UAE’s Calidus unveils Damita 8x8 counter-drone armored vehicle with 35mm cannon and laser weapon.

Calidus Defense Company, based in the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled the Damita 8x8 self-propelled air defense system, a new mobile platform built on the Wahash 8x8 chassis and designed to counter drones and low-altitude aircraft. The system underscores the UAE’s ambition to expand its indigenous short-range air defense portfolio and strengthen its regional defense industry.

Calidus introduced its Damita Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun as the newest entry in the UAE’s expanding air defense lineup. The company describes the vehicle as a fully integrated counter-drone and short-range air defense solution on the Wahash 8x8 armored chassis. Officials say the system blends an Emirati mobility platform with a German-designed autocannon suite and an Australian-developed sensor and fire-control package. This combination gives operators a mobile platform capable of tracking, identifying, and engaging small unmanned aircraft and low-flying fixed-wing threats. The manufacturer did not fully disclose specific sensor ranges or ammunition details. These are therefore noted as assumptions based on comparable SPAAG (Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun) configurations.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The Damita is a new Emirati 8x8 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system integrating Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 35 turret, guided missiles, and a high-energy laser weapon, designed to provide layered counter-UAS and short-range air defense capabilities. (Picture source: Calidus)

The Damita stands out immediately for its layered effectors, designed to neutralize a wide spectrum of aerial threats, from Group 1 quadcopters to fast-moving fixed-wing drones. At the heart of the system is the Rheinmetall Skyranger 35 turret, a cutting-edge short-range air defense module that integrates a 35mm revolver cannon capable of firing the advanced AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction) programmable airburst ammunition. Despite Rheinmetall not being directly credited on official materials, the turret displayed matches the Skyranger 35 system down to its configuration and sensor fit, and Calidus literature quietly designates the turret as CLS-SR35, an apparent nod to its German lineage.

The Damita system’s operational edge comes from its multiple kinetic and non-kinetic effectors. Alongside the gun turret is a guided missile launcher, though Calidus has not disclosed the missile’s origin or type. Based on images and configuration, defense analysts suggest it may be compatible with the Thales Starstreak or similar short-range interceptors. This would offer a longer engagement envelope against fast or higher-altitude threats.

On the directed energy side, Calidus revealed what it calls a jointly developed laser weapon system created in partnership with Australian firm Electro Optic Systems (EOS). The laser system, showcased on a separate platform but designed to complement the Damita configuration, appears visually identical to EOS’s Apollo system, which was unveiled in London at DSEI 2023. Calidus confirmed that its high-energy laser offers an output range of 50 to 150 kilowatts, matching Apollo’s specs, and includes hard-kill capabilities against Group 1 to Group 3 UAVs. Notably, EOS had previously announced that Apollo had been selected by an undisclosed NATO member, suggesting the technology's combat-readiness.

Calidus brochures revealed a second vehicle variant not present on the Dubai show floor: the R800 Light Infantry Fighting Vehicle. This LIFV features a 30mm Remote Operated Weapon Station (ROWS) sourced from EOS. It is likely the same R800 mount used in Australia’s Bushmaster upgrades. The vehicle was absent physically, but its mention in the document indicates Calidus sees a family of mobile anti-drone vehicles. These are scalable for both heavy- and light-tactical applications.

Taken together, the Damita’s unveiling represents more than a new vehicle. It signals a new doctrine. The UAE is investing in multi-domain air defense layers in which traditional guns, guided missiles, and lasers are co-deployed on a single platform, networked for coordinated threat engagement. This mirrors trends in U.S. Army modernization with systems like the M-SHORAD and DE M-SHORAD, but with a distinctly export-oriented, modular Emirati twist.

From a defense industrial base perspective, this development shows Calidus’s growing influence in integrating Western technologies for GCC-specific threats. Calidus embeds Rheinmetall, EOS, and potentially Thales or MBDA components under an Emirati banner. The company is positioning itself as a hub for integrated air defense platforms tailored to desert, urban, and expeditionary environments.

With increasing drone threats across the Middle East, including incidents targeting infrastructure in the Gulf and Red Sea, demand for such systems is likely to grow. The Damita may not only reinforce the UAE’s domestic air defenses but also emerge as a contender in the competitive export market for mobile C-UAS systems.

Further testing and potential fielding timelines remain undisclosed, but sources close to the program suggest limited operational evaluations may begin in 2026, with interest already expressed from at least two GCC partner nations. Whether this system becomes a staple of regional air defense or a stepping stone to more autonomous solutions will depend on how Calidus manages its industrial partnerships and on Damita's performance in real-world operational trials.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.