Anduril presented the Omen, a new hybrid-electric drone with vertical takeoff and landing, developed in partnership with the EDGE Group, from the United Arab Emirates.
The equipment, classified at the upper limit of the Group 3 category, was designed to take on missions currently carried out by much larger aircraft, both manned and unmanned. The company highlights that the model combines modularity, large load capacity and long autonomy, characteristics that place it as a direct competitor to larger platforms.
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The announcement comes on the eve of the Dubai Airshow, where the Omen will be shown to the public. According to Anduril, there is already a firm order for up to 50 units placed by a customer in the Emirates, and production will be divided between local facilities and the future Arsenal-1 factory, in Ohio. The project has been in development since 2019, undergoing tests with reduced models and advances in hybrid-electric technology, one of the main challenges for VTOL drones that need to balance efficiency in vertical flight and forward flight.
The Omen adopts a vertical tail design, with double rotors, long wings and canards at the front, as well as a foldable structure that facilitates transport and operation by small crews. Although full performance details have not been released, Anduril claims that the drone will have a payload three to five times greater than that of Group 3 competitors and autonomy up to four times greater. The company emphasizes that the system was designed for environments such as the Indo-Pacific, which require long journeys over remote and maritime areas.
Equipped with Lattice autonomy software, Omen will be able to coordinate group missions, share data and adapt routes in real time. The drone was also developed to operate far from landing strips, allowing rapid launches in military or natural disaster scenarios. Its open and modular architecture makes it possible to integrate different sensors — such as radars, electro-optical systems and high energy demand electronic loads — in addition to performing functions such as communications relay, maritime surveillance, logistical support and even ammunition transport.
Anduril claims that the Omen can fill gaps currently occupied by larger maritime patrol aircraft and special platforms, offering performance disproportionate to its size. The project is part of a broader cooperation strategy with EDGE, which will invest US$200 million in the program, while Anduril has already allocated US$850 million to the development of technologies for Group 3 drones.
The company hopes to start series production after 2028 and promises to reveal more details during the Dubai Airshow.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @_edgegroup | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
The first co-developed system, Omen, is a hover-to-cruise AAV combining the endurance, payload, and flexibility of larger systems within a compact, runway-independent airframe. pic.twitter.com/vdckq6Ury0
— EDGE (@_edgegroup) November 13, 2025
