EDGE Group, the Emirati defence group, took control of Italian engine maker CMD in October, Naval Today reported on 5 November1. During Euronaval in early November it signed two exploratory memorandums. One, with Italian boatbuilder Novamarine, covers USV development; the other, between EDGE's Abu Dhabi Ship Building and CMD, covers fitting CMD engines. The same month, EDGE sold Morocco guided glide bombs.
8NOV
UAE's EDGE signs Italian USV memorandums
2 min read
19:26UTC
EDGE Group took control of Italian engine maker CMD and signed exploratory memorandums on uncrewed boat development with Novamarine.
TechnologyDeveloping
Key takeaway
EDGE Group bought into an Italian engine maker and signed exploratory USV memorandums.
Deep Analysis
In plain English
EDGE Group is the United Arab Emirates' state-owned defence company. CMD is an Italian firm that makes engines for boats, and Novamarine is an Italian boatbuilder on the island of Sardinia. EDGE has bought control of CMD and signed agreements to explore building drone boats, vessels with no crew, using Italian hulls and engines, Emirati self-driving software and assembly in Abu Dhabi. The agreements are early-stage and commit no one to buy anything.
Root Causes
Engines and hulls are where many drone-boat makers depend on outside suppliers. Owning an engine maker gives EDGE control over a part that limits how fast and far its boats can go and how many it can build.
EDGE is owned by the Emirati state. Buying into European suppliers gives it technology and a European base faster than building those skills at home.
What could happen next?
- Opportunity
EDGE could offer a drone boat with hull, engine and software from its own network.
- Risk
European navies may weigh Gulf ownership when assessing CMD-powered vessels.
Sources:Naval Today
First Reported In
Update #14 · UK names HII at £303m; its tender said £125m
Naval Today· 8 Nov 2026
Read original →Different Perspectives
EDGE Group
EDGE took control of Italian engine maker CMD in October and signed exploratory USV memorandums with Novamarine and Abu Dhabi Ship Building in early November. It is assembling an Italian hull and engine supply chain around Emirati autonomy, with no customer named.
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Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Editorial standards.