PJ120 Turbojet
EDGE Group has entered the jet engine business with the PJ120 turbojet. Its Powertech division started serial production roughly a month before showing an early production model at Eurosatory in Paris. The engine produces 1,200 N of thrust, or approximately 270 lb. The class is for small cruise missiles, powered munitions and uncrewed air vehicles. But the broader point is industrial. EDGE wants to build a key part of its missile supply chain inside the UAE.
Why EDGE Needs Powertech
Less than 18 months before this milestone, EDGE was formed into Powertech. So the pace shows how quickly Abu Dhabi wants to convert defense plans into local production. Powertech offers a dedicated engine house for piston engines, small turbojets and future turbofan work for EDGE.
The PJ120 turbojet engine will give EDGE an in-house power source for weapons requiring compact air-breathing power. Suppliers remain limited and can delay production of missile engines. Export controls may also slow access. This gives EDGE more control over cost, timing and upgrades locally in engine output.”
Local Engine Boosts Dark Wing and WSM
The engine will power two EDGE weapons, the Dark Wing precision-guided munition and the WSM cruise missile,’ said Powertech CEO Marian Lubieniecki. That link makes the PJ120 more than just a test project. It directly ties in to EDGE’s growing strike portfolio.
Dark Wing is a modular, autonomous strike system. It can use different seekers and payloads for each mission. Meanwhile, WSM gives EDGE a cruise missile option within its smart weapons line. All these systems, taken together, show a clear plan: use local engines, use local weapons, and then find export buyers.
Wider Market Opens for EDGE Systems
EDGE also seeks foreign orders for the PJ120 turbojet. A Polish delegation visited Powertech’s UAE headquarters last month, it is understood, to discuss propulsion options in particular. That visit doesn’t guarantee a sale, though. But it does indicate that buyers are looking at new suppliers for small missile engines.
The market logic is obvious. Many armed forces now want cheaper strike systems that they can produce in larger numbers. Compact turbojets are important because they can power cruise missiles, target drones and long-range UAVs. Powertech can tap into a high-demand niche if it can deliver reliable output at a fair price.
Strategic Value for EDGE
There are three key ways the PJ120 turbojet enhances EDGE. Firstly, it reduces dependence on external engine suppliers. Second, it ties active UAE weapons to propulsion work. Third, it provides EDGE with a product that may have export customer interest.
Defense watchers will be monitoring the production rate. Reliability will be important too. Another key indicator will be the testing of the Dark Wing and WSM missiles with the new engine. If EDGE can demonstrate cost control and delivery speed, the PJ120 could be the maturing UAE missile industry.
Key Developments
Look for endurance numbers, production figures, export deals and WSM flight tests. Follow Powertech’s growth from small turbojets to larger turbofans for heavier UAVs and next-generation strike platforms.
References
- https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/edge-launches-small-turbojet-engine-production-through-powertech
- https://defensenewstoday.info/
- https://www.safran-group.com/pressroom/edge-and-safran-sign-joint-venture-term-sheet-next-generation-missile-development-2026-06-16
- https://www.turbinetechnologies.com/portals/0/pdfs/gas_turbine_tech_sheets/royalmilitaryacademyofbelgium.pdf
- https://edgegroup.ae/
- https://defensenewstoday.info/defense-news/
- https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/edge-launches-small-turbojet-engine-production-through-powertech
- https://edgegroup.ae/powertech
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