UAE to establish chiplet design, assembly hub in Lockheed Martin partnership

The Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement and Lockheed Martin have signed an agreement to establish an advanced microelectronics design and assembly facility in the United Arab Emirates.

The agreement, announced on the sidelines of Make it in the Emirates 2026, will be implemented in partnership with EDGE Group and Khalifa University of Science and Technology, WAM reports.

It aims to develop the UAE’s capacity to design and assemble advanced chiplet-based technologies, strengthen domestic industrial value chains, and position the country as a competitive hub for next-generation microelectronics.

As part of the programme, HALCON, an EDGE Group company, will integrate chiplet-based processors into advanced targeting and guidance systems, enhancing onboard computation as well as target acquisition, tracking, and precision engagement.

A dedicated research and development centre will also be established at Khalifa University, focusing on microelectronics design, talent development, and industry-led research aligned with national industrial priorities.

Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, General-Director of Industry Development Directorate at Tawazun said that the Council plays a key role in enabling this national project by bringing together strategic partners, driving efforts for impact, supporting capability development, and establishing the foundations for a sustainable, locally anchored chiplet ecosystem. He emphasised that this enablement reflects the Council’s approach to supporting and activating national priority projects, contributing to the acceleration of advanced industrial capabilities and strengthening the integration of the national ecosystem within critical technology sectors.

He added that chiplet technologies are a key enabler across advanced industries, including defence, aerospace, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing. He noted that the initiative aligns with the objectives of “Make it in the Emirates” and reflects a broader national drive to accelerate industrial growth, enable future industries, and create high-value opportunities for investment and innovation.

He further highlighted that the initiative strengthens the UAE–US technology partnership through a co-development model, by linking national capabilities in design, research, and assembly with Lockheed Martin’s expertise and its network of US partners, thereby enhancing supply chain resilience, supporting high-value jobs, and enabling innovation in both countries.

Daniel Mouton, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Middle East, said, “For more than 50 years, Lockheed Martin has partnered with the UAE to bring advanced capabilities from ambition to reality. This agreement moves farther. It establishes the design and assembly capacity needed to place the Emirates inside the global microelectronics value chain. Chiplets are foundational to the next generation of aerospace, defence, AI and autonomous systems, and this initiative brings together UAE vision, Emirati talent and US technology partners to build capability that can serve both national priorities and wider industrial growth.”

Prof. Ebrahim Al Hajri, President, Khalifa University, said, “Khalifa University is leading in the knowledge-based economy as a catalyst for economic development for the UAE. The dedicated R&D centre at the University that will be established with our partners will train UAE nationals in chiplet design and advanced microelectronics, and connect our research directly to industrial application. This is precisely the model the UAE needs to secure its position in the global technology value chain."

Saif Al Dahbashi, President – Missiles & Weapons, EDGE, said, “This initiative marks a decisive step in advancing the UAE’s sovereign microelectronics capability. In partnership with the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, Lockheed Martin, and Khalifa University of Science and Technology, we are combining global expertise with national ambition to accelerate capability transfer, develop a highly specialised talent base, and embed resilient, secure supply chains within the UAE.

By anchoring these capabilities locally, we are not only strengthening operational sovereignty, but also positioning the UAE as a regional hub for advanced microelectronics innovation.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev