Abu Dhabi scales Altair into a USD 1 bn, 50-satellite AI infrastructure play

Abu Dhabi is scaling Altair from a satellite constellation into AI infrastructure in orbit: UAE-based Marlan Space and Loft Orbital are leading a consortium investing USD 1 bn in France to build Altair-Next Gen, a 50-satellite AI-enabled constellation, according to a press release (pdf). The first 10 satellites are already in production in Abu Dhabi, with the first slated to launch this October.

IN CONTEXT- The UAE has been vocal about its space sector ambitions in recent months, with an ambitious target of doubling space economy revenues in the sector, which is already backed by over AED 44 bn in investments. Localization has been a key part of the strategy, with the UAE building out sovereign infrastructure through the Eshara segment and a national Earth-observation hub.

It also puts more meat on a plan we’ve been tracking for months. We reported in May that Orbitworks was targeting around USD 1 bn of investment through 2031, with its first satellite due in October and a wider buildout toward 50 satellites. Last month, we also flagged that Altair would be the UAE’s first homegrown commercial satellite, part of Abu Dhabi’s push to move from buying space capabilities to manufacturing them locally.

Altair’s idea is to process the data before it ever comes back to Earth: The satellites will combine radar, optical, and other sensors with onboard computing, analyzing events in orbit and transmitting alerts within seconds rather than sending raw imagery down for ground processing.

Initial applications include: Maritime monitoring, wildfire and disaster response, and protecting ports and critical infrastructure, with the system targeting French, European, and Emirati government users alongside commercial customers.

More international players are involved: French AI firm Mistral will deploy its models alongside the satellites’ sensors, allowing them to interpret what they see and be tasked using natural language. US space-intelligence firm BlackSky is joining as a high-resolution optical provider, while France’s MaiaSpace has been tapped as the preferred launch partner once its services become commercially available.

Most of the hardware still starts in Abu Dhabi. Orbitworks — the Marlan-Loft JV — will manufacture the satellites at its Kezad facility, which has capacity to scale production from the initial 10 to the full 50-satellite fleet. The infrastructure itself will sit within a dedicated French company, pairing UAE capital and manufacturing with European suppliers and space infrastructure.

And IHC is tightening its grip just as the project scales. The holding company agreed this week to acquire an 80% stake in Marlan through International Tech Group, turning a long-standing affiliation into direct ownership. The new constellation pushes that investment beyond satellite manufacturing into the higher-value layer — owning the infrastructure, onboard computing, and services that turn imagery into usable intelligence.