Abu dhabi: Marlan Space, a UAE-based investor and operator in space technology and a subsidiary of IHC, along with Loft Orbital, are spearheading a consortium in a $1 billion investment in France to construct Altair-Next Gen, the world's largest artificial intelligence (AI) satellite infrastructure. The plan was announced and signed today at the International Space Summit in Paris by Marlan Space and Loft Orbital, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, president of the French Republic.
According to Emirates News Agency, with Altair-Next Gen, France and the United Arab Emirates aim to lead the world in artificial intelligence in space. The initial phase includes fifty satellites equipped with radar, optical, and other sensors to serve the needs of government users, including those from France, Europe, and the UAE, alongside a global base of commercial and sovereign customers. These satellites are designed to analyze observations while still in orbit, transmitting only the relevant events, unlike conventional systems that provide data hours later after ground processing.
The project marks a significant shift toward immediate data transmission, as fifty satellites ensure a permanent observation capability. This enables real-time alerts, which are crucial for time-sensitive responses. Services are accessible via an AI application store, allowing users to select necessary models from various providers to run on shared satellites, thus optimizing the constellation's utility across multiple programs.
The Altair-Next Gen infrastructure will expand Marlan Space's growing customer base, which already includes several commercial and government clients in France and the UAE. The satellites are produced by Orbitworks at its KEZAD, Abu Dhabi facility, the region's largest site for commercial constellations, which supports scaling from ten to fifty satellites. Orbitworks, a joint venture between Marlan Space and Loft Orbital, was formed in 2024.
The announcement coincides with IHC's recent acquisition of an 80 percent stake in Marlan Space, furthering the Group's investment in the evolving space economy. Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, highlighted the strategic importance of this investment, positioning the UAE and France at the forefront of the space economy by combining advanced satellite infrastructure, AI, and international partnerships.
Dr. Hamdullah Mohib, CEO of Marlan Space and Orbitworks, expressed pride in leading this advanced constellation, transforming the UAE from a buyer to a seller of satellite services. Loft Orbital contributes its technological innovations and operational expertise, leveraging its experience with over 100 payloads and 20 AI missions in orbit.
Loft Orbital's CEO, Pierre-Damien Vaujour, emphasized the significance of deploying AI applications in space, with the constellation providing a world-class satellite infrastructure. The project also includes Mistral, which brings frontier AI models to enhance the constellation's capabilities.
The consortium includes BlackSky, a US company with a strong European supply chain, providing high-resolution optical satellites. Brian O'Toole, CEO of BlackSky, expressed pride in contributing to the world's first AI-enabled constellation. MaiaSpace has been selected as the preferred launch partner, further solidifying France's leadership in new generation European launchers.