IDEX 2025: ADASI’s Jeniah UCAV takes centre stage in Abu Dhabi

An example of the Jeniah jet-powered unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) was prominently displayed by Emirati defence conglomerate Edge Group at the IDEX 2025 defence exhibition, held in Abu Dhabu from 17 to 21 February.

Developed by Edge subsidiary Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments Co (ADASI), the Jeniah UCAV was developed over a three-year period and made its maiden flight on 15 March 2024 at the Xrange test facility 100 km southwest of Abu Dhabi. A mock-up of the UCAV was shown at IDEX in 2023.

A high-speed, low-observable UCAV designed to “meet diverse mission requirements” and deliver various munition payloads, according to Edge, the Jeniah is 11 m long, has a wingspan of 7 m and has a maximum take-off weight of 4,000 kg. The Jeniah design features a trapezoidal wing and highly canted tail fins, forward-swept jet inlets and is presumed to have in internal weapon bay to preserve its stealth characteristics.

Edge says the Jeniah has a cruising speed of up to M0.7, a maximum speed of more than 1,000 km/h and can accommodate payloads of up to 480 kg, but beyond that few further specifications for the UCAV have been revealed. Most notably, the Jeniah’s jet powerplant remains unknown at this point.