Marlan Space and Loft Orbital Unveil $1B AI Satellite Venture ”Altair Next Gen” Backed by UAE and France
In the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, UAE-based space investor and operator Marlan Space—a subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC)—and U.S.-French space infrastructure firm Loft Orbital have announced a consortium investing $1 billion in France to develop "Altair Next Gen." Billed as the world's largest AI-powered satellite constellation infrastructure, the new fleet will be manufactured by Orbit Works at its specialized facility in Abu Dhabi.
The strategic partnership was formally signed and unveiled during the International Space Summit in Paris, underscoring a joint commitment to cement the UAE and France as global leaders in spaceborne artificial intelligence.
Phase One: 50 High-Performance Satellites
The initial phase of the initiative entails deploying 50 advanced satellites equipped with integrated radar, optical payloads, and cutting-edge sensor arrays. Engineered with persistent connectivity and onboard supercomputing capabilities, the constellation is designed to cater to the sovereign and mission-critical requirements of UAE, French, and European governmental authorities, as well as an expanding global base of commercial and institutional clients.
Real-Time In-Orbit Edge Computing
A defining feature of the Altair Next Gen constellation is its capacity for real-time edge processing directly in orbit. Rather than downlinking heavy volumes of raw imagery for terrestrial post-processing—a conventional pipeline that often takes hours—the satellites analyze situational data autonomously in space and beam down actionable intelligence and automated alerts within seconds.
Scaling the constellation to 50 satellites transforms this operational capability from intermittent passes to persistent, continuous surveillance. The dense orbital distribution ensures that a satellite remains in close operational proximity to emerging developments anywhere on the globe, providing users with real-time decision-making support when timely intervention is critical.