EDGE Group and Safran Sign Joint-Venture Term Sheet for Next-Generation Missiles

UAE advanced-technology and defence group EDGE and French aerospace and defence company Safran have signed a joint-venture term sheet for next-generation missile development, alongside a broader strategic cooperation agreement unveiled at the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition in Paris. The joint-venture term sheet was announced on 16 June 2026.

The term sheet establishes the framework for two proposed joint ventures, one in the UAE and one in France, leveraging the complementary industrial strengths of both partners to jointly develop and produce advanced defence solutions for domestic and international customers. At the heart of the partnership is the co-development of an extended-range precision-guided weapon based on the Hammer family.

Beyond the flagship program, the joint-venture framework also covers the co-development of a supersonic air-to-ground weapon and a next-generation air-launched system for unmanned aerial platforms. The companies said the ventures will additionally explore opportunities in sub-systems, anti-tank solutions and munitions across both France and the UAE.

EDGE and Safran already cooperate on several programs across defence electronics and smart weapons, building on more than three decades of Safran's presence in the UAE. The expanded strategic agreement provides a structured framework for deeper cooperation across the wider portfolios of both groups.

The deal illustrates how the UAE is using industrial partnerships and technology transfer to build sovereign defence-manufacturing capability, while giving European primes a platform to co-produce advanced systems for regional and export markets.