XRANGE Expands Operations With New Runway And Advanced Facilities For Defence And Aerospace

XRANGE, based in Abu Dhabi and managed by REMAYA, has expanded its capabilities to better serve defence, aerospace, and commercial clients. This facility now includes a secondary runway, two emergency runways, an environmental test centre, a Drone Training Village for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and increased airspace for customer operations. These enhancements aim to improve service delivery and operational flexibility.

The new 1.2 km asphalt secondary runway at Abu Al Abyad Airfield supports developmental UAS operations. It complements the existing 3.8 km primary runway by doubling the capacity for simultaneous UAV flight operations. This addition enhances operational efficiency and flexibility for conventional take-off and landing activities.

Two 800 m emergency runways further enhance recovery capabilities during in-flight emergencies. They ensure safe extraction of UAS systems while keeping the main runways available for other users. This setup improves overall safety and accessibility for various testing scenarios.

XRANGE now offers component-level environmental testing with electrodynamic shaker tables, temperature and humidity conditioning chambers, and drop-testing facilities for up to 40 kg of high explosives (HE). These facilities allow clients to conduct comprehensive tests on their components under various conditions.

The newly completed UAS Drone Training Village supports low-level UAS testing in simulated urban settings. It facilitates AI training to recognise urban elements and provides first-person-view (FPV) training for drone operators, enhancing their skills in realistic environments.

Expanded Airspace Access

Through collaboration with Al Dhafra Air Operations Centre (AOC), XRANGE has introduced extended airspace access via a NOTAM Extension. Clients can now utilise an optional 100 km x 25 km air corridor west of Abu Al Abyad Island, cleared up to 10,000 ft. This extension offers more space for diverse testing activities.

XRANGE has also launched ruggedised sensors that can be installed on test platforms. These sensors capture vital data on noise, vibration, shock, and blast pressure across multiple systems like UAVs, land vehicles, maritime platforms, and weapon systems. The data aids customers in making informed decisions during platform development.

Vehicle Blast and Ballistics Testing

A new Vehicle Blast and Ballistics testing capability is being developed at XRANGE. This service will assess the resilience of civilian or military armoured vehicles against threats such as small arms fire, grenades, RPGs, anti-personnel mines, and anti-tank mines. Testing will adhere to International Test Standards like STANAG-4569.

Haitham Awinat, CEO of REMAYA, stated that XRANGE was created to "push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of conducting critical TT&E activities in the UAE." He added that these upgrades significantly enhance operational flexibility while helping clients speed up product development processes.

These advancements at XRANGE are designed to provide comprehensive support to clients across various sectors. By expanding its facilities and capabilities, XRANGE aims to deliver efficient solutions tailored to meet diverse testing needs within the region's growing market demands.

With inputs from WAM