Orbitworks, the UAE’s satellite manufacturing venture, unveiled Altair, an AI-enabled constellation of 10 Earth observation satellites that will be assembled and integrated in Abu Dhabi.

The satellites will be assembled and integrated in Abu Dhabi, with production set to begin in the second half of 2025. They are expected to launch in 2026, enhancing the UAE’s capabilities in space technology.

The constellation will serve various applications, including national security, disaster response, agriculture, and maritime surveillance.

Each satellite will be equipped with advanced multi-sensor payloads, including optical, infrared, thermal, hyperspectral, and RF sensors. They will also feature edge computing for real-time data processing.

The satellites are built on Loft Orbital’s Longbow platform, which is derived from Airbus’ Arrow bus platform. They are designed for operational lifespans of up to eight years.

🔗 Source: Orbitworks

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ UAE’s rapid space sector expansion reflects strategic economic diversification

The Altair constellation marks another milestone in the UAE’s remarkably fast space sector development that began just a decade ago with the founding of the UAE Space Agency in 2014.

The UAE has invested over $5.5 billion in its space program, creating approximately 1,500 jobs across 57 space-related establishments, demonstrating a serious financial commitment to becoming a space power 12.

These initiatives reflect the country’s broader economic diversification strategy beyond oil, with space technology serving as both a symbol and practical mechanism for developing high-tech industries.

Women represent around 45% of the UAE Space Agency’s workforce, significantly higher than global averages in aerospace, showing how the sector is helping diversify the country’s human capital development 1.

Orbitworks’ production facility in Abu Dhabi, capable of manufacturing up to 50 satellites annually, positions the UAE as a potential regional manufacturing hub in the increasingly competitive satellite market.

2️⃣ Middle East emerging as a new frontier in the global space industry

The Altair announcement occurs amid a dramatic 175% increase in Middle Eastern government funding for space activities between 2018-2023, compared to a 70% increase in Asia during the same period 3.

This investment surge is creating a new competitive landscape, with the UAE leading regional space development through high-profile achievements like the Mars Hope Probe and its astronaut program 3.