solutions, and the partnership with Baykar reflects that shift.

He added that integrating EDGE weapon systems with the AKINCI platform demonstrates collaborative innovation in delivering precision and operational flexibility.

Bayraktar said the cooperation would expand operational options for AKINCI users. "With this strategic collaboration, we are enhancing the capabilities of our platforms while further strengthening our global partnerships and leading position in the defense industry," he said.

What did the second EDGE Baykar agreement cover?

A second agreement established a commercial framework for both companies to market and offer each other's products as part of their customer portfolios.

That contract was signed by Murat Kilinc, business development director at Baykar, and Yousef Al Blooshi, senior sales manager at EDGE. The arrangement also creates opportunities for broader cross-selling across their defense product ranges.

What is the history behind the EDGE and Baykar partnership?

The two companies have been expanding their cooperation for several years. An earlier deal integrated the DESERT STING 16 guided-glide weapon onto the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle.

Turkey has become a major producer and exporter of armed drones in recent years, while the UAE has expanded investment in advanced defense manufacturing and military technologies.