Yabhon United 40

The Yabhon United‑40 is a twin‑engine, medium‑range transport aircraft developed by the United Arab Emirates‑based aerospace company Adcom Systems. Its design work began in 2014 as part of the Emirates’ strategic effort to create a domestically produced, low‑cost alternative to imported cargo platforms such as the C‑130 Hercules. The prototype first flew in March 2018 and entered limited service with the UAE Armed Forces the following year, marking the first fully indigenous transport aircraft to achieve operational status in the Gulf region.

Key features include a high‑mounted, all‑metal wing with a 38‑meter span, a spacious 24‑meter cargo bay capable of carrying up to 12‑tonnes of payload or 70 troops, and a rear loading ramp with automated tie‑down points. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 turboprop engines delivering 2,800 shp each, the United‑40 offers a cruising speed of 560 km/h and a range of 4,500 km with maximum load. Advanced avionics suite, fly‑by‑wire flight controls, and a reinforced landing‑gear enable operations from semi‑prepared airstrips.

The aircraft’s significance lies in demonstrating the UAE’s growing aerospace capability, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, and providing regional operators with a versatile platform for humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and tactical airlift missions.