Adcom Systems
Emirati UAV maker born from a denied US drone sale.
Adcom Systems is an Emirati drone maker based in the United Arab Emirates, consisting of 20 private companies. The company started building drones in the UAE as early as 2002. It took on the challenge of creating an unmanned combat aerial vehicle for the UAE Air Force after the United States refused to sell General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper technology.
Adcom originally made missiles, then moved to strategic radars, and later to UAVs and advanced communication systems. Its main drones can fly at high altitudes for long periods while carrying up to ten missiles. The company produces a drone series called Yabhon, which includes the Yabhon HALE (high-altitude long-endurance) and Yabhon MALE (medium-altitude long-endurance). Its largest drone, the United 40, is named for the 40th year of the UAE union when it was built. Adcom also makes the Yabhon NSR, described as the first UAV in the world designed to hunt other UAVs.
For exports, the Nigerian military bought the Yabhon Flash-20 from the UAE in 2016. In December 2018, Algeria’s Ministry of Defence revealed it had acquired and was operating at least two Yabhon United 40 UAVs and two Yabhon Flash-20 UAVs.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Aerospace Technology
- Predecessor
- <!-- or
- Founded
- 1991
- Founder
- Dr Ali Al Dhaheri
- Hq Location
- Mussafah
- Hq Location City
- Abu Dhabi
- Hq Location Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Key People
- Dr Ali Al Dhaheri, Chief Designer
- Products
- Yabhon United 40 / Yabhon NSR
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Adcom began producing drones as early as 2002 in the United Arab Emirates. The company rose to the challenge of producing unmanned combat aerial vehicles for the United Arab Emirates Air Force as a result of the United States denying the sale of General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper technology. Adcom began as a missile manufacturer before moving on to developing strategic radars and then to UAVs and advanced communication systems. Its main drones are designed to fly at high altitudes and fly for hours while carrying up to 10 missiles. Adcom manufactures a series of drones referred to as Yabhon which includes the Yabhon HALE and Yabhon MALE. Its largest drone is known as the United 40, named in honor of the 40th year of the UAE union when the drone was built. It also manufactures the Yabhon NSR, which is described as the first UAV in the world to hunt other UAVs.
Reader's Guide
Adcom Systems holds significance as an Emirati manufacturer that filled a national defense gap after the United States refused to sell MQ-9 Reaper technology. The company's history shows a progression from missile manufacturing to strategic radars and then to UAVs and advanced communication systems. Its Yabhon series includes high-altitude long-endurance and medium-altitude long-endurance drones capable of carrying up to 10 missiles. The United 40, its largest drone, commemorates the 40th year of the UAE union. The Yabhon NSR is noted as the first UAV in the world designed to hunt other UAVs. Export records show that in 2016 the Nigerian military procured Yabhon Flash-20 from the UAE, and in December 2018 the Algerian Ministry of Defence revealed it had procured and was operating at least two Yabhon United 40 UAVs and two Yabhon Flash-20 UAVs. These exports indicate the company's role in supplying UAVs to foreign militaries.
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