Marlan Space and Loft Orbital are leading a $1 billion programme to expand the Altair AI satellite constellation from 10 spacecraft to 50, with the satellites being built in Abu Dhabi and the first launch planned for October 2026.
The announcement was made at the International Space Summit in Paris. Marlan Space, a UAE-based investor-operator and IHC subsidiary, is working with Loft Orbital and other partners on the project, which will serve government and commercial customers in France, Europe, the UAE and elsewhere.
How the AI satellite constellation will work
The Altair-Next Gen satellites will carry optical, radar and other sensors. Instead of sending raw imagery to Earth for processing, the satellites will analyse what they observe in orbit and transmit events or alerts within seconds, according to WAM.
The first applications include maritime monitoring, wildfire detection, disaster response and security for ports and critical infrastructure. The project will also use an AI application store, allowing customers to select models from multiple providers. French AI company Mistral is joining the consortium, with its models intended to run onboard the satellites.
Abu Dhabi will build the satellites
Orbitworks, a 2024 joint venture between Marlan Space and Loft Orbital, will produce the satellites at its facility in KEZAD, Abu Dhabi. The first 10 satellites are already in production, with the expanded programme designed to scale the site from 10 spacecraft to 50.
The project follows IHC’s agreement to acquire an 80 per cent stake in Marlan Space, announced on 8 September. Satellite Today reported that BlackSky will provide high-resolution optical satellites and that France’s MaiaSpace has been selected as the preferred launch provider.
The first launch is planned for October, although the partners have not announced a detailed launch schedule for the full constellation.
Dr Hamdullah Mohib, chief executive of Marlan Space and Orbitworks, said the project would turn the Abu Dhabi factory into a national capability. Loft Orbital chief executive Pierre-Damien Vaujour said the company had been working on deploying AI applications in space and orchestrating how they work together.
The earlier Altair-1 launch plan covers the first spacecraft in the programme.
How many satellites will the Altair-Next Gen constellation have?
Altair-Next Gen is planned to have 50 satellites, expanding from an initial 10-spacecraft programme.
Where will the satellites be built?
Orbitworks will build the satellites at its facility in KEZAD, Abu Dhabi.
When is the first Altair-Next Gen launch planned?
The first launch is planned for October 2026, although a detailed schedule for the full constellation has not been announced.
