EDGE Group Advances Construction of Kuwaiti Missile Fleet
The shipyard is utilizing a multi-national production strategy to accelerate the delivery of eight 62-meter naval vessels.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Construction
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EDGE Group has reached a key construction milestone for Kuwait's navy, laying the keel for a third missile boat and initiating steel cutting for two additional vessels. The project involves building eight 62-meter ships simultaneously across shipyards in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.
Why it matters
The $2.45 billion program demonstrates the operational scale required to manage complex, multi-national defense contracts. For operators in the heavy manufacturing sector, the project highlights the necessity of distributed assembly strategies to meet tight delivery requirements for government-backed procurement.
The $2.45 billion contract covers eight 62-meter missile boats being produced through a split-site strategy. Additional components include a 320-million-euro ($370 million) contract for combat management and defense systems awarded to Leonardo.
The players
EDGE Group
An Abu Dhabi-based advanced technology and defense conglomerate specializing in autonomous systems, weapons, and heavy maritime manufacturing.
Kuwait Ministry of Defence
The national authority overseeing military procurement and maritime defense requirements for the state of Kuwait.
ST Engineering Marine
A Singapore-based marine engineering firm providing shipbuilding, repair, and integrated naval systems for international clients.
Leonardo
An Italian aerospace, defense, and security company providing high-end combat management and integrated electronics systems.
Rheinmetall
A German defense contractor providing specialized hardware, including soft-kill defense and ammunition systems for naval vessels.
The details
The program utilizes a multi-site manufacturing model, with ST Engineering Marine’s Benoi Yard in Singapore responsible for three vessels while EDGE subsidiary Abu Dhabi Ship Building manages the remaining five. Integration is managed through a specialized supply chain involving Rheinmetall for decoy systems and HGH for infrared surveillance. This distributed approach allows for concurrent production cycles, accelerating construction milestones while ensuring the integration of diverse proprietary defense technologies across the fleet.
Timeline
June 2025: Contract signed with Kuwait Ministry of Defence.
May 2026: Leonardo won combat management system contract.
June 2026: HGH announced supply of infrared systems.
July 2026: Rheinmetall secured decoy system contract.
Q2 2029: Delivery of decoy systems expected to conclude.
Market Landscape
This program marks a significant expansion of regional defense shipbuilding capabilities, following the precedent set by major international naval procurement deals. It underscores a growing industry trend toward collaborative, multi-site production to mitigate lead-time risks on high-value defense projects.
Operators managing large-scale manufacturing contracts should monitor the integration risks associated with multi-site supply chains. Tracking component-level delivery schedules, such as those from defense systems providers, is essential for maintaining project timeline compliance.
The takeaway
Large defense programs increasingly rely on distributed manufacturing to balance production capacity with specialized system integration requirements. Businesses involved in complex supply chains should prioritize real-time milestone tracking for every sub-contracted component in their critical path.
Further reading
For more on large-scale industrial projects, explore our Construction archive.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Defense Post.
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