ISTANBUL, TÜRKIYE — May 13, 2026 : EDGE Group and Baykar have signed two strategic agreements at the SAHA 2026 International Defence, Aerospace and Space Industry Exhibition aimed at strengthening cooperation in unmanned combat aerial systems, precision-guided weapons integration, and international defence marketing initiatives.
The agreements, announced during the SAHA 2026 exhibition held at the Istanbul Expo Center from May 4 to 8, focus on integrating EDGE’s AL TARIQ family of precision-guided munitions onto Baykar’s Bayraktar AKINCI unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), while also establishing a joint commercial framework allowing both companies to market products from each other’s defence portfolios.
AL TARIQ Integration on Bayraktar AKINCI
The primary agreement formalises the integration of EDGE’s AL TARIQ precision-guided munition family onto the Bayraktar AKINCI platform.
The contract was signed by Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EDGE Group, and Haluk Bayraktar, Chief Executive Officer of Baykar.
Under the agreement, Baykar will provide technical support, system integration, and demonstration services required to certify the compatibility of the AL TARIQ weapon system with the AKINCI UCAV platform. The companies stated that the integration is intended to expand operational flexibility and improve scalable precision-strike capabilities for AKINCI operators across a range of mission environments.
The AL TARIQ family consists of modular precision-guided kits designed for Mk 81, Mk 82, and Mk 83 general-purpose aerial bombs. The system is designed for all-weather, day-and-night precision strike operations and offers stand-off engagement capability exceeding 120 kilometres in its long-range configuration equipped with wing kits.
According to the companies, the munition family supports launch operations from altitudes up to 40,000 feet at speeds approaching Mach 0.9. Guidance options include GNSS-aided inertial navigation systems, with optional semi-active laser and imaging infrared seekers. The system is also designed to support automatic target recognition, moving target engagement, and strike accuracy of less than two metres circular error probable in certain configurations.
The AKINCI platform is a high-altitude, long-endurance multirole unmanned combat aerial vehicle equipped with twin turboprop engines. The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 6,000 kilograms, payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms, operational range of approximately 6,000 kilometres, and endurance exceeding 24 hours.
Joint Commercial and Cross-Selling Framework
A second agreement signed during the exhibition establishes a formal framework for joint commercial cooperation and international marketing activities between the two defence companies.
The agreement was signed by Yousef Al Blooshi and Murat Kilinc.
The arrangement authorises both companies to include products from each other’s portfolios in future export campaigns and customer proposals. Officials stated that the framework is intended to create broader cross-selling opportunities across their wider defence product ranges while strengthening market access in international defence sectors.
The companies said the partnership reflects increasing global demand for integrated defence solutions combining unmanned aerial platforms with advanced precision-guided weapon systems.
Executive Statements
Hamad Al Marar stated that the partnership reflects a broader transition within the defence industry toward integrated end-to-end operational systems.
“The defence industry is moving towards integrated, end-to-end solutions, and this partnership with Baykar is a direct reflection of that,” Al Marar said.
He added that combining EDGE’s smart weapon systems with the AKINCI UCAV platform would provide international operators with improved precision, scalability, and operational flexibility across complex mission environments.
Haluk Bayraktar stated that Baykar’s ongoing integration of multiple munition types onto the AKINCI platform is intended to provide operators with a broader range of operational capabilities.
“With this strategic collaboration, we are enhancing the capabilities of our platforms while further strengthening our global partnerships and leading position in the defence industry,” Bayraktar said.
Expanding Strategic Defence Cooperation
The agreements represent the latest phase in a broader strategic partnership between the UAE and Turkish defence industries focused on expanding precision-strike capabilities for unmanned aerial systems.
The cooperation builds upon a previous agreement involving the integration of EDGE’s DESERT STING 16 guided-glide munition onto the Bayraktar TB2 platform.
Baykar remains one of the world’s leading UAV exporters, with the company previously reporting export agreements with nearly 40 countries and export volumes exceeding $2.2 billion in recent years. EDGE Group continues to expand the UAE’s sovereign defence manufacturing sector through investments in autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, advanced smart weapons, and integrated defence technologies for international markets.
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