At the 2025 Paris Airshow, UAE-based advanced technology group EDGE and global defence leader Thales formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the production and maintenance of Thales’ advanced electro-optic systems. This strategic partnership aims to strengthen the UAE’s sovereign defence capabilities by localizing key technologies through sustainable industrial solutions within the country.
The agreement will see EDGE’s Electro-Optic Centre of Excellence (EOCE) and Thales collaborate on developing dedicated capabilities in the UAE to support a range of Thales’ cutting-edge optronic systems currently used by the UAE Armed Forces. Key focus areas include:
- Hand-Held Thermal Imagers (HHTI): Maintenance of the SOPHIE family of thermal imagers, providing superior detection and identification support for ground forces.
- Weapon Sights: Local support for the XTRAIM weapon sights, which integrate red dot sighting with thermal imaging in a compact, high-performance system.
- Electro-Optic Vehicular Cameras: Maintenance and support for advanced vehicular optronics designed to enhance crew awareness and targeting across armored platforms.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, President of Technology and Innovation at EDGE; Alexis Morel, Vice-President of Optronics and Missile Electronics at Thales; and Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales UAE. The ceremony was attended by senior executives including Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE, Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO of Thales Group, and Pascale Sourisse, President of Thales International.
Dr. Kasmi emphasized the partnership as a vital step in building centralized, mission-critical electro-optical maintenance capabilities to enhance operational readiness and lifecycle support for defence technologies. Abdelhafid Mordi highlighted the collaboration’s alignment with the UAE’s strategic vision to localize defence readiness, strengthen the local industrial ecosystem, and reinforce the nation’s leadership in the global defence sector.
