EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, and Anduril, a global defence technology company, will launch a joint venture to accelerate the design, development, and production of autonomous systems to support civil and defence mission sets in the Middle East and surrounding regions.
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 finalizing the detailed arrangements in line with the necessary US and UAE approvals required.
The JV 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 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.
His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai Chairman – EDGE Group
“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 that, “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.”
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.
And 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.
EDGE and @anduriltech will launch a joint venture to co-develop disruptive autonomous systems. Through the newly formed EDGE–Anduril Production Alliance, both companies will establish a 50,000-square-foot research, development, and virtual simulation centre in the UAE. pic.twitter.com/Ex9uF7DXCN
The first of many systems that will be co-developed, locally produced and commercialized through the joint venture, Omen, is a hover-to-cruise Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) that combines 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 that anchors the new facility, expands local supply chains, and accelerates the country’s path towards 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 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 center, 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.
