EDGE has completed the first dynamic firing test of its UAE-developed 155mm Extended Range Full Bore (ERFB) artillery projectile, advancing the country’s indigenous ammunition development programme. Designed and manufactured by LAHAB, the company’s medium- and large-calibre ammunition producer, the projectile was fired from a 52-calibre barrel, with test rounds following predicted trajectories and landing within the target area while demonstrating consistent grouping and tight dispersion. The trial assessed compatibility with weapons built to the Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding standard, alongside chamber pressure measurements, impact accuracy and the structural integrity of projectile components. The next phase will involve arena testing to measure effectiveness, followed by qualification against Military Standard requirements and NATO Standardization Agreement 4224, with safety and operational suitability evaluations still required before the ammunition can enter service. The development is part of EDGE’s HAZEEM programme, which aims to establish a fully UAE-based artillery ammunition manufacturing capability. The company is also increasing production in other ammunition categories, with its automated 40mm grenade ammunition line reaching full-rate production and an annual capacity of up to 1.5 million rounds. The facility automates cartridge case and projectile manufacturing, final assembly and belting, while a real-time monitoring system tracks output and identifies production issues. These investments are intended to expand domestic ammunition manufacturing, strengthen the UAE’s defence industrial base and improve its ability to meet military requirements through locally produced systems.
