UAE unveils first homegrown AI satellite constellation
Sovereign satellite manufacturing programme launched in Abu Dhabi
#UAE #SpaceTechnology - Abu Dhabi-based satellite manufacturer Orbitworks has unveiled Altair, the UAE's first homegrown, AI-enabled Earth observation satellite constellation comprising ten advanced spacecraft that will be assembled and integrated in Abu Dhabi. Established in 2024, the company is a joint venture between UAE's Marlan Space (affiliated with IHC) and US-based Loft Orbital.
Named after the Arabic al-nisr al-ṭāʾir (النسر الطائر ), ‘the flying eagle’, Altair will be produced at Orbitworks' state-of-the-art 50,000 square foot manufacturing facility in KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi), currently the only commercial-scale satellite production site in the Middle East. The announcements was made at the Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) forum.
SO WHAT? - Altair represents another leap forward for the UAE's aerospace industry, transitioning from satellite procurement to sovereign manufacturing capability. The satellite constellation is also the first major output from recently formed Orbitworks. With an annual production capacity of 50 satellites, Orbitworks is helping to create a new industrial vertical for the UAE economy aligned with Operation 300bn's industrial diversification goals.
Here are some key points about this announcement:
Abu Dhabi-based Orbitworks has unveiled Altair, the UAE's first homegrown, AI-enabled Earth observation satellite constellation comprising ten advanced spacecraft. Established in 2024 with initial investment exceeding $100 million, the company is a joint venture between UAE's Marlan Space (affiliated with IHC) and US-based Loft Orbital.
Production of the Altair constellation is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025, with the satellites expected to commence launch in 2026, establishing the UAE as only the second country in the Middle East (after Israel) to develop and produce its own satellite fleet.
Each Altair satellite features sophisticated multi-sensor payload capabilities including sub-meter optical imaging, shortwave infrared, thermal, hyperspectral, and RF sensors, combined with edge computing for real-time, in-orbit data processing.
The satellites are built on Loft Orbital's Longbow platform, which is derived from the flight-proven Airbus Arrow bus platform that has supported over 650 successful missions in orbit, providing an operational lifespan of up to eight years with orbital maneuvering capabilities.
The constellation supports applications spanning national security, disaster response, smart cities, agriculture, energy, and maritime surveillance, serving both sovereign requirements and commercial applications through AI-driven data processing.
The company also offers integrated solutions including turnkey spacecraft, hosted payload opportunities, rideshare missions, and capacity-building programmes for sovereign, commercial, and institutional clients.
Orbitworks collaborates with AI companies and research organisations by providing them with a simple pathway to deploy their apps to orbit.
Orbitworks' manufacturing facility in KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi) includes a 15,000-square-foot ISO-class cleanroom and comprehensive assembly, integration, and testing infrastructure including electromagnetic interference chambers, thermal vacuum systems, and shaker tables to validate spacecraft performance.
ZOOM OUT - The Altair constellation emerges during a transformative period in the global space industry, with the small satellite market expected to grow from $3.1 billion in 2023 to over $7.4 billion by 2030. The project represents the culmination of nearly a decade of strategic investment in sovereign space capabilities for the UAE, building upon the successful 2018 launch of KhalifaSat, the the nation's first satellite fully engineered and developed by Emiratis. Built by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSS), Khalifasat marked the beginning of the UAE's transformation from satellite purchaser to developer. The Orbitworks venture aims to accelerate the UAE’s progress, taking it from development to commercial-scale manufacturing.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]