Abu Dhabi:EDGE Group's ammunition manufacturer, LAHAB, has completed the first dynamic test firing of its 155mm Extended Range Full Bore (ERFB) artillery ammunition. The ammunition, featuring a deep intrusion fuze well, was entirely designed and produced in-house.
According to Wam, the test firing, which took place under expected launch conditions, demonstrated that all rounds maintained their predicted trajectories and impacted within the target area after being fired from a 52-calibre barrel. This confirmed consistent grouping and tight dispersion of the artillery rounds.
The trial aimed to verify compatibility with weapons built to the Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMOU) standard, as well as to confirm agreement between theoretical and measured chamber pressures and between predicted and actual points of impact, along with the structural integrity of the projectile's components. All objectives were successfully demonstrated during the test.
Saif Al Dahbashi, President of Missiles and Weapons at EDGE, stated that the first firing confirmed that chamber pressures, projectile performance, and component integrity met expectations, moving the design from the drawing board to demonstrated performance. He emphasized that developing this capability in the UAE is crucial for ensuring that customers are not dependent on external production queues.
The next phase involves arena testing to assess the projectile's effectiveness, followed by qualification to Military Standard (MIL-STD) requirements and NATO Standardisation Agreement (STANAG) 4224. Successful qualification will be a significant milestone in demonstrating Safety and Suitability for Service.
The HAZEEM programme, aiming to develop a fully UAE-made range of artillery ammunition, reflects EDGE's commitment to sovereign capability. This initiative ensures that systems are designed, manufactured, and maintained within the UAE, providing EDGE and its customers with reliable access to large-calibre ammunition.