EDGE returns to Jordan’s SOFEX with autonomous and precision-strike portfolio

Key Points

1. UAE defence group EDGE will exhibit autonomous, electronic warfare and cyber systems at SOFEX 2026 in Aqaba.
2. The 15th edition runs 27–29 October under the patronage of King Abdullah II of Jordan.
3. EDGE says its exports now reach more than 100 countries, with over 80% of products made domestically.

The latest:

UAE state-backed defence group EDGE will bring autonomous systems, electronic warfare tools, cybersecurity services and precision munitions to the 15th Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference in Jordan, held 27–29 October at the Aqaba International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The company described Jordan as an important market and framed the show as a platform for industrial partnerships across the region, according to a statement carried by WAM.

Details:

• The venue: SOFEX 2026 is staged under the patronage of Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the Aqaba International Exhibition and Convention Centre, running 27 to 29 October, according to the EDGE statement published by Emirates news agency WAM. It is the 15th edition of the special operations exhibition.
• The return: EDGE last took part in SOFEX in 2024, and said its return reinforces a commitment to defence innovation, local partnerships and a shared vision for indigenous defence production in the Middle East. The statement did not disclose the size of the company’s delegation or stand.
• The pitch: Harry Dawson, EDGE’s Director of International Business for the Middle East and Africa, said the group sees common ground with Jordan on building local capability and technological expertise, and described its ambition as “long-term industrial collaboration” built through knowledge exchange.
• Autonomous systems: The display will include fixed-wing and rotary-wing unmanned aerial systems configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, shown alongside electro-optic systems the company says provide coverage and tactical support across air, naval and ground domains.
• Electromagnetic spectrum: EDGE will show vehicle-mounted counter-drone systems for detection and defeat, radio frequency jamming for convoy protection, electronic protection for satellite navigation receivers, autonomous border surveillance, and an aircraft-mounted cellular system designed for search and rescue missions.
• Cyber offering: In the digital domain, the company will present cybersecurity solutions spanning attack surface management through to incident response. EDGE did not name any customers or contracts tied to the cyber portfolio.
• Precision effects: The stand will carry loitering munitions, guided-glide weapons and guidance kits built to function with or without satellite navigation — a nod to GPS-denied environments — plus an air defence missile system, air-delivered and artillery munitions, small arms, small-calibre ammunition and non-lethal technologies.
• Platforms on show: Visitors will also see armoured vehicles and naval patrol vessels, extending the showcase into land and maritime platforms rather than systems alone.
• Export scale: EDGE said its export business now spans more than 100 countries after a period of sustained growth, and that more than 80% of its products are manufactured in the UAE — a share it links to assured supply, sustainment management and through-life support for partners. No revenue figures were given.

Background:

EDGE is the Emirati defence conglomerate formed to consolidate the UAE’s military industrial base, and SOFEX is Jordan’s flagship special operations trade show, drawing procurement officials and manufacturers to Aqaba for three days of displays and meetings.

Between the lines:

The portfolio EDGE is taking to Aqaba tracks what regional buyers have been purchasing since drone warfare reshaped procurement: counter-drone systems, jamming, and guidance kits that still work when satellite navigation does not. The emphasis on domestic manufacturing and through-life support reads as a pitch to governments wary of export restrictions from traditional suppliers.

What’s next

Watch for any Jordanian or regional procurement announcements during the 27–29 October run in Aqaba, and whether EDGE converts its stated interest in industrial collaboration into a named local partnership or production agreement.