Aergility at UMEX 2026

Press Release

On the sidelines of UMEX and SimTEX 2026

Calidus, Hameem Technologies and Aergility Collaborate to Produce VTOL Drones Among the Most Advanced Globally

 Abu Dhabi, UAE (20 January 2026) – Calidus Holding Group, one of the leading defence and manufacturing companies, Hameem Technologies, the UAE-based technology company and Aergility, the US-based aerospace company specialising in autonomous cargo aircraft, announced a strategic partnership to develop and produce the ALRASID and ALTARESH unmanned vertical take‑off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)  and logistics missions enabled by unmanned air transport, providing a reliable capability for supply and payload delivery, enhancing operational continuity, and improving the efficiency of field support, with production taking place at the Calidus facilities in Abu Dhabi.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the seventh edition of UMEX and SimTEX 2026, organised by ADNEC Group in association with the Ministry of Defence at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, and running until 22 January.

ALRASID and ALTARESH rely on some of the world’s most advanced flight technologies – the Managed Autorotation technology, marking a major step in advancing national aerospace capabilities.  

This step reflects the advancing capabilities of national companies in the defence industries sector and the shared commitment of national companies within this strategic industrial and technological sector, in line with the UAE’s vision of leadership in advanced technology and future industries.  

ALTARESH is the mid-size vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform with the scalable technology capable of carrying up to 500lbs over 500miles, ideal for long-range autonomous logistics and operational support. ALRASID is a compact prototype designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, providing persistent, flexible aerial coverage in demanding environments. The models are scalable to mission depth: contested logistics, ISR, critical resupply, disaster response, and medical support, amongst others. All models can be configured with additional sensors, communications, edge autonomy and AI systems, in line with the companies commitment to aircraft with simple operation and cost-effective through-life support.

Commenting on this, Dr. Khalifa Murad Alblooshi, Managing Director and CEO of Calidus Holding Group said: “This partnership reflects the Group’s leadership as a fully integrated defence and manufacturing company while underscoring the strength of the UAE’s industrial ecosystem. By aligning strategic investment, local production, and breakthrough innovation, we are not only showcasing advanced platforms but also demonstrating our ability to deliver sovereign capabilities at scale, developed and manufactured in the UAE to the highest global standards - in line with the wise leadership’s vision for advancing national defence industries.”

Dr. Ahmed Daghash Aljaberi, CEO of Hameem Technologies said: “We are committed to developing advanced technologies from the earliest stages of innovation, with the goal of transferring knowledge, localising modern technologies, and contributing to the growth of the UAE’s national manufacturing capabilities in line with the ‘We Are the UAE 2031’ vision to establish the country as a global hub for technology and innovation. This partnership aligns with our goal to position Hameem Technologies as a leader in strategic technology investments. We areleveraging the UAE’s global position and the wide range of investment and funding opportunities available in various technical fields to advance future technologies.”

Nick Hall, CEO of Aergility said: "We are excited to deepen Aergility’s partnership with Calidus and Hameem Technologies as early investors in our company and as key partners in bringing our scalable Managed Autorotation technology to the UAE. Together, we are localising production in Abu Dhabi of a truly unique capability that delivers the versatility of a helicopter with the efficiency of a fixed-wing plane, without the complexity and infrastructure burden of conventional VTOL systems. This creates simple, cost-effective autonomous platforms for both defence and commercial missions at scale, further positioning the UAE as a global hub for these next generation platforms."

-ENDS-

About Calidus

Calidus Holding Group, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, is one of the leading defence and manufacturing companies in the world. With a focus on delivering next‑generation cutting‑edge solutions tailored to defence and security markets across its three clusters – Aerospace, Land Systems and Missiles and Defence Systems – Calidus designs, engineers, and produces advanced platforms that enhance mobility, protection, and mission effectiveness across diverse operational environments.

Committed to global best practices and trusted by its customers worldwide, Calidus develops modern defence solutions to redefine safety and protection for a secure future, ensuring that every solution reflects local talent, resources, and commitment to quality.

About Hameem Technologies

Hameem Technologies LLC is a company, based in Abu Dhabi, dedicated to advancing scientific and technical breakthroughs in multiple domains through strategic investment and targeted partnerships. This is in line with Hameem’s mandate to support the advancement of the UAE’s national industry.

About Aergility

Aergility is a pioneering aerospace engineering firm defining the future of unmanned cargo delivery. Our autonomous and scalable UAV technology, based on Managed Autorotation℗, combines the vertical take-off and landing versatility of a helicopter with the efficient inflight performance of a fixed wing aircraft.

Aergility delivers industry-leading technologies that are simple to operate and maintain, require minimal infrastructure, and feature few moving parts - making them highly reliable and cost-effective to run.

On track to develop an aircraft capable of carrying 500 lbs over 500 miles, our platforms are multi-mission ready, integrating cutting-edge technologies and sensors to provide fully autonomous capabilities for the toughest environments.

Aergility: Intelligent Delivery Anywhere.

https://www.wam.ae/en/article/byc8sjt-calidus-hameem-technologies-aergility-collaborate