EDGE announces acquisition of 50% stake in Brazil’s SIATT

The UAE’s EDGE Group, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, has announced the acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Brazilian smart weapons and high-tech systems specialist, SIATT.

The acquisition deal was officially signed at SIATT’s headquarters in the city of Sao Jose dos Campos and witnessed by Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of EDGE Group, and the senior leadership teams of both companies.

The acquisition follows a cooperation agreement signed by both companies in Rio de Janeiro in April this year, and is part of a subsequent co-development agreement signed between EDGE and the Brazilian Navy for advanced long-range anti-ship missile technology, as part of the MANSUP national anti-ship missile project, for which SIATT is providing the guidance, navigation, control and telemetry systems.

Mansour AlMulla, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, said, “EDGE is committed to collaborating with strategically important industry players in Brazil, through investments or partnerships, in order to develop advanced defence capabilities and other related technologies. As part of our Latin America development roadmap, particularly in the Brazilian market, we are embarking on the development and manufacture of the next generation of high-performance and price-competitive smart weapons and solutions. Together with SIATT, we aim to become relevant market players in high-tech defence systems.” Founded in 2015, and based in the city of Sao Jose dos Campos, SIATT specialises in the integration of systems with high technological content, which provides solutions to the demands of the defence and aerospace sectors.

Rogerio Salvador, CEO and one of the founders of SIATT, said, “This is a proud moment for SIATT as a regional leader in the field of advanced missile technology. EDGE’s investment in our expertise and our renowned capabilities is a testament to the high quality of our products and systems. In turn, it will enable us to benefit from EDGE’s scale and international multi-domain experience to jointly develop the next generation of smart weapons solutions for our respective Armed Forces, and other defence customers. SIATT, as a Brazilian Strategic Defence Company - EED, remains fully committed to contributing to national sovereignty.”

Hamad Al Marar, President - Weapons & Missiles at EDGE Group, stated, “This is a critical milestone and has been achieved by forging mutually beneficial relationships and the support and vision of the leadership of the UAE and Brazil, who continue to forge ever-closer defence ties by building independent sovereign capabilities, and supporting economic growth.

“Our acquisition of 50% shareholding in SIATT is a perfect example of this. It will enable us to combine expertise in the development of smart weapons and high-tech systems, both focus areas for EDGE, and to explore potential collaboration opportunities to enhance technologies and capabilities in the UAE and Brazilian markets.” Vice Admiral Marco Antonio Ismael Trovão de Oliveira of the Brazilian Navy said, “EDGE is demonstrating through concrete action that it is a serious partner and supporter of the Brazilian defence industry, and the development of national capabilities across multiple domains. Today’s announcement of the Group’s acquisition of a major shareholding in SIATT will further strengthen our mutual vision and objectives of greater security and economic prosperity both here and overseas.”

SIATT’s product portfolio includes intelligent weapons such as missiles and guided munitions, and their integration onto aircraft, naval vessels, tanks and other land vehicles. Additionally, SIATT also excels in radars, sensors, and avionics systems technologies.

EDGE Group has signed recently a strategic agreement with the Brazilian Marine Corps. The agreement demonstrates the importance of the Brazilian defence market for EDGE and opens major opportunities for the group to showcase its advanced portfolio of multi-domain solutions, with a focus on autonomous vehicles, electronic warfare, and secure communications.

The signing ceremony took place in the city of Rio de Janeiro as part of an ongoing EDGE leadership visit to key local government offices, defence industry partners, and prospective customers. The agreement was signed by Mansour AlMulla, EDGE Group Managing Director and CEO, and Vice Admiral (Marine) Rogério Ramos Lage, Marine Corps Material Commander, in the presence of Saleh Ahmad Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to Brazil, and Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of EDGE Group, as well as senior representatives from EDGE and the Brazilian Navy, including Hamad Al Marar, President Missiles and Weapons, EDGE; Rodrigo Torres, President and Group CFO, EDGE; Fleet Admiral Carlos Chagas Vianna Braga, Marine Corps GeneralCommander; and General Director of Navy Material, Almiral Arthur Fernando Bettega Corrêa.

Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of EDGE Group, said, “Today’s agreement reinforces our strategy of growth in the Brazilian market through partnership. We have a shared vision with the Brazilian Marine Corps, anchored in strategic alignment and the pursuit of technological excellence. EDGE is fully committed to advancing multi-domain capabilities in the region, with a particular focus on autonomous systems, secure communications, and electronic warfare. This partnership will open valuable opportunities for us to collaborate in knowledge sharing, enabling us to reap the benefits of our combined expertise.”

The signing paves the way for a planned technical cooperation agreement between both parties in the near future. EDGE recently announced a strategic partnership with the Brazilian Navy to co-develop a long-range anti-ship missile, as well as provide advanced solutions, such as anti-jamming technology, which is developed by EDGE in the UAE.