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The United Arab Emirates’ defence giant, EDGE Group, has launched a joint venture to accelerate the design, development and production of autonomous systems with American defence innovator Anduril.
The partnership will reportedly focus on supporting civil and defence mission sets in the Middle East and surrounding regions.
Through the collaboration, Anduril and EDGE are expected to co-develop critical capabilities that strengthen both nations’ commercial aerospace and defence ecosystems and expand access to advanced, software-defined technologies.
The joint venture will include the formation of a new jointly owned production, sales and sustainment vehicle, the EDGE–Anduril Production Alliance, which will serve as a centre of gravity for modern commercial and defence manufacturing in the region. The parties are in the process of finalising the detailed arrangements in line with the necessary US and UAE approvals required.
“Our strategic partnership with Anduril opens new pathways for EDGE to harness some of the most advanced autonomous systems engineering in the world,” according to his excellency Faisal Al Bannai, chairman of EDGE Group.
“Embedding that capability in the UAE fundamentally accelerates how we innovate, build and field next-generation systems.
“Omen exemplifies this transformation, combining deep autonomy, operational intelligence and local production to reinforce the UAE’s position at the forefront of autonomous air capability.”
The joint venture will combine EDGE’s regional presence and established trust across the Middle East with Anduril’s expertise in rapid, software-driven development and large-scale production.
Together, the two companies aim to deliver the kind of affordable, fieldable mass that modern deterrence requires – systems that are capable, scalable and ready for operational use for a wide range of commercial and defence applications.
The UAE has confirmed the acquisition of 50 Omen systems, representing a decisive investment that anchors production and will accelerate the development of future co-developed systems. The hover-to-cruise autonomous air vehicle combine the endurance, payload and autonomy of larger systems with the flexibility of a compact, runway-independent airframe. Together, the companies will take the aircraft from development to full-rate production by the end of 2028.
“Defence innovation is measured not by ideas but by the pace at which those ideas translate into capability,” according to Trae Stephens, co-founder and executive chair of Anduril.
“With EDGE, we’re aligning the means of production with the urgency of modern deterrence.”
Under the joint venture agreements, the parties will collaborate on defined projects, coordinate related business development globally, and oversee a shared portfolio of autonomous systems for military and civilian applications.
For EDGE, the joint venture brings access to Anduril’s continuously updated Lattice software platform, a foundational layer of AI-driven command and control that will supercharge both new and existing in-scope joint venture systems.
For Anduril, the joint venture creates a trusted production base in the Middle East, allowing systems conceived in California and built in Ohio to be designed, adapted and manufactured in Abu Dhabi for regional customers.
Systems for the UAE and other allies will be produced locally by the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance in the UAE, while US orders are expected to be fulfilled at Anduril’s Arsenal-1 facility in Ohio.
In addition to the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance’s expected production and sustainment facilities, Anduril is creating a permanent UAE presence with a 50,000-square foot research, development and virtual simulation centre, purpose-built to expand and evolve with future programs.
The facility will serve as a regional hub for engineering, design and prototyping – supporting the development, integration and testing of advanced autonomous systems and related hardware.
