AL TARIQ: UAE precision-guidance kit for Mk 80-series bombs

Q: What is AL TARIQ?

AL TARIQ is a modular kit that adds precision guidance and, in its LR form, extended range to Mk 81, Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs. It is made by AL TARIQ, part of EDGE Group, in the UAE.

Q: What is the range of AL TARIQ?

The wingless AL TARIQ S reaches 30-45 km, depending on release conditions. The AL TARIQ LR, with pop-out wings, exceeds 120 km.

Q: Is AL TARIQ a South African design?

It is derived from Denel Dynamics' Umbani kit and began in 2012 as Tawazun Dynamics, a UAE-Denel joint venture. It is therefore a co-developed weapon, now produced by an EDGE Group company.

Q: What guidance does AL TARIQ use?

Options are GNSS/INS, semi-active laser, and imaging infrared with automatic target recognition. The IIR seeker gives accuracy of under 2 m.

Q: Which aircraft carry AL TARIQ?

Integration on UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters was reported in 2013. The kit connects through MIL-STD-1760/DIGIBUS or a wireless tablet interface.

Q: Which countries use AL TARIQ?

The United Arab Emirates is the confirmed operator; HALCON received an AED 1 billion contract for AL TARIQ-LR with Block II upgrades in 2023.

Q: When did AL TARIQ start?

The AL TARIQ programme started in 2012 as Tawazun Dynamics, a joint venture between the UAE (51%) and Denel of South Africa (49%).

Q: What is AL TARIQ derived from?

AL TARIQ is a derivative of Denel Dynamics' Umbani guidance kit. It is therefore a co-developed weapon, not a purely indigenous UAE design.

Q: How many AL TARIQ kits has the UAE received?

Times Aerospace says the UAE received 600 AL TARIQ kits under two initial programmes, MBARC I (250 kits) and MBARC II (350 kits). EDR Magazine adds that several thousand have been produced to date.

Q: What is the AL TARIQ production rate?

EDR Magazine reports an AL TARIQ production capacity of 1,000 weapons a year, with 600 kits delivered in 2023.

AL TARIQ: UAE precision-guidance kit for Mk 80-series bombs

Photo: EDGE Group (edgegroup.ae)

United Arab EmiratesPrecision-guidance kitIn production

Modular guidance and range-extension kit for Mk 80-series bombs, derived from Denel's Umbani

AL TARIQ is a modular precision-guidance and range-extension kit for Mk 80-series bombs, made by the EDGE Group entity of the same name in Abu Dhabi. Co-developed with South Africa's Denel and derived from its Umbani kit, it is in production and in service with the UAE Air Force.

> 120 kmRange (LR, with wing kit)

30-45 kmRange (Standard, no wings)

Mk 81 / Mk 82 / Mk 83Bomb classes

< 2 mIIR seeker accuracy

1,000 kits per yearProduction capacity

AED 1 billionUAE contract (2023)

What is AL TARIQ? Overview and development history

AL TARIQ converts unguided Mk 81, Mk 82 and Mk 83 general-purpose bombs into all-weather, day-and-night precision weapons. The programme began in 2012 as Tawazun Dynamics, a joint venture owned 51% by the UAE and 49% by Denel. The kit is a derivative of Denel Dynamics' Umbani, so it is a co-developed weapon rather than a purely indigenous UAE design. The company now belongs to EDGE Group's Missiles & Weapons cluster, and recent UAE contracts have been placed through HALCON.

Integration on the UAE Air Force's Mirage 2000-9 fighters was reported in November 2013, and EDR Magazine dates the first production kit to November 2015. Times Aerospace says the UAE received 600 kits under two initial programmes: MBARC I with 250 kits and MBARC II with 350.

AL TARIQ guidance, range and capabilities

The kit is offered in two main forms. AL TARIQ S has no wings and reaches 30-45 km, depending on release conditions. AL TARIQ LR adds a pop-out wing kit and extends stand-off range to more than 120 km. Sources are not fully aligned on the shorter figure: EDR quotes 30-45 km for the Standard version, while Times Aerospace gives up to 40 km.

Customers can choose GNSS/INS guidance, a semi-active laser seeker or an imaging infrared seeker with automatic target recognition. The IIR seeker, which EDR says is produced in-house, gives accuracy of under 2 m. On the aircraft side the kit uses a MIL-STD-1760 or DIGIBUS interface. A wireless tablet-based shallow integration is also available for platforms without a full digital interface.

At the 2021 Dubai Airshow EDGE announced integration on the 1,000 lb HSLD 450/Mk 83 bomb, together with a new GNSS anti-jam capability and a flight-qualified height-of-burst sensor. A 500 lb penetration warhead was then in final integration. EDR also reports a 2,000 lb-class Mk 84 kit in development, with about 40 km range without wings.

AL TARIQ production and UAE contracts

At IDEX in February 2023 HALCON received an AED 1 billion UAE Armed Forces contract for AL TARIQ-LR precision-guided munitions with Block II upgrades. According to EDR Magazine, the production line can turn out 1,000 weapons a year. EDR says 600 kits were delivered in 2023 and several thousand have been produced in total. The UAE is the only confirmed operator.

AL TARIQ is one of three air-delivered precision weapon lines now grouped under EDGE, alongside HALCON's THUNDER kits and DESERT STING glide weapons, giving UAE aircraft guided options across several weight and range classes.

AL TARIQ specifications: bombs, range, guidance and interfaces

Compatible bombs	Mk 81 (250 lb), Mk 82 (500 lb), Mk 83 / HSLD 450 (1,000 lb)
Range - AL TARIQ S	30-45 km (no wing kit)
Range - AL TARIQ LR	Over 120 km (pop-out wing kit)
Guidance options	GNSS/INS; semi-active laser; imaging infrared with automatic target recognition
Anti-jamming	GNSS anti-jam capability (integrated 2021)
Fuzing	Height-of-burst sensor (flight-qualified 2021)
Aircraft interface	MIL-STD-1760 / DIGIBUS, or wireless (tablet) shallow integration
Capability	All-weather, day/night

AL TARIQ variants: S, LR and Mk 84 kit

AL TARIQ SStandard kit without wings, 30-45 km range depending on release conditions.

AL TARIQ LRLong-range kit with pop-out wings giving more than 120 km stand-off range; Block II upgrade ordered in 2023.

Mk 84 kit (in development)2,000 lb-class kit reported by EDR as in development, with about 40 km range without wings.

How did AL TARIQ come to be? Development and industrial background

AL TARIQ started in 2012 as Tawazun Dynamics, a joint venture in which the UAE held 51% and South Africa's Denel 49%. The kit is a derivative of Denel Dynamics' Umbani, which makes it a co-developed weapon, not a purely indigenous UAE design.

Early milestones are well dated. Integration on UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters was reported in November 2013, and EDR Magazine dates the first produced kit to November 2015. The initial deliveries came under two programmes, MBARC I with 250 kits and MBARC II with 350, which together gave the UAE 600 kits according to Times Aerospace.

Where is AL TARIQ produced? Manufacturer, partners and local content

The AL TARIQ company is part of EDGE Group's Missiles & Weapons cluster, and recent UAE contracts for the weapon have been placed through HALCON, another EDGE entity. EDR Magazine reports a production capacity of 1,000 weapons a year, with 600 kits delivered in 2023 and several thousand produced to date.

The imaging infrared seeker is made in-house, according to EDR. That detail matters for the local-content picture: the guidance section most associated with accuracy is not imported, even though the kit's design lineage runs back to Denel Dynamics.

Who has ordered or tested AL TARIQ? Service use and contracts

The UAE is the only confirmed operator. Its Mirage 2000-9 fighters were the first integration platform, and the kit has been described by Times Aerospace as in service and combat-proven.

The largest publicly reported contract came at IDEX in February 2023, when HALCON received an AED 1 billion UAE Armed Forces order for AL TARIQ-LR precision-guided munitions with Block II upgrades. At the 2021 Dubai Airshow EDGE had already announced integration on the 1,000 lb HSLD 450/Mk 83 bomb, a new GNSS anti-jam capability and a flight-qualified height-of-burst sensor, with a 500 lb penetration warhead in final integration.

AL TARIQ compared with other UAE precision-guided weapons

Within EDGE's air-delivered portfolio AL TARIQ occupies the stand-off kit niche. Its LR version, with pop-out wings, is quoted at more than 120 km, against 30-45 km for the Standard version without wings. HALCON's THUNDER kits for Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs are listed at 27 km and 24 km, and the DESERT STING glide weapons weigh 23 to 45 kg.

The three lines overlap in purpose but differ in weight class and reach, which gives UAE aircraft guided options at several sizes. Sources do not publish a direct comparison with foreign kits, so this page does not rank them.

AL TARIQ timeline: key dates from 2012 to the 2023 contract

2012The programme starts as Tawazun Dynamics, a joint venture between the UAE (51%) and Denel (49%).
November 2013Integration of the kit on UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters is reported.
November 2015The first AL TARIQ kit is produced, according to EDR Magazine.
November 2021At the Dubai Airshow EDGE announces integration on the HSLD 450/Mk 83 bomb and new GNSS anti-jam capability.
February 2023HALCON receives an AED 1 billion UAE contract for AL TARIQ-LR with Block II upgrades.
2023EDR Magazine reports 600 kits delivered during the year.

Which countries use AL TARIQ?

United Arab EmiratesIn service

About AL TARIQ (EDGE Group): who builds the kit

AL TARIQ (EDGE Group)

AL TARIQ began in 2012 as Tawazun Dynamics, a UAE (51%) and Denel (49%) joint venture, and is now part of EDGE Group's Missiles & Weapons cluster. EDGE was formed in November 2019 from more than 25 entities. Recent UAE contracts for the weapon have been awarded through the EDGE entity HALCON. EDR Magazine reports a production capacity of 1,000 weapons a year and in-house production of the imaging infrared seeker.

AL TARIQ FAQ: range, origin and operators

What is AL TARIQ?

AL TARIQ is a modular kit that adds precision guidance and, in its LR form, extended range to Mk 81, Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs. It is made by AL TARIQ, part of EDGE Group, in the UAE.

What is the range of AL TARIQ?

The wingless AL TARIQ S reaches 30-45 km, depending on release conditions. The AL TARIQ LR, with pop-out wings, exceeds 120 km.

Is AL TARIQ a South African design?

It is derived from Denel Dynamics' Umbani kit and began in 2012 as Tawazun Dynamics, a UAE-Denel joint venture. It is therefore a co-developed weapon, now produced by an EDGE Group company.

What guidance does AL TARIQ use?

Options are GNSS/INS, semi-active laser, and imaging infrared with automatic target recognition. The IIR seeker gives accuracy of under 2 m.

Which aircraft carry AL TARIQ?

Integration on UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 fighters was reported in 2013. The kit connects through MIL-STD-1760/DIGIBUS or a wireless tablet interface.

Which countries use AL TARIQ?

The United Arab Emirates is the confirmed operator; HALCON received an AED 1 billion contract for AL TARIQ-LR with Block II upgrades in 2023.

When did AL TARIQ start?

The AL TARIQ programme started in 2012 as Tawazun Dynamics, a joint venture between the UAE (51%) and Denel of South Africa (49%).

What is AL TARIQ derived from?

AL TARIQ is a derivative of Denel Dynamics' Umbani guidance kit. It is therefore a co-developed weapon, not a purely indigenous UAE design.

How many AL TARIQ kits has the UAE received?

Times Aerospace says the UAE received 600 AL TARIQ kits under two initial programmes, MBARC I (250 kits) and MBARC II (350 kits). EDR Magazine adds that several thousand have been produced to date.

What is the AL TARIQ production rate?

EDR Magazine reports an AL TARIQ production capacity of 1,000 weapons a year, with 600 kits delivered in 2023.

What is the AL TARIQ Block II upgrade?

Block II is an upgrade ordered for AL TARIQ-LR under an AED 1 billion UAE Armed Forces contract awarded to HALCON at IDEX in February 2023.

Is there an AL TARIQ kit for the Mk 84 bomb?

EDR Magazine reports a 2,000 lb-class AL TARIQ kit for the Mk 84 as in development, with about 40 km range without wings.

Who owns AL TARIQ today?

AL TARIQ is now part of EDGE Group's Missiles & Weapons cluster. Recent UAE contracts have been awarded through the EDGE entity HALCON.

Why do AL TARIQ range figures differ?

Sources differ on the Standard version: EDR quotes 30-45 km, while Times Aerospace gives up to 40 km. EDGE quotes more than 120 km for the AL TARIQ-LR with wings.