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Orbitworks unveils Altair, UAE's first AI satellite constellation

Constellation to feature 10 AI-powered Earth observation satellites, placing the UAE at the forefront of global satellite manufacturing. Orbitworks, the UAE's next-generation satellite manufacturing venture founded by Marlan Space and Loft Orbital under the 'Make it in the Emirates' initiative, has announced the launch of its first satellite constellation, Altair. This AI-enabled Earth observation fleet will comprise ten satellites assembled and integrated in Abu Dhabi, marking a major milestone in the nation's push for sovereign space capabilities and industrial independence. Named after the Arabic phrase al-nisr al-???ir ('the flying eagle'), Altair represents vision, technological ascent, and a tribute to the region’s historic spirit of exploration. The announcement was made during the Make it in the Emirates forum, aligning with national strategies such as Operation 300bn, which prioritise investment in high-value sectors like aerospace, defence and artificial intelligence. 'Announcing Altair at Make it in the Emirates underscores our ambition to build the UAE's future in space and anchor sovereign AI capabilities. Backed by national initiatives like Make it in the Emirates and Operation 300bn, driving investment into over 1,000 priority industrial products including aerospace, defence, and AI, this is more than a manufacturing milestone,' said Dr Hamdullah Mohib, Acting CEO of Orbitworks and CEO of Marlan Space. 'With Altair, we're combining global aerospace expertise and local innovation to serve national priorities—and export satellite capacity at scale,' he added. Production of the constellation is set to begin in the second half of 2025, with satellites commencing launch in 2026. As the UAE solidifies its role as a bridge between East and West for satellite technology, Altair is set to become a beacon of the nation's growing ability to design, build and export advanced space infrastructure at a global scale. Each satellite is designed for performance and resilience, featuring a multi-sensor payload, including sub-meter optical, shortwave infrared, thermal, hyperspectral and RF sensors, paired with edge computing for real-time, in-orbit data processing. Built on Loft Orbital's Longbow platform—which itself derives from the robust, flight-proven Airbus Arrow bus platform with over 650 missions in orbit—the satellites can perform orbital manoeuvres for up to eight years. Altair supports critical applications from national security and disaster response to smart cities, agriculture, energy, and maritime surveillance, advancing public priorities and commercial innovation alike. To bring the Altair constellation to life, Orbitworks will rely on its state-of-the-art production facility in Kezad, Abu Dhabi—the only facility in the region built for commercial scale. Spanning 50,000 sqft, the site includes a 15,000-sqft ISO-class cleanroom and a full suite of assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) infrastructure, from electromagnetic interference (EMI) chambers to thermal vacuum systems and shaker tables. With the capacity to scale production up to 50 satellites annually, the facility positions the UAE to serve both domestic priorities and international satellite missions from a sovereign base. Beyond manufacturing, Orbitworks offers integrated satellite solutions tailored to sovereign, commercial, and institutional clients. These include turnkey spacecraft, hosted payload opportunities, rideshare missions, and capacity-building programmes. All technologies are either developed in the UAE or delivered through fully compliant international partnerships, ensuring high standards, export control adherence, and mission readiness.