- EDGE and Anduril will establish the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance in the UAE, a jointly-owned production, sales and sustainment vehicle for next-generation autonomous systems.
- Together, the parties will collaborate on Omen, a newly-developed hover-to-cruise Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) designed to pack the endurance, payload, and mission flexibility of much larger systems into a novel runway-independent group 3 airframe.
- The UAE will acquire the first 50 Omen systems, creating a guaranteed production base, expanding local supply chains, and accelerating the country’s path toward domestic mass production of AAVs.
- Omen is the first in a series of autonomous systems envisioned under the joint venture.
EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defense groups, and Anduril, a global defense technology company, will launch a joint venture to accelerate the design, development, and production of autonomous systems to support civil and defense mission sets in the Middle East and surrounding regions. The United States and United Arab Emirates have a long-standing defense partnership rooted in shared security and commercial interests. Through this collaboration, Anduril and EDGE are deepening that alliance by co-developing critical capabilities that strengthen both nations’ commercial aerospace and defense 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 center of gravity for modern commercial and defense 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.
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 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 defense 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.
H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of EDGE Group, said: “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. 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.”
Trae Stephens, Co-Founder and Executive Chair, Anduril said: “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.”
An Alliance for Speed, Scale, and Sovereignty
Under the joint venture agreements, the parties will collaborate on defined projects, coordinate related business development globally, and oversee a shared portfolio of in-scope autonomous systems for military and civilian applications. Activities proposed for partnership through the joint venture may require U.S. and UAE government approval. EDGE and Anduril will work closely with U.S. and UAE authorities to ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations including trade compliance rules and regulations.
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. Both companies share a philosophy: move fast, invest ahead of need, and deliver real capability.
Introducing Omen
The first of many systems that will be co-developed and locally produced is Omen, a hover-to-cruise Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) that will combine the endurance, payload, and autonomy of larger systems with the flexibility of a compact, runway-independent airframe. Omen builds on Anduril’s $850 million investment in mission autonomy technology and Group 3 VTOL development, paired with nearly $200 million in new investment from EDGE. Together, the companies will take the aircraft from development to full-rate production by the end of 2028.
The UAE has finalized an initial acquisition of 50 Omen systems, creating a guaranteed production base and manufacturing system, expanding local supply chains, and accelerating the country’s path toward domestic mass production of autonomous dual use aircraft, establishing a clear transition from co-development to serial production, operational deployment, and future export to regional and international customers.
Systems for the UAE and other allies will be produced locally by the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance in the UAE, while U.S. orders are expected to be fulfilled at Anduril’s Arsenal-1 facility in Ohio.
Designed for Multi-Domain and Dual-Use Missions
Omen will provide long-range and high payload for distributed and expeditionary operations. Powered by Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software, multiple aircraft will coordinate flight paths, share sensor data, and adapt behavior in real time, enabling new missions that bring the capabilities of much larger systems to smaller, more expeditionary units.
Its lightweight, foldable frame will allow a two-person team to transport, assemble, and launch the aircraft in minutes without specialized infrastructure. Built for endurance and heavy payloads, Omen will support missions ranging from maritime surveillance and logistics resupply to air defense sensing and communications relay.
Its open, modular architecture will enable reconfiguration for diverse missions across defense and civilian domains. Beyond military use, Omen will be optimized for a variety of commercial mission sets. For example, Omen could serve as an airborne cell tower to restore connectivity after natural disasters, support humanitarian relief, or deliver critical supplies to remote areas when ground access is cut off.
Built and Produced in the UAE
In addition to the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance’s expected production and sustainment facilities, Anduril is establishing a permanent UAE presence with a 50,000-square-foot research, development, and virtual simulation centre, purpose-built to expand and evolve with future programmes. 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.
By co-investing ahead of need and embedding production capacity in the UAE, EDGE and Anduril are shortening the distance between concept and fielded capability. The joint venture represents a concrete step toward a more agile, self-reliant commercial and defense industrial base—one designed to produce real systems, at scale for the missions that matter most.
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Bingen, Washington – Airbus has finalised the acquisition of U.S.-based Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor, in a move to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions. Flexrotor is a small tactical unmanned aerial system designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land.
“We see more and more armed forces and parapublic agencies around the world looking to investigate how unmanned aerial systems can strengthen their intelligence and surveillance capabilities. The Flexrotor, as a vertical takeoff and landing UAS, fits into our strategy to expand our UAS offerings. Together with the VSR700, we will continue to develop manned-unmanned teaming to offer our customers the enhanced and expanded mission capabilities that they require to monitor and safeguard their communities and critical infrastructure, while preserving essential assets such as helicopters,” said Mathilde Royer, Head of Strategy and Sustainability at Airbus Helicopters.
The Flexrotor, a modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs), has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration. It can integrate different types of payloads including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs. With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7 m (12 by 12 ft.) area, the Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint. Through the support of the US Department of Defense (DoD), and contracted deployment in a variety of maritime security exercises, the Flexrotor is a mission-proven, force multiplier for operations in harsh, high-threat, GPS-denied environments. The Flexrotor is also being operated for parapublic missions such as forest fire surveillance (providing firefighters with critical images day or night) and can address other demanding mission needs, including ice navigation (helping guide naval vessels through ice in the Arctic ocean), law enforcement, and border patrol.
Aerovel currently employs more than 30 people and presents a significant growth trajectory. It will continue to design and manufacture the Flexrotor in Bingen, Washington in an existing and mature UAS ecosystem.
HAMR hybrid fuel-electric UAV to be further developed for United States Air Force tactical ISR mission
Advanced Aircraft Company (AAC), a manufacturer of distributed electric propulsion tilt-wing and multi-rotor uncrewed aircraft vehicles (UAV), has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25M focused on its Hybrid Advanced Multirotor Unmanned Aircraft System (HAMR) to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded, and now, Advanced Aircraft Company will continue its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
AAC is developing HAMR to support the USAF Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept of operations. ACE is an operational approach that combines proactive and reactive strategies, all of which are executed within defined threat timelines. The primary objective is to ensure that Airmen are well-prepared for potential contingencies. This readiness allows them to operate effectively from a range of locations, each with varying levels of capacity and support.
“We are excited to continue the development and testing of HAMR with the support of the AFWERX program,” said Paul Allen, Chief Executive Officer of AAC. “This Direct-to-Phase II contract takes us one step further to providing our warfighters with an efficient and rugged uncrewed aircraft capable of conducting military support operations in austere environments. The Pivot to the Pacific is a massive focus for the US Department of Defense and we are proud to help our great nation in this endeavor.”
The HAMR UAV can be optimized for various defense applications and mission profiles, including long-endurance tactical ISR, perimeter security, search and rescue, and medical supply delivery missions. HAMR UAS also serves as a force multiplier, significantly increasing ISR capabilities relative to DoD’s incumbent tactical ISR UAS to better protect our warfighters.
The aircraft utilizes a distributed electric propulsion system incorporating an electronic fuel-injected and computer-controlled piston engine driving an integrated generator producing up to 4000W to power six independent brushless DC electric motors and a backup battery.
Bridging the gap between today’s Group 1 and Group 2 UAS capabilities, HAMR features a flight endurance of up to 3.5 hours – six times longer than a conventional battery-powered multirotor aircraft. Multiple redundant systems, remote in-flight engine starting, and onboard batteries ensure the aircraft can operate with a high margin of safety. In the event of an engine or electric motor failure, the craft can abort, maneuver away, and land safely without further incident. Additionally, an IP rating of 65 (IP65) ensures safe and reliable operation in challenging environments, including dusty and rainy conditions.
The aircraft employs line replaceable units (LRUs), ensuring rapid in-the-field servicing with minimal training and minimal operational downtime. A continuous development program lengthens aircraft service life and increases its capabilities as new technologies are integrated over time.
HAMR can carry twelve pounds of payload and features dual payload bays that offer versatile capabilities, such as accommodating multiple sensor payloads, increasing fuel capacity, or carrying air-droppable cargo. Thanks to its open modular architecture, operators can easily reconfigure the payload bays for specific application and mission requirements.
HAMR’s forward payload bay can integrate various standard Group 2 payloads suitable for defense applications, including electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) systems. The center payload bay can be configured with LIDAR, GPS-denied navigation, and communications systems. For extended-duration missions, there is the option to equip the bay with an additional fuel bladder, or two 2U SOCOM MOD double-stacked SIGINT payloads. Additionally, the center payload bay can facilitate cargo delivery operations. This flexibility ensures the HAMR is well-equipped for a wide range of tasks.
Additionally, the HAMR is highly portable and can be launched within minutes without needing ground support infrastructure. The aircraft can be disassembled, stored in a single case, and easily transported in a conventional small civilian or military vehicle.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
About Advanced Aircraft Company
Advanced Aircraft Company (AAC) develops long-endurance tilt-wing uncrewed aircraft systems for defense and enterprise applications. Utilizing Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) systems and aerodynamic airframes, the aircraft is designed for long-endurance operations and can carry multiple sensor and cargo payloads. AAC VTOL UAS offers high speed and long range and can operate in the most austere land and maritime conditions with no operational infrastructure required. AAC is a veteran-owned and operated company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Hampton, Virginia.
To learn more, visit www.flyaac.com
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development.
For more information, visit www.afresearchlab.com
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 325 military, civilian and contractor personnel at six hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed 4,671 contracts worth more than $2 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability.
For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com
]]>“After extensive testing, Silvus radios excelled at greater ranges than all other radios that we tested. Silvus’ performance, coupled with the hardware quality and functionality of the radios, is a critical addition to our platform and brings tremendous value to our customers,” added Development Manager Jaco Horn.
StreamCaster radios, which ALTI has previously used for demonstration and development platforms, were also selected for their sophisticated eigen beamforming technique. As ALTI continues the development of their largest aircraft and corresponding data link, StreamCaster radios will be essential to maintaining the same level of performance and reliability at extended ranges.
“We strive to provide a single-radio solution for the toughest unmanned systems communications scenarios,” said Jimi Henderson, Silvus Vice President of Sales. “ALTI is a leader in the unmanned space, and we are proud to be selected as the primary radio for their aircraft, delivering unrivaled performance and unmatched range.”
About Silvus Technologies, Inc.Privately held and headquartered in Los Angeles, Silvus Technologies develops advanced MIMO technologies that are reshaping broadband wireless connectivity for mission-critical applications. Backed by an unmatched team of PhD scientists and design engineers, its technologies provide enhanced wireless data throughput, interference mitigation, improved range, mobility, and robustness to address the growing needs of its government and commercial customers.
About ALTIALTI is an industry-leading, award-winning unmanned aircraft manufacturing company operating out of Knysna, South Africa, focusing on long-range and endurance vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft. ALTI aircraft are designed to fly multiple payloads, complete smart autonomous flight missions and provide the situational awareness needed for demanding security & surveillance operations. For more information, visit www.altiuas.com.
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