UAE’s $1 billion satellite plan aims to cut space data response times from hours to seconds

UAE-based Marlan Space and Loft Orbital are leading a consortium investing $1 billion in France to develop a 50-satellite AI-enabled constellation, with the spacecraft to be manufactured in Abu Dhabi.

The Altair-Next Gen program will initially comprise 50 satellites equipped with radar, optical, and other sensors. The constellation is intended to serve French, European and Emirati government users, as well as commercial and sovereign customers globally.

The project was announced at the International Space Summit in Paris in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron. The satellites will be manufactured by Orbitworks, a joint venture between Marlan Space and Loft Orbital established in 2024, at its facility in KEZAD, Abu Dhabi. The site also hosts satellite operations and is designed to support production at the scale required to expand the program from 10 to 50 satellites.

Altair-Next Gen is designed to process satellite observations in orbit using AI, allowing the system to transmit information about detected events rather than sending raw imagery to Earth for processing. According to the companies, this could enable users to receive alerts within seconds, compared with the hours conventional systems can take to download and process data on the ground.

Initial applications include maritime domain awareness, wildfire detection, disaster response, and monitoring the security of ports and critical infrastructure.

The 50-satellite constellation is designed to provide continuous observation rather than periodic coverage, increasing the likelihood that a satellite will be positioned near an event as it develops. Services will also be delivered through an AI application store, allowing users to select models from different providers and run them on shared satellite infrastructure.

IHC CEO Syed Basar Shueb said the project combines satellite infrastructure, AI and international partnerships, while Marlan Space and Orbitworks CEO Hamdullah Mohib said the constellation will expand the UAE’s role in satellite manufacturing and services.

IHC announced the planned acquisition of an 80% stake in Marlan Space on September 8. Loft Orbital will provide satellite platforms, onboard AI, software and constellation operations, and currently operates more than 100 payloads and 20 AI missions in orbit.

The first Abu Dhabi-manufactured satellites are expected to launch in October, according to Loft Orbital CEO Pierre-Damien Vaujour. French AI company Mistral will provide onboard AI models, while US-based BlackSky will supply high-resolution optical satellites. MaiaSpace has been selected as the preferred launch partner for future missions.