EDGE Group and Anduril Forge UAE-US Joint Venture to Launch Omen Autonomous Aircraft
- MM24 News Desk
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
UAE’s EDGE Group and US defense technology firm Anduril are establishing the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance, a joint venture that will design, produce, and sustain next-generation autonomous systems in the UAE.
The partnership is launching with a confirmed UAE order for 50 Omen autonomous air vehicles—a novel hover-to-cruise system that combines the endurance of large drones with the flexibility of a runway-independent Group 3 airframe, accelerating the Emirates’ path to sovereign mass production of advanced autonomous systems.
This strategic collaboration marks a significant deepening of the long-standing defense partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. By combining EDGE Group’s regional leadership and industrial base with Anduril’s expertise in rapid, software-defined development, the alliance aims to deliver capable and scalable autonomous systems at a pace that modern deterrence demands.
The joint venture, reported by both companies, will serve as a central hub for modern commercial and defense manufacturing in the region, pending final U.S. and UAE government approvals.
The cornerstone of this new partnership is Omen, the first in a series of planned autonomous systems. This Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) is designed to pack the endurance, payload, and mission flexibility of much larger systems into a compact, runway-independent platform.
What makes this initiative particularly impactful is the UAE’s decisive commitment. The nation has finalized an acquisition of the first 50 Omen systems, creating a guaranteed production base that will catalyze local supply chains and establish a clear path from co-development to serial production.
H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of EDGE Group, emphasized the transformative nature of the partnership, stating, “Our strategic partnership with Anduril opens new pathways for EDGE to harness some of the most advanced autonomous systems engineering in the world. Embedding that capability in the UAE fundamentally accelerates how we innovate, build, and field next-generation systems.”
This sentiment was echoed by Trae Stephens, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Anduril, who noted, “Defense innovation is measured not by ideas, but by the pace at which those ideas translate into capability. With EDGE, we’re aligning the means of production with the urgency of modern deterrence.”
The technological backbone of systems like Omen is Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software, an AI-driven command-and-control platform. This software will enable multiple Omen aircraft to coordinate flight paths, share sensor data, and adapt their behavior in real-time, unlocking complex missions for smaller, expeditionary units.
The venture is backed by substantial investment, building on Anduril’s $850 million in mission autonomy technology and a nearly $200 million new investment from EDGE. The goal is to take the Omen aircraft from its current development phase to full-rate production by the end of 2028.
Beyond its defense applications, Omen is designed as a dual-use system. Its lightweight, foldable frame allows a two-person team to launch it in minutes without a runway. Potential civilian missions include serving as an airborne cell tower to restore communications after disasters, supporting humanitarian relief efforts, or delivering critical supplies to inaccessible areas. This versatility underscores the joint venture’s focus on addressing a wide range of regional challenges.
To support this ambitious endeavor, Anduril is establishing a permanent UAE presence with a 50,000-square-foot research, development, and virtual simulation center. This facility will act as a regional hub for engineering and prototyping.
Production for the UAE and other allied nations will be handled locally by the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance, while U.S. orders will be fulfilled at Anduril’s facility in Ohio. This structure embodies a new model for defense industrial cooperation—one that is agile, invested ahead of need, and purpose-built to deliver real capability at scale.