Abu Dhabi’s advanced technology and defence conglomerate, EDGE Group, has solidified two major joint ventures with European defence leaders, Italy’s Leonardo and Spain’s EM&E Group. The strategic partnerships, detailed at the Eurosatory defence event in Paris, are set to establish a significant manufacturing and development presence in the UAE and target a combined commercial pipeline exceeding $6 billion.
Quick Facts
- JV with Italy’s Leonardo targets over €4 billion in orders.
- JV with Spain’s EM&E forecasts a $1.725 billion pipeline.
- Focus on advanced radar, weapon systems, and technology transfer.
The Leonardo Alliance: A €4 Billion Radar and Sensor Powerhouse
EDGE has detailed plans for its joint venture with Italian aerospace and defence giant Leonardo, which targets an ambitious order book of over €4 billion over the next five years. The venture, which will be 51% owned by EDGE, is expected to launch with several hundred million euros in secured contracts.
The collaboration will concentrate on developing and manufacturing high-tech defence systems, including airborne radars for next-generation stealth aircraft, the Kronos Grand Mobile High-Power radar, and advanced Combat Management Systems. Additionally, the JV will act as a commercial platform to market the M-346 fighter/trainer aircraft across European and global markets.
Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE, stated: “Leonardo brings decades of engineering excellence in radar and combat management, while we bring the industrial scale, agility and market access to get that technology to customers faster. Together, this JV has the depth to build some of the most advanced sensor and systems technology in the world.”
Lorenzo Mariani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo, added, “The project to establish a Joint Venture with EDGE reflects Leonardo’s belief in the ability of strategic industrial partnerships to provide a key contribution to shape the future of the global defence industry.”
EM&E Partnership: Co-Producing Weapon Systems in the UAE
In a separate agreement signed at Eurosatory, EDGE finalized its joint venture with Spain’s EM&E Group, a specialist in defence and security technologies. First announced in February, the partnership’s commercial pipeline has already grown by 15%, increasing from an initial $1.5 billion to $1.725 billion.
The new company is scheduled to begin operations in the final quarter of 2026. Its core function will be the global promotion and co-production of EM&E’s advanced weapon systems. The framework involves a key technology transfer, enabling EDGE’s industrial ecosystem to manufacture components of the systems within the UAE, while the rest of the manufacturing remains in Spain.
Omar Al Zaabi, President of Commercial at EDGE Group, commented on the deal: “This joint venture brings EM&E’s advanced weapon systems production into EDGE’s industrial base, giving us a stronger platform to serve customers around the world. The rise in our commercial pipeline to $1.725 billion since February confirms there is real appetite for what we will build together.”
Fernando Fernández, CEO of EM&E Group, remarked, “Combining the cutting-edge nature of our weapon systems with EDGE’s industrial and technological muscle not only dynamises our global export capabilities but also establishes a solid foundation to jointly lead the creation of new avant-garde security and defence solutions.”
About EDGE Group
Launched in November 2019, the UAE’s EDGE is one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, EDGE consolidates more than 35 entities into five core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Space & Cyber Technologies, Technologies & Industrialisation, and Homeland Security.
Source: Zawya
