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UAE defense technology group Edge is to partner in a joint venture with U.S. defense tech company Anduril to develop and produce next-generation Omen autonomous air vehicles (AAVs). The collaboration announced on November 17 will include the establishment of the Edge-Anduril Production Alliance in the Emirates that will provide sales and sustainment support, as well as produce a range of AAVs aimed at both civil and defense requirements.
Omen is the first product of the joint venture, a recently developed hover-to-cruise AAV that has been designed to provide the endurance, payload, and mission flexibility of larger vehicles in a runway-independent Group 3 airframe. It draws on Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software and Group 3 VTOL development, with heavy investment from Edge.
The AAV is will use a proprietary electric powertrain developed by eVTOL aircraft developer Archer Aviation. Announcing the partnership with Edge and Anduril, Archer said this is the first time the U.S. manufactured propulsion system already flying on its Midnight aircraft is being made available to a third party in what the company says will provide a new revenue source.
Omen is intended to provide long-range and high-payload capacity for distributed and expeditionary operations. It can be assembled by a two-person crew in minutes without the need for specialized equipment, and can be employed on a number of tasks, ranging from maritime surveillance and communications relay through to logistics resupply.
Omen already has an initial purchase commitment from the UAE for 50 systems, enabling a secure local supply chain and robust production base to be established at an early stage. The Edge-Anduril partnership aims to achieve full-rate production by the end of 2028.
As the first product of what is intended to become a central hub for the development and manufacturing of AAVs in the UAE, the Omen program marks a transition from co-development of AAVs to domestic mass production, as well as paving the way for additional AAV designs. In addition to satisfying domestic requirements, the Edge-Anduril joint venture aims to export products in the future.
Emirati defense technology group Edge is to partner in a joint venture with U.S. defense tech company Anduril to develop and produce next-generation autonomous air vehicles (AAVs). The JV will include the establishment of the Edge-Anduril Production Alliance in the Emirates that will provide sales and sustainment support, as well as produce a range of AAVs that will support both civil and defense requirements.
Omen is the first product of the joint venture, a recently developed hover-to-cruise AAV that has been designed to provide the endurance, payload and mission flexibility of larger vehicles in a runway-independent Group 3 airframe. It draws on Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software and Group 3 VTOL development, and heavy investment from Edge.
The Omen AAV is intended to provide long range and high payload capacity for distributed and expeditionary operations. It can be assembled by a two-person crew in minutes without the need for specialized equipment, and can be employed on a number of tasks, ranging from maritime surveillance and communications relay through to logistics resupply.
Omen already as an initial purchase commitment from the UAE for 50 systems, enabling a secure local supply chain and robust production base to be established at an early stage. The Edge-Anduril partnership aims to achieve full-rate production by the end of 2028.
As the first product of what is intended to become a central hub for the development and manufacturing of AAVs in the UAE, the Omen program marks a transition from co-development of AAVs to domestic mass production, as well as paving the way for additional AAV designs. In addition to satisfying domestic requirements, the Edge-Anduril joint venture aims to export products in the future.