The Abu Dhabi-based EDGE Group said in a statement that it has now completed the acquisition of AKAER after all customary conditions precedent were fulfilled, following the initial share purchase agreement signed in July. As part of the transaction, a minority equity stake will be held by SIATT to preserve AKAER’s status as an Empresa Estratégica de Defesa. The move expands EDGE’s investment in Brazil and strengthens the country’s local defence industry while advancing strategic technologies and technological sovereignty, according to the company.
EDGE Group described AKAER as a firm founded in 1992 and headquartered in São José dos Campos with a strong reputation for engineering excellence and delivery of complex aerospace programmes. The Brazilian company has accumulated more than 10 million engineering hours across a diverse portfolio of aerospace programmes for global manufacturers spanning both military and commercial platforms. AKAER has contributed to projects including Saab’s Gripen NG fighter jet, Embraer’s KC-390 transport aircraft and Super Tucano, as well as Boeing’s 747-8, the group noted in its announcement.
The acquisition builds on an established relationship between the two companies in the development and industrialisation of unmanned systems, EDGE Group reported. AKAER already works closely with the UAE firm on programmes such as the JENIAH unmanned aerial vehicle, delivering significant results that establish a strong foundation for further integration. This collaboration has seen approximately 40 percent of AKAER’s revenue derived from EDGE contracts in recent periods, according to statements from EDGE executives.
EDGE Group has made this its third acquisition in Brazil’s defence sector in three years, having previously taken stakes in SIATT and Condor Non-Lethal Technologies. The conglomerate’s investments in the country have reached around $700 million during that timeframe, with the latest deal set to add capabilities in optronics, electro-optic and infrared systems as well as space-related technologies. Company officials have emphasised that AKAER’s management will remain Brazilian and operations will stay based in the country.
Figures from EDGE Group show the company generated $5 billion in revenue during 2025, with more than 70 percent coming from exports and an order backlog exceeding $20 billion. The group employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide across missiles, autonomous systems, cyber security and other advanced technology clusters. EDGE’s international expansion strategy includes building engineering capacity closer to key markets and partners, the company stated.
MarketLine data places revenues for Brazil’s aerospace and defence sector at $2.5 billion in 2024, with the military aircraft segment accounting for the largest share. The sector forms part of broader Latin American growth in aerospace capabilities, where Brazil holds a significant regional position. AKAER’s integration is expected to support EDGE’s efforts in specialised areas such as drone development and platform modernisation while contributing to Brazil’s national aerospace objectives.
