DIMDEX 2026: Edge confirms Desert Sting integration on UAE TB2, Jernas-S succeeds Reach-S

A still taken from a promotional video released on 31 December 2025 shows a Bayraktar TB2 UAV, almost certainly at Liwa Air Base in the west of the UAE. (Edge Group)

The integration of UAE-based Edge Group's Desert Sting 16 small, guided bomb is now “complete”, Edge Group managing director and CEO Hamad Al Marar told Janes on 19 January at the DIMDEX 2026 show held from 19 to 22 January 2026.

Edge Group announced in January 2024 that it was integrating the weapon on the TB2 in collaboration with Baykar.

A Turkish Baykar-produced Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was displayed for the first time at a United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence (UAE AFAD) base for the first time in an Edge video on 31 December 2025.

Reach-S replaced

Marar confirmed that Edge's Jernas-S UAV is the successor to its Reach-S. While saying that Reach-S is still part of Edge's offering, he added that “Jernas-S is more cost-effective for our offer. It is 20% the acquisition cost of a Reach-S.”

The Jernas-S has a maximum take-off weight of 630 kg compared with Reach-Sʼ 640 kg, a payload of 155 kg compared with Reach-Sʼ 120 kg, a service ceiling of 24,000 ft compared with Reach-Sʼ 22,000 ft, a crusing speed of 220 km/h compared with Reach-Sʼ 150 km/h, and a lower endurance at 15 hours compared with Reach-Sʼ 24 hours, according to Edge. The company said Jernas-S has a range of 200 km with line-of-sight (LOS) control.

Serbia Shadows

Without specifying numbers Marar confirmed that Edge had made an agreement with Serbia to supply Shadow 25 and 50 and SM-2 UAVs, making Serbia Edge's first export customer for the Shadow.