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Al Etihad

Orbitworks announces plan to build UAE's first AI-powered satellite constellation

20 May 2025 00:34 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)UAE satellite manufacturer Orbitworks has announced an ambitious plan to build the country's first AI-powered satellite company - formed by Marlan Space and Loft Orbital - unveiled its flagship project at the Make it in the Emirates forum on Monday. With production kicking off this year, the mega-constellation of satellites called Altair is slated for launch in 2026. The first phase will feature 10 AI-powered Earth observation satellites that can support defence, commercial, and civil sectors within the country and abroad. "Altair will have a multi-sensor payload-from optical images to hyperspectral sensor to shortwave infrared, thermal sensor, and RF monitoring capability," Salim Al Alawi, Director for Business Development at Orbitworks, told Aletihad on the sidelines of the forum. The 10-satellite fleet will be built at Orbitworks' new 50,000sqft facility in Kezad, Abu Dhabi. "Orbitworks is making a strategic investment and establishing advances. We would like to reinforce the UAE's capability in space, defence, and aerospace technology manufacturing. We are starting with a 50,000sqft facility we are building here in Abu Dhabi. We're building a state-of-the-art facility that will be able to output 50 satellites per year up to 500kg per satellite," Al Alawi said. The Constellation's CapabilitiesBuilt on Airbus-based Longbow platforms - with the latest sensors and edge computing - the satellites can support disaster response, as well as smart city and maritime surveillance constellation leverages the data-processing power of artificial intelligence to deliver real-time insights to clients across various applications and the Altair series, Orbitworks provides turnkey space solutions, maximising its manufacturing plant to build satellites for its clients from around the world. "Orbitworks is the first commercial satellite manufacturing company in UAE. And this will allow the company, the UAE space players, and the UAE private sector in space to put together end-to-end technologies and solutions that can be exported to the region and global customers," Al Alawi said. The company is looking forward to collaborating with local and international partners to develop and manufacture its satellites. "We would like to enable space access to those who would like to provide services from space," Al Alawi added. Make it in the Emirates Continue full coverage