IDEX 2025: GIDS aims to set the loitering munition market ablaze
The Blaze-50 and its siblings are AI-enabled and feature AI precision targeting (Photo: author)
At IDEX 2025, Global Industrial Defence Solutions (GIDS) unveiled the Blaze family of loitering munitions: the Blaze-25, Blaze-50 and Blaze-75.
GIDS has been showcasing a range of UAVs at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi this week. The most noteworthy among them was the three newly unveiled members of the Blaze family of loitering munitions.
The Blaze-25, weighing 25kg, is the smallest family member. Unlike the other members, it is electrically powered, with the propulsion system giving the loitering munition a range of 75km, an endurance of 60 minutes and the ability to carry an anti-tank warhead weighing between 8kg and 10kg.
The Blaze-50 and Blaze-75 are the larger members, both powered by a gasoline engine. The former has a maximum range of 180km, an endurance of 60 minutes and a 20kg payload. The heavier Blaze-75 has a longer maximum range of 500km and endurance of 240 minutes while carrying a 30kg pre-fragmentation warhead.
Related Articles
Farnborough 2022: Blaze reveals Spider UAV at Farnborough Airshow
The unveiling of the Blaze loitering munitions comes at a time when the loitering market is flourishing, powered by the proven effectiveness of the capability in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Russo-Ukrainian War.
According to Shephard’s Defence Insight, the market was worth US$817 million in 2022 and grew 123.5% to $1.8 billion in 2024, with Germany’s recent procurement of 10,000 HX-2 loitering munitions for Ukraine an example of the market's vitality.
Among the other products the Pakistani company is displaying in Abu Dhabi have been the UAV Ranger, a twin-boom hybrid VTOL platform, with an endurance of 4,500m and a maximum altitude of 4,500m. It also showed the Beetle, a quadcopter aircraft which can carry, and subsequently drop, three 60mm explosives or surveillance payloads. It has a ceiling of 3500mm, a range of 5–7km, and an endurance of 60 minutes in its surveillance configuration, which is reduced to 40 minutes when loaded with bombs.
Finally, GIDS also showcased the Shahpar II and Shahpar III fixed-wing UAVs, the latter of which was first shown at IDEF 2023 in Turkey.
Shephard's IDEX 2025 coverage is sponsored by Shephard News Subscriptions:
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from IDEX 2025 | View all news
-
![IDEX 2025: Aselsan introduces new air-burst round with C-UAS mission in mind]()
IDEX 2025: Aselsan introduces new air-burst round with C-UAS mission in mind
Aselsan revealed at IDEX 2025 that it has been developing a 25mm calibre air-bursting munition known as ATOM 25.
-
![IDEX 2025: Embraer pushes counter-UAV capabilities for its Super Tucano]()
IDEX 2025: Embraer pushes counter-UAV capabilities for its Super Tucano
Embraer is looking to position its Super Tucano aircraft to Middle Eastern countries at IDEX to join current customers Lebanon and Afghanistan.
-
![IDEX 2025: Sichuan Jinji unveils new ZJ01 all-terrain vehicle]()
IDEX 2025: Sichuan Jinji unveils new ZJ01 all-terrain vehicle
While China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) markets much of the equipment developed in China for land forces, smaller Chinese contractors are also contributing to military vehicle development.
-
![IDEX 2025: Calidus 8×8 Light Infantry Fighting Vehicle enters production]()
IDEX 2025: Calidus 8×8 Light Infantry Fighting Vehicle enters production
The new Light Infantry Fighting Vehicle (LIFV) builds on Calidus’s experience with its Wahash (8×8) vehicle.
-
![IDEX 2025: EOS to fire R500 remote weapon station for potential customers this year]()
IDEX 2025: EOS to fire R500 remote weapon station for potential customers this year
The R500, the latest remote weapon station (RWS) designed by EOS, was unveiled at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi. It joins the smaller R400 and Slinger, as well as the large R600 and R800 systems, in the company’s portfolio.
-
![IDEX 2025: Hyundai unveils 105mm light SPH and 81mm mortar vehicle for ROK Army]()
IDEX 2025: Hyundai unveils 105mm light SPH and 81mm mortar vehicle for ROK Army
Two elements of the South Korean company Hyundai, WIA Business and Hyundai Rotem Group, have joined forces to develop two highly mobile indirect fire systems, the 105mm Light Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) and vehicle-mounted 81mm mortar system.
