ADASI, the regional leader in autonomous systems and services, today officially launched the first UAE-made high-performance ‘Garmousha’ vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone in a deal with the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the UAE Armed Forces.
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs unveiled the new unmanned system at the EDGE stand, UMEX 2020, currently underway at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until 25 February.

Aimed at further advancing air operations and enhancing performance, the new Garmousha Drone is a light military unmanned aircraft designed to carry payloads of approximately 100kg with an endurance of six hours and 150km. A new platform offering greater endurance, higher payload, an integrated high-definition camera and coverage of a larger surface area, the helicopter provides optimal operational flexibility allowing militaries to save manned helicopters for critical missions. The Garmousha drone can also be used to detect gas pipeline leaks, to survey infrastructure, and for search and rescue operations. Its advanced capabilities are expected to reduce the overall cost of operations.

Speaking on the announcement, His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, EDGE, said: “Drone technology is revolutionising our world, creating safer and cheaper alternative to manned aircraft. As an unmanned system, the launch of the sophisticated Garmousha Drone helps advance ADASI’s vision for the future of defence, while strengthening the company’s position as the regional leader in autonomous systems and services.”

For his part, Ali Al Yafei, CEO of ADASI, said: “We are proud to launch a product that is made in the UAE. The Garmousha Drone is designed to be extremely competitive in the market and will enable us to offer our clients the accuracy required to stay on the leading edge of tomorrow. At ADASI, we are continuously adapting to meet our customers’ needs, and this product underpins our concerted efforts to identify a gap in the market, and act on it.”

The drone can simultaneously carry a wide variety of payloads, including a stabilised electro-optical sensor for day and night ISR collection. With a low-consumption diesel engine, its unmanned navigation and concurrent sensor capabilities make it a versatile system capable of solving some of the most difficult challenges in rugged environments.

ADASI is the official Strategic Partner of UMEX 2020 and is part of the Platforms & Systems cluster within EDGE, an advanced technology group for defence and beyond, that was inaugurated in November 2019.