Budapest: EDGE, a prominent advanced technology and defence group, has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Hungary's 4iG Space and Defence Technologies (SDT), a leading player in telecommunications, IT, and defence in Hungary and the Western Balkans. The agreements were signed during an official UAE state visit to Hungary, aiming to forge substantial industrial cooperation between the UAE and Hungary.
According to Emirates News Agency, the MoUs are set to catalyse a comprehensive technology partnership to develop, localise, and market advanced defence systems. These include EDGE's SKYKNIGHT air defence missile system, SHADOW 25 and SHADOW 50 loitering munitions, and VEGA and ORION unmanned air traffic control solutions. Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE, emphasized the importance of such partnerships in advancing sovereign defence technology and industrial capabilities, especially in the context of modernisation programmes necessary to counter evolving aerial threats.
Istv¡n S¡rhegyi, CEO of 4iG SDT, highlighted the milestone these agreements represent for 4iG SDT's international defence industry efforts. He expressed optimism about the partnership's potential to develop successful systems for European and African markets, thanks to EDGE's trust and openness.
The first agreement between EDGE and 4iG SDT focuses on establishing a broad technological partnership to co-develop and explore market opportunities for next-generation unmanned aerial systems (UASs), counter-UAS (C-UAS) solutions, and space technologies in Central and Eastern Europe and Africa. It also considers the establishment of a joint venture.
The second agreement aims at developing and producing EDGE's rapidly deployable SKYKNIGHT inner-layer air defence missile system and SHADOW line of precision-strike loitering munitions in Hungary. The final agreement targets offering EDGE's VEGA uncrewed traffic management and ORION drone fleet management systems to the European market, with potential joint development of air traffic control solutions. Additionally, it considers a joint venture to establish a European development and sales hub for VEGA and ORION.
These agreements follow an earlier MoU between EDGE and 4iG SDT to co-develop UAS and space technologies. The new agreements underline EDGE's commitment to strengthening ties with key European defence ecosystems and delivering jointly developed, export-ready solutions tailored to NATO countries' technological and security needs.