French spacetech Loft Orbital has signed a $1 billion contract with UAE-based company Marlan Space to build a constellation of 50 satellites powered by AI.

The deal, announced in Paris, marks one of the largest AI-driven satellite deployments in the commercial space sector. Loft Orbital will design and deploy the constellation, integrating advanced AI capabilities for autonomous operations and data processing.

"This partnership represents a significant milestone in scalable space infrastructure," said Pierre-Dimas Mori, CEO of Loft Orbital. "We're enabling next-generation satellite services that will support a wide range of applications from Earth observation to connectivity."

Marlan Space, headquartered in Dubai, will serve as the primary customer and investor for the program. The satellites are slated for launch beginning in 2026, with full deployment expected by 2028. Financial terms were not disclosed.