Agreement between Novamarine and Edge Europe on autonomous naval drones
Agreement between the Sardinian and Emirati groups to manufacture enhanced platforms in Olbia using technology from Abu Dhabi
The Sardinian shipyard Novamarine and Edge Europe, a Paris-based company belonging to the UAE-based Edge Group – one of the world’s leading players in the advanced technology and defence sectors – have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of next-generation naval drones. The agreement provides for the two companies to work on the potential joint development of USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) models – autonomous naval vessels – belonging to Novamarine’s professional segment.
Under the agreement, the latter will be responsible for manufacturing the USV platforms at the Olbia plant, whilst Edge will handle the supply and integration of the on-board autonomous navigation systems. Both companies will draw not only on their respective areas of expertise but also on the contributions of the Technology Innovation Institute, the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) in Abu Dhabi, as well as Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding, Edge’s naval division, which specialises in the design, construction, repair and conversion of naval and commercial vessels.
According to a press release, Novamarine unveiled its first two USV models at Euronaval 2026, one of the leading international exhibitions dedicated to naval defence, which opened yesterday in Paris (and will run until 6 November). Entirely designed and built in-house, the drone range comprises vessels ranging in length from 5 to 26 metres.
“This agreement,” emphasised Francesco Pirro, Chairman and Chief Executive of Novamarine, “represents an important step on our path to growth through innovation. “The partnership with Edge Group allows us to combine our expertise in the design and construction of high-performance vessels with advanced autonomous navigation technologies, giving rise to a new generation of vessels capable of meeting increasingly complex operational requirements.”
“Novamarine,” commented Khaled Al Zaabi, president of Edge’s platforms & systems division, “understands exactly what crews engaged in patrol and rescue operations need; our approach is to build on this wealth of knowledge, rather than starting from scratch. By integrating Novamarine’s platforms with the Technology Innovation Institute’s expertise in autonomous navigation and ADSB’s expertise in systems integration, we will see how autonomous surface vessels can carry out a wide range of missions at sea, whilst safeguarding the safety of personnel. This is the collaborative model we are bringing to Europe: working alongside established Italian companies to grow together with them rather than competing against them.”
