DESERT STING: HALCON lightweight precision glide weapon family

Photo: EDGE Group (edgegroup.ae)

United Arab EmiratesPrecision-guided glide weaponIn production

Lightweight air-to-surface glide weapons for aircraft and UAVs, built in Abu Dhabi

DESERT STING is a family of lightweight air-to-surface precision-guided glide weapons produced by HALCON, EDGE Group's missile company in Abu Dhabi. Sized for light aircraft and UAVs, it is in production for the UAE Armed Forces, which have placed contracts worth billions of dirhams since 2019.

23 kgDS-16 weight

16 km (30,000 ft release)DS-16 range

3 m CEPDS-16 accuracy (SAL)

45 kgDS-25 weight

USD 1 billion (DS-8/DS-16)2019 UAE contract

AED 4.7 billion (DS-25)2023 UAE contract

What is DESERT STING? Overview and development

DESERT STING is a set of small glide weapons designed to be carried in numbers by unmanned and light aircraft. The family runs from the DS-5 through the DS-8 and DS-16 to the DS-25. All use GNSS-aided inertial navigation, and a semi-active laser seeker is available as an option for higher accuracy.

The weapon was one of the first big programmes of the EDGE era. On 19 November 2019, at the Dubai Airshow and only weeks after EDGE was launched, HALCON announced a USD 1 billion (AED 3.6 billion) contract to supply DS-8 and DS-16 weapons weighing 15-23 kg to the UAE Armed Forces. HALCON then operated eight production facilities and three laboratories. A further AED 3.2 billion (USD 871 million) UAE contract followed at the 2021 Dubai Airshow, covering DESERT STING weapons of 10-50 kg together with THUNDER guidance kits, according to Janes.

DESERT STING DS-16 and DS-25 design and performance

The DS-16 weighs 23 kg and carries a 15 kg blast-fragmentation warhead with steel balls. It is 1,000 mm long with a 129 mm diameter and a 323 mm wingspan. Released from 30,000 ft it glides up to 16 km. Accuracy is 10 m CEP with GNSS/INS guidance and 3 m CEP with the semi-active laser seeker.

The DS-25 is a heavier weapon aimed at light armoured vehicles. It weighs 45 kg, with a 25 kg warhead using tungsten cubes that can penetrate 8 mm of rolled homogeneous armour, and has a lethal radius of about 40 m. The weapon is 1,300 mm long, 178 mm in diameter and has a 433 mm wingspan, with a range of 14 km from 30,000 ft. It is designed to be carried on multiple racks on aircraft and UAVs, and it shares its flight control, actuator and electronics components with the DS-16.

DESERT STING production and UAE contracts

At IDEX in February 2023 HALCON received an AED 4.7 billion UAE Armed Forces contract for the DESERT STING 25. EDR Magazine reported that production of the DS-25 was planned from the third quarter of 2025. The same publication reported an order for 7,000 DS-16 units, half of them in the semi-active laser version, with output running at 50 units per shift.

Much of the work stays inside the company. HALCON makes circuit boards, most mechanical parts and harnesses, and handles surface treatment in-house. Explosive filling is carried out by LAHAB, another EDGE entity. The UAE Armed Forces are the only confirmed operator.

DESERT STING specifications: weight, warhead, range and accuracy

Family variants	DS-5, DS-8, DS-16, DS-25
Guidance	GNSS-aided inertial navigation; optional semi-active laser seeker
DS-16 gross weight	23 kg
DS-16 warhead	15 kg blast-fragmentation with steel balls
DS-16 length / diameter	1,000 mm / 129 mm
DS-16 wingspan	323 mm
DS-16 max range	16 km from 30,000 ft
DS-16 accuracy	10 m CEP (GNSS/INS), 3 m CEP (SAL)
DS-25 gross weight	45 kg
DS-25 warhead	25 kg, tungsten cubes; 8 mm RHA penetration; ~40 m lethal radius
DS-25 length / diameter	1,300 mm / 178 mm
DS-25 wingspan	433 mm
DS-25 range	14 km from 30,000 ft

DESERT STING variants: DS-5, DS-8, DS-16 and DS-25

DS-5Smallest member of the family.

DS-8Light glide weapon ordered with the DS-16 in 2019.

DS-1623 kg glide weapon with 15 kg warhead and 16 km range; GNSS/INS or SAL guidance.

DS-2545 kg weapon with a 25 kg warhead for light armoured vehicles; ordered by the UAE in 2023.

How did DESERT STING come to be? Development and industrial background

DESERT STING belongs to the first generation of EDGE-era programmes. EDGE was launched in November 2019, and on 19 November 2019 at the Dubai Airshow HALCON announced a USD 1 billion (AED 3.6 billion) contract for DS-8 and DS-16 weapons weighing 15-23 kg.

The family now has four named members. The DS-5 is the smallest, the DS-8 was ordered with the DS-16 in 2019, the 23 kg DS-16 has a 15 kg warhead and 16 km range, and the 45 kg DS-25 carries a 25 kg warhead for light armoured vehicles. The DS-25 shares flight control, actuator and electronics components with the DS-16, which reflects a common design base.

Where is DESERT STING produced? Manufacturer, partners and local content

HALCON is based at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi and designs and builds its guided weapons largely in-house. At the time of the 2019 contract it operated 8 production facilities and 3 laboratories.

EDR Magazine records the extent of that work for DESERT STING: HALCON produces circuit boards, most mechanical parts, harnesses and surface treatment itself, while the EDGE entity LAHAB carries out explosive filling. An order for 7,000 DS-16 units, half in the semi-active laser version, was reported with production running at 50 units per shift. DS-25 production was planned from the third quarter of 2025.

Who has ordered or tested DESERT STING? Contracts and service use

The UAE Armed Forces are the only confirmed operator, and each public contract has come through UAE announcements at major shows. The 2019 deal was followed in November 2021 by an AED 3.2 billion (USD 871 million) contract covering DESERT STING weapons described as 10-50 kg for unmanned and light aircraft, together with THUNDER guidance kits, according to Janes.

In February 2023 at IDEX HALCON received an AED 4.7 billion contract for the DESERT STING 25. Published sources describe it as designed for multiple racks on aircraft and UAVs. The EDGE REACH-S UAV is separately listed as able to carry the DESERT STING 16.

DESERT STING compared with other UAE air-delivered weapons

DESERT STING sits at the light end of the UAE's guided air-to-surface range. The DS-16 weighs 23 kg and the DS-25 45 kg, whereas HALCON's THUNDER kits convert Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs of 250 and 500 lb into guided weapons, and AL TARIQ extends Mk 80-series bombs to stand-off ranges.

The practical difference is carriage. Weapons of this weight can be carried in numbers by small aircraft and UAVs. Published sources give ranges of 16 km for the DS-16 and 14 km for the DS-25, both from 30,000 ft, so DESERT STING is a short-reach, high-count option, not a stand-off weapon.

DESERT STING timeline: key dates from the 2019 contract to DS-25

November 2019EDGE is launched as a consolidation of 25 UAE entities.
19 November 2019At the Dubai Airshow HALCON announces a USD 1 billion contract for DS-8 and DS-16 weapons.
November 2021A further AED 3.2 billion UAE contract covers DESERT STING weapons together with THUNDER kits.
February 2023At IDEX HALCON receives an AED 4.7 billion contract for the DESERT STING 25.
2025DS-25 production is planned from the third quarter, according to EDR Magazine.

Which countries use DESERT STING?

United Arab EmiratesIn service

About HALCON: who builds DESERT STING

HALCON (EDGE Group)

HALCON is EDGE Group's missile and precision-weapons house, based at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi. It designs and manufactures guided weapons, guidance kits and loitering munitions largely in-house. At the time of the 2019 DESERT STING contract it operated 8 production facilities and 3 laboratories. Its other lines include the THUNDER kits, the HUNTER loitering munitions and the SKYKNIGHT air-defence missile.

DESERT STING FAQ: range, weight and operators

What is DESERT STING?

DESERT STING is a family of lightweight precision-guided glide weapons for aircraft and UAVs, made by HALCON of EDGE Group in the UAE.

What is the range of the DESERT STING 16?

The DS-16 has a maximum range of 16 km when released from 30,000 ft. The heavier DS-25 reaches 14 km from the same altitude.

How much does a DESERT STING weigh?

The DS-16 weighs 23 kg with a 15 kg warhead, and the DS-25 weighs 45 kg with a 25 kg warhead.

How accurate is DESERT STING?

The DS-16 achieves 10 m CEP with GNSS/INS guidance and 3 m CEP with the optional semi-active laser seeker.

Who makes DESERT STING?

HALCON, EDGE Group's missile and precision-weapons company at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi. EDGE entity LAHAB fills the explosives.

Which countries use DESERT STING?

The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, which placed contracts in 2019, 2021 and 2023, including AED 4.7 billion for the DS-25.

When was DESERT STING first ordered?

The first publicly announced DESERT STING contract came on 19 November 2019 at the Dubai Airshow: USD 1 billion (AED 3.6 billion) for DS-8 and DS-16 weapons for the UAE Armed Forces.

What are the members of the DESERT STING family?

The DESERT STING family comprises the DS-5, DS-8, DS-16 and DS-25. The DS-5 is the smallest and the DS-25 weighs 45 kg.

How big is the DESERT STING 25 warhead?

The DESERT STING 25 carries a 25 kg warhead using tungsten cubes that can penetrate 8 mm of rolled homogeneous armour, with a lethal radius of about 40 m.

How far does the DESERT STING 25 fly?

The DESERT STING 25 has a range of 14 km when released from 30,000 ft. It is 1,300 mm long, 178 mm in diameter and has a 433 mm wingspan.

How many DESERT STING 16 weapons were ordered?

EDR Magazine reported an order for 7,000 DESERT STING DS-16 units, half of them in the semi-active laser version, with production running at 50 units per shift.

Who fills DESERT STING warheads?

Explosive filling for DESERT STING is carried out by LAHAB, another EDGE entity, according to EDR Magazine. HALCON makes circuit boards, most mechanical parts and harnesses in-house.

Can UAVs carry DESERT STING?

Yes. DESERT STING weapons are designed for unmanned and light aircraft. The EDGE REACH-S UAV is listed as carrying up to four DESERT STING 16 guided bombs.

How much have DESERT STING contracts been worth?

Publicly announced UAE contracts include USD 1 billion in 2019 (DS-8 and DS-16), AED 3.2 billion in 2021 (with THUNDER kits) and AED 4.7 billion in 2023 (DESERT STING 25).