• ST Engineering has been appointed as a strategic international partner for the UAE’s Sirb Programme

Abu Dhabi, UAE – As prime contractor for the UAE Space Agency’s prestigious Sirb Programme, EDGE Group has partnered with ST Engineering, a global technology, defence, and engineering group, to accelerate the development of the UAE’s sovereign synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite capabilities.

A Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed by Waleid Al Mesmari, President, Space and Cyber Technologies Cluster, EDGE and Low Jin Phang, President, Digital Systems, ST Engineering in the presence of His Excellency Eng. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, His Excellency Eng. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Senior Advisor, EDGE, Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, EDGE, and Ravinder Singh, Chairman, ST Engineering.

The signing formalised the parties’ collaboration to advance the Sirb Programme – a national initiative led by the UAE Space Agency aimed at significantly enhancing the UAE’s Radar Earth Observation capabilities. This milestone marks an important step forward in strengthening innovation and technological leadership in the sector.

His Excellency Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director-General of UAE Space Agency, said: “Our collaboration with FADA and the local industrial consortium marks a pivotal step in expanding UAE’s private space sector. The enablement of the private sector is fundamental to our efforts in executing the Sirb programme and cultivating a dynamic, competitive commercial space industry. Empowering the private sector by expanding local, regional, and international cooperation and partnerships is an investment in the future and sustainability of the national space sector.”

Waleid Al Mesmari, President, Space & Cyber Technologies, EDGE Group, said: “This partnership marks another critical milestone in the UAE’s space journey. As prime contractor for the UAE Space Agency’s Sirb Programme, EDGE is committed to advancing sovereign space capabilities in alignment with the UAE’s National Space Strategy. Partnering with ST Engineering as the Strategic International Partner enables us to accelerate the programme’s development and foster a self-sustaining space sector that drives national innovation.”

Low Jin Phang, President, Digital Systems, ST Engineering, said: “This partnership is a testament to our capabilities in satellite systems and our standing as a trusted international partner. With the success of TeLEOS-1 and TeLEOS-2, we bring proven expertise in integrating optical and SAR satellites and we are well positioned to advance the Sirb Programme, enabling the capture of high-resolution Earth observation images in all conditions. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to working with EDGE Group to drive the programme’s success.

Under this partnership, ST Engineering work closely with EDGE to deliver a single-polarisation SAR satellite and ground segment, along with the transfer of technical expertise for the SAR payload. This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both ST Engineering and EDGE Group to advancing the UAE’s leadership in high resolution satellite imaging, autonomous space systems, and sovereign satellite development.

Attendees of IDEX 2025 can visit EDGE and its portfolio of companies at indoor stand C20 in Hall 5 and outdoor stand CP-270 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until 21 February 2025.

About EDGE

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, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly skilled talent to thrive.

With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 35 entities into six core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Space & Cyber Technologies, Trading & Mission Support, Technology & Innovation, and Homeland Security.

For more information, visit edgegroup.ae

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About UAE Space Agency:

The UAE Space Agency is a federal agency that was created under Federal Law by Decree No. 1 of 2014, to be responsible for all the projects, activities, and programs related to outer space. The UAE Space Agency aims to organise, regulate, and support the space sector in the country, support the sustainable national economy, and promote the UAE’s position on the regional and global space map.

The UAE Space Agency is responsible for proposing policies, strategies, legislation, and plans related to the space sector, offering guidance for national space programmes, developing and attracting national capabilities, supporting research and development projects, and granting permits for space activities.

The Agency also leads many projects and initiatives, including the Space Economic Zones Program, to support startups and SMEs and strengthen the national space economy, the Space Data Center, the Geo-Spatial Analytics Platform, the Space Analytics and Solutions (SAS) Program, the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) Hope Probe, and the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), the first mission of its kind to study seven asteroids in the main asteroid belt.