Key facts
- Star Vision signed the agreement with Oman Lens in Beijing during Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's state visit.
- The 20 satellites are designed to process imagery with AI in orbit, Star Vision said.
- Star Vision said the package is worth more than US$200 million.
- The company described the contract as China's most valuable commercial space deal for overseas expansion.
- The plan includes an assembly, integration and testing center in Oman.
Star Vision of Hangzhou signed an agreement in Beijing with Omani firm Oman Lens to build a constellation of 20 satellites that process images in orbit using artificial intelligence. The company said the contract is worth more than US$200 million.
The agreement was signed during a state visit by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, according to a report by Chinese economic outlet 21st Century Business Herald cited by Aju Press. Under the plan, the two sides will jointly develop the satellite network, beginning with the first batch of 20 and potentially expanding. Aju Press reported the deal includes a satellite assembly, integration and testing center in Oman, training for Omani doctoral and master's graduates in China and phased training for 1,000 local professionals.
The satellites are intended to spot ships and floods in real time, Star Vision said. The collaboration follows earlier work in November 2024, when Star Vision contributed to Oman's OL-1 remote sensing satellite.