Created by EDGE to fast-track the development of high-technology autonomous systems, at IDEX 2025 Advanced Concepts unveiled two air defence drones designed to counter the unmanned air systems threat, both named Allag
Two drone killers were exhibited among the hundreds of products visible in the huge EDGE stand at the Abu Dhabi exhibition, that will soon become real products in the group portfolio, Advanced Concepts role being to bring new ideas to a prototype stage before handing them over to production entities.
While carrying the same name, the two systems are pretty different, as they have a completely different range of use. The shorter range is the Allag-E, where E stands for electric, propulsion being ensured by two ducted electric fans installed at the rear of the fuselage, a small booster for take-off being fitted between the two fans. The cylindrical fuselage, tapered at the rear, is 900 mm long, a 600 mm span delta wing with winglets ensuring lift, no rudder being present.
The overall mass is around 9 kg, of which 1.7 kg come from the payload. This is of the fragmentation/cutting disk type, purposely designed to optimise UAVs killing. The fragmentation lethal radios exceed 5 metres, target accuracy being better than 10 metres. The Allag-E is not a UAV in the strict sense, as after take-off it aims directly towards the target. The prototype visible at IDEX showed a JP 6-14S Lithium-Polymer 160 A battery, which weighs only 183 grams located at around two thirds of the fuselage; this allows a flight time of over 6 minutes, which considering the 250 km/h cruising speed should give a range of over 20 km, declared maximum altitude being 3,000 metres. The Allag-E is guided towards the target via a radiofrequency link which is protected as much as possible against jamming, which has a 30 km range, while in the attack phase an optical guidance system brings it as close as possible to the incoming threat, which might be an ISR drone, a multirotor UAV, or a loitering munition.
The second member of the Allag family is the Allag-TJ, the two las letters standing for Turbo Jet, which means a wholly different usage envelop. The system is made of a 1,650 mm long cylindrical fuselage with a 700 mm span low wing at around two thirds of the fuselage and an “X” shaped control surface system at the rear. At the rear we also find the turbojet engine that ensures an over 310 Newton thrust, one air intake being located both right and left. The Allag-TJ is launched from a canister under the thrust of a booster, the wings and rear fins opening after launch. With the booster the system has a mass of 29 kg, while once this is dropped the mass is of 25 kg. Its operational envelop is between 3,000 and 7,600 metres altitude, targets under the 3,000 metres mark being the responsibility of the Allag-E. The turbojet allows an average cruise speed of 720 km/h, which considering the 5±1 minutes flight time gives a range between 48 and 72 km, the estimate being probably in excess as the communications range of the radiofrequency link is limited at 60 km, the guidance system being similar to that of the electrically powered Allag.
Here too, target accuracy is better than 10 metres, the heavier 5 kg warhead, again of the fragmentation/cutting disc, ensuring a lethal radius of 10 metres.
Advanced Concept is in charge also of the command-and-control element as well as of the radar. This indicates that soon EDGE will include in its products catalogue a complete system with sensors and effectors, the mix of Allag-E and Allag-TJ being a decision of the customer.
Photos by P. Valpolini