China will export 20 satellites to Oman, marking a significant expansion of its aerospace industry into the Middle East.
According to a report by the Chinese economic media outlet 21st Century Business Herald on November 6, Chinese space AI company STAR.VISION signed a cooperation agreement with Oman's space firm Oman Lens during the visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said to China on November 2. The two sides will jointly develop and launch a constellation of space computing satellites planned by Oman Lens, starting with an initial batch of 20 satellites, with the possibility of increasing that number in the future.
STAR.VISION stated that this project represents the largest single contract for the overseas expansion of Chinese commercial satellites, with the contract amount being the highest ever in China's commercial space sector, although specific figures were not disclosed.
The collaboration extends beyond satellite supply. The two parties will jointly construct a satellite assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) center in Oman, train Omani master's and doctoral graduates in China, and provide phased training for 1,000 local professionals. They also plan to establish a joint space AI research laboratory.
This initiative builds on previous cooperation that began in 2024. STAR.VISION participated in the development of the payload and intelligent processing platform for Oman's first smart remote sensing satellite, OL-1, which was launched aboard the Long March 1 rocket in November 2024. OL-1 is recorded as Oman's first internationally registered satellite with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and is equipped with AI technology.
OL-1 has been operating normally in orbit for over 700 days, tasked with observing changes in the Earth's surface and monitoring land use and environmental conditions. The AI onboard the satellite processes tasks such as cloud detection, image compression, and target identification directly in space.
The two sides aim to enhance observation frequency, coverage, and service continuity by building a constellation of 20 satellites based on their experience with single satellite operations. Oman expects to gain more autonomous access to data necessary for land observation, resource management, and disaster response by securing its own satellite constellation.
This collaboration also highlights a shift in how Chinese commercial space companies are expanding internationally. Previously focused on one-time exports of satellite manufacturing and launch services, the approach has evolved to include the establishment of local facilities and personnel, along with long-term operational services. In this structure, Oman will retain satellite operation rights and data, while Chinese companies will handle system construction and long-term services.
Meanwhile, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said visited China on November 1 and 2, where he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This marks the first visit by an Omani Sultan to China since the two countries established diplomatic relations 48 years ago in 1978. The Sultan's delegation included key figures from various sectors, including the Deputy Prime Minister for Defense, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the head of the Oman Investment Authority, and the Governor of the Central Bank.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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