ABU DHABI — May 15, 2026 : Emirati state-owned defence conglomerate EDGE Group has released operational test footage of its SHADOW 25 jet-powered loitering munition in a newly demonstrated canister-launched configuration, highlighting the platform’s role as a rapid-response precision strike system designed for use in electronically contested environments.
Developed by EDGE subsidiary ADASI, the SHADOW 25 is a medium-class one-way attack drone intended to conduct long-range precision strikes against fixed and hardened above-ground targets while maintaining a reduced logistical footprint and rapid deployment capability.
Platform Specifications and Operational Performance
According to company specifications and published datasheets, the SHADOW 25 carries a 25-kilogram warhead and has a baseline operational range of 250 kilometres, while some EDGE documentation lists a maximum range of up to 295 kilometres depending on mission profile and launch configuration.
The system provides one hour of endurance, allowing it to loiter over a designated target area prior to terminal engagement. Cruise speed is listed at approximately 400 kilometres per hour, although EDGE Group materials indicate operational speeds can reach up to 450 kilometres per hour.
The aircraft has a length of 2.25 metres, a wingspan of 2.15 metres and a maximum take-off weight ranging from 90 to 103 kilograms depending on the selected launch configuration. The platform can operate at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet and supports a datalink range of 100 kilometres.
Canister Launch Configuration
The newly released footage confirmed the operational use of the SHADOW 25’s sealed canister-launch architecture, designed to reduce deployment time and simplify field operations.
Stored directly inside its launch canister, the munition can be launched using a rocket-assisted booster without requiring extensive assembly, dedicated launch rails or complex pre-flight preparation procedures. EDGE Group stated that the system can move “from standby to airborne in seconds,” enabling rapid strike response during time-sensitive missions.
The canisterized configuration is intended to support expeditionary and mobile strike operations by minimizing logistical requirements and reducing the infrastructure needed for deployment. In addition to the canister launch method, ADASI states that the SHADOW 25 can also be deployed using a pneumatic launcher, providing operational flexibility based on available infrastructure and mission requirements.
Guidance and Electronic Warfare Resilience
The SHADOW 25 incorporates a multi-mode navigation and targeting system intended to maintain effectiveness in environments affected by electronic warfare, satellite navigation interference and GPS spoofing.
The platform combines Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation with visual navigation and optical guidance systems. According to company information, the onboard video navigation capability enables the munition to identify, track and confirm targets using camera imagery during terminal engagement phases, ensuring strike accuracy even if satellite navigation signals are degraded or denied.
The system has been developed with operational conditions in electronically contested environments in mind, including regions where GPS jamming and signal disruption have become increasingly common.
Domestic Production and Sovereign Capability
EDGE Group was established in 2019 through the consolidation of more than 25 Emirati defence and technology entities and has since expanded across autonomous systems, precision-guided munitions, electronic warfare and advanced defence technologies.
The SHADOW 25 forms part of the company’s broader SHADOW family of loitering munitions, which also includes the larger SHADOW 50 system. In February 2023, the United Arab Emirates awarded a contract valued at approximately $330 million for the acquisition of SHADOW 25 and SHADOW 50 systems for the country’s armed forces.
The programme reflects the UAE’s broader strategy to expand sovereign defence manufacturing capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers for advanced strike systems. By producing the SHADOW 25 domestically, the UAE retains control over the platform’s supply chain, operational parameters and deployment doctrine while avoiding foreign export licensing and re-export restrictions associated with imported loitering munitions.
The SHADOW 25 is positioned among a growing class of jet-powered loitering munitions that have gained increased international attention following recent operational use of autonomous strike systems in regional and international conflicts.
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