Omen

EDGE and Anduril have announced plans to form a major joint venture aimed at accelerating the design and production of autonomous systems for civil and defense use across the Middle East. The companies describe the initiative as a step that deepens the long-standing U.S.–UAE defense partnership by placing advanced, software-defined capabilities into regional production and expanding access to modern autonomous technologies. According to the announcement, the venture will establish a jointly owned production, sales, and sustainment entity called the EDGE–Anduril Production Alliance, which will serve as what the companies call a new center of gravity for commercial and defense manufacturing in the region. Both sides are completing the necessary arrangements in line with U.S. and UAE government approvals. The companies say the partnership will combine EDGE’s established presence across the Middle East with Anduril’s approach to rapid, software-driven development and large-scale manufacturing. By merging those strengths, the joint venture aims to deliver affordable, deployable mass—systems that are “capable, scalable, and ready for operational use” across commercial and defense missions. The UAE has already confirmed the acquisition of 50 Omen systems, an early investment the companies say anchors initial production and accelerates development of future jointly developed platforms. His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of EDGE Group, said the collaboration will reshape how advanced systems are conceived and fielded in the region. “Our strategic partnership with Anduril opens new pathways for EDGE to harness some of the most advanced autonomous systems engineering in the world,” he said. “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 of Anduril, said the timeline from concept to fielded capability defines what modern defense innovation requires. “Defence innovation is measured not by ideas, but by the pace at which those ideas translate into capability,” Stephens said. “With EDGE, we’re aligning the means of production with the urgency of modern deterrence.” Under the joint venture structure, the companies will coordinate global business development, pursue defined projects together, and manage a shared portfolio of autonomous systems. The parties noted that some activities may require government approval from both countries, and they will work closely with U.S. and UAE authorities to ensure compliance with trade laws and export-control regulations. For EDGE, the partnership grants access to Anduril’s Lattice software platform, a continuously updated autonomy and command-and-control system that will be integrated into both new and legacy joint-venture products. For Anduril, the agreement establishes a trusted production base in the Middle East, enabling aircraft and systems designed in the United States to be adapted and manufactured in Abu Dhabi for regional users. Both companies emphasized their shared philosophy: move fast, invest ahead of need, and field real capability. The first major product of the new alliance is Omen, a hover-to-cruise Autonomous Air Vehicle designed for long-range missions and expeditionary operations. The unmanned aircraft combines the endurance and payload associated with larger systems with a compact, runway-independent configuration. Omen builds on Anduril’s USD 850 million investment in mission-autonomy technology and Group 3 VTOL development, paired with roughly USD 200 million in additional investment from EDGE. The companies plan to bring the system to full-rate production by the end of 2028. The UAE’s initial order of 50 Omen systems provides a guaranteed production base. Systems for the UAE and regional partners will be produced in-country by the EDGE–Anduril Production Alliance, while U.S. orders are expected to be filled at Anduril’s Arsenal-1 facility in Ohio. Omen is designed for multi-domain missions, from maritime surveillance and logistics resupply to air-defense sensing and communications relay. Powered by the Lattice autonomy suite, multiple aircraft will coordinate flight paths, share sensor data, and adapt behavior in real time. The aircraft’s lightweight, foldable frame allows a two-person team to assemble and launch it without fixed infrastructure, and its open architecture supports rapid mission reconfiguration. Beyond military use, the system could restore communications after natural disasters or deliver supplies to remote areas. To support long-term growth, Anduril will establish a permanent 50,000-square-foot research, development, and simulation center in the UAE. The facility will serve as a regional hub for engineering and prototyping, expanding the country’s ability to design and test advanced autonomous systems. Partners are investing in local capacity that reduces dependency on foreign supply chains while accelerating the fielding of new technology. For Washington, the move also strengthens collaboration with a major Gulf partner in an era when autonomous systems, mass production, and software-driven capability are becoming central to modern deterrence. The joint venture points to a future where U.S. defense firms operate alongside allied production hubs, shaping regional security architectures and expanding access to advanced unmanned systems across multiple mission sets.

Omen

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Omen

EDGE, Anduril team up to build revolutionary autonomous air systems

TRENDING NOW

US Army reportedly deploys new hypersonic missile to Guam

IAI turns a business jet into a multi-mission spy plane

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About The Defence Blog