EDGE acquires majority stake in autonomous air systems developer ANAVIA

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The UAE’s EDGE Group has announced the acquisition of a 52 per cent majority shareholding in ANAVIA, a Switzerland-based company that specialises in the design, development, and manufacturing of versatile vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) systems of up to 750 kilogrammes.

The acquisition will see EDGE become a market leader in this highly-specialised yet growing sector.

ANAVIA produces various industry-leading unmanned helicopters for various mission profiles, such as surveillance and reconnaissance, inspection, and mapping and cargo, which can be adapted to EDGE’s cross-complementary portfolio of air, land, and maritime capabilities.

EDGE places emphasis on autonomous vehicles

The group is placing a major focus on developing autonomous systems.

Mansour AlMulla, managing director and CEO of EDGE Group, said, “The acquisition of a majority share in ANAVIA is an important step in our strategy of bolstering its advanced autonomous aerial vehicle capabilities as it rapidly expands its portfolio of multi-domain systems and solutions and its global export footprint.

The deal will enable us to benefit from ANAVIA’s proven experience in developing high-quality and technologically advanced unmanned helicopters to complement our existing range of autonomous aerial systems and its established supply chains to become a market leader. It will also allow ANAVIA to take advantage of EDGE’s scale and the opportunities this presents for further innovation across relevant group areas.”

ANAVIA employs a highly-skilled team of experts in the autonomous aircraft domain, covering composite, mechatronics, aircraft maintenance, flight testing, and software engineering.

Ishan Sahgal, Founder and Co-CEO of ANAVIA, stated, “We are immensely proud of us forging this pioneering partnership and joining the EDGE family. It will enable us to collaborate on unmanned helicopter platforms, marking a significant milestone in autonomous aviation. It also reflects ANAVIA’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological innovation and revolutionising the future of unmanned helicopter systems.”

The two companies will showcase their joint capabilities at the upcoming Dubai Airshow 2023, scheduled to from November 13 to 17.