Fleet Space secures major exploration deal with Saudi mining giant Ma’aden

Australian aerospace company Fleet Space Technologies has secured a significant foothold in the Middle East, signing a four-year exploration contract with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned mining firm Ma’aden. 

The deal, announced Monday, covers up to 12,012.6 square kilometers of exploration territory within the mineral-rich Arabian Shield.

The agreement will be executed through a regional joint venture between Fleet Space and Saudi partner Tahreez. 

The collaboration will deploy Fleet’s ExoSphere platform—an advanced exploration system that combines satellite-enabled geophysics, AI-driven analytics, and in-field sensors to deliver real-time 3D subsurface imaging.

The technology can probe up to 7 kilometers below ground, offering high-resolution insights at unprecedented speed and scale.

This partnership follows a memorandum of understanding signed in January and marks a strategic expansion for Fleet Space in the Gulf region. 

The company’s ExoSphere platform, already used by global mining giants like Rio Tinto, Barrick, and AngloGold Ashanti, aims to reduce exploration timelines while minimizing environmental impact.

Ma’aden CEO Bob Wilt described the contract as a milestone for both the company and the broader mining industry. 

“This agreement represents the convergence of space-age innovation, real-time geophysics, and artificial intelligence,” he said. “It aligns with our ambition to set a new global standard in exploration intelligence and supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its economy through high-tech, sustainable industries.”

Fleet Space’s entry into the Saudi market highlights a growing appetite in the region for advanced, sustainable mineral exploration technologies as countries seek to secure critical mineral supplies for the energy transition.