EDGE Group of the UAE and US defense technology firm Anduril are partnering to develop and manufacture advanced autonomous systems, marking a major step in regional defense-industrial cooperation.
Their new joint venture, the EDGE–Anduril Production Alliance, will start with the Omen hover-to-cruise Autonomous Air Vehicle and expand into broader autonomous air system development and sustainment.
The UAE plans to procure an initial batch of 50 Omen systems, creating early production momentum, strengthening domestic supply chains, and enabling scalable mass manufacturing.
The Omen is designed for multi-role missions, offering long-range flight, heavy payload delivery, and operation without traditional runways.
Anduril contributes its AI-driven and software-centric capabilities, notably the Lattice Mission Autonomy platform, while EDGE provides regional production capacity and local industrial expertise.
Together, they aim to move quickly from initial design to full-rate production by late 2028, all while meeting regulatory requirements in both nations.
Beyond defense applications, the Omen will support civilian and humanitarian efforts such as emergency response, remote-area logistics, and deployable communications networks.
The partnership extends longstanding UAE–US defense ties.
The UAE has previously purchased F-35 fighter aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper drones, JDAM kits, and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles from the United States.
Local collaboration with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon has enabled co-development of radar, missile-defense, and electronic-warfare systems.
The UAE has also worked with US defense firms on autonomous technologies and regularly conducts joint exercises to integrate American combat capabilities into regional defense operations.
