The UAE has confirmed the purchase of 50 units of Omen, a hover-to-cruise Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV), which will serve as the anchor order for the new facility and support the local supply chain. Omen is designed to deliver the endurance, payload and flexibility of larger systems in a compact, runway-independent airframe and marks the first platform in a planned portfolio of co-developed technologies.
“Our strategic partnership with Anduril opens new pathways for EDGE to harness some of the most advanced autonomous systems engineering in the world,” said His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of EDGE Group. “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, stated: “Defence 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.”
The joint venture will leverage EDGE’s strong regional footprint and Anduril’s experience in software-driven development and large-scale manufacturing to deliver scalable, mission-ready platforms. Both parties will coordinate globally on selected projects, while ensuring full compliance with relevant trade and export regulations.
Omen, the first product under the alliance, builds on Anduril’s $850 million investment in autonomy and Group 3 VTOL technologies, combined with $200 million in new funding from EDGE. The system will enter full-rate production by the end of 2028 and is designed to support both military and commercial missions.
The aircraft features a modular, foldable frame that can be deployed by a two-person team and is capable of operating in remote environments without dedicated infrastructure. It will be equipped with Anduril’s Lattice software to enable real-time coordination, sensor sharing, and mission adaptation across multiple aircraft.
The system will serve a range of roles including maritime surveillance, logistics resupply, air defence sensing, and communications relay. Civilian uses may include emergency connectivity, humanitarian aid, and remote delivery in areas with limited access.
In parallel with the new production facility, Anduril will also establish a 50,000-square-foot research, development, and simulation centre in the UAE. This will support the ongoing prototyping, integration and testing of new systems and serve as a regional engineering hub.
Systems for the UAE and regional allies will be produced locally through the joint venture, while US orders will continue to be fulfilled from Anduril’s Arsenal-1 facility in Ohio. The initiative aims to build a more agile and self-reliant defence and commercial technology base in the region.
