EDGE Group and Safran have announced a joint venture term sheet establishing the framework for proposed strategic joint ventures in the UAE and France. The announcement was made at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris following the signing of a strategic agreement between the two companies.
The partnership will support the joint development and production of advanced defence solutions for domestic and international customers, combining the industrial capabilities of both companies. At the centre of the programme is the co-development of an extended-range precision-guided weapon based on the established HAMMER family.
The next-generation weapon is intended to provide greater operational reach and precision while addressing the evolving requirements of modern armed forces. The programme builds on the companies’ existing cooperation across defence electronics, smart weapons and other areas.
Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, said: “EDGE and Safran have built a partnership on genuinely complementary strengths, and this term sheet takes it to a new level. Together, we have the expertise, the industrial presence and the ambition to develop missile capabilities that will set a new standard for the market. With EDGE Europe now established and our presence in France in place, the conditions to deliver on that ambition have never been stronger.”
Alexandre Ziegler, Head of the Defense Global Business Unit, Safran Electronics & Defense, said: “More than 30 years after the start of our partnership with the United Arab Emirates, Safran Electronics & Defense and EDGE are entering a new phase of cooperation focused on sovereignty and operational impact. This partnership builds on the success of the HAMMER family, which is benefiting from strong demand and industrial ramp-up. By combining software-defined defense with robust industrial manufacturing strength, and leveraging agile engineering practices, we are accelerating the development and deployment of next-generation smart weapons to the battlefield.”
In addition to the extended-range precision-guided weapon, the joint venture framework covers the co-development of a supersonic air-to-ground weapon and a next-generation air-launched system for unmanned aerial platforms (UAS).
The proposed joint ventures will also explore additional industrial and commercial opportunities in France and the UAE, including subsystems, anti-tank solutions and munitions.
