Press Release

AV’s JUMP 20 Medium UAS Supports U.S. Navy’s 4th Fleet During Operation Southern Spear

06/12/2025

AV’s JUMP 20 Medium UAS Supports U.S. Navy’s 4th Fleet During Operation Southern Spear

ARLINGTON, Va., June 12, 2025 – AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) delivered company-owned, company-operated (COCO) maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services in support of the U.S. Navy’s 4th Fleet as part of Operation Southern Spear. AV’s JUMP® 20 medium uncrewed aircraft system (MUAS) was deployed across the Caribbean and southern Atlantic region, providing persistent ISR where it actively tracked potential illicit activities within the 4th Fleet’s jurisdiction.

JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) MUAS designed for rapid deployment, with fully hands-free autonomous launch and recovery capabilities on moving vessels—even in challenging maritime conditions, including sea state level 5 and winds exceeding 20 knots.

“Advancing and refining the JUMP 20 maritime offering has been a major focus and investment for AV during the past 18 months,” said Shane Hastings, AV’s vice president and general manager of medium UAS. “This contract represented the culmination of that work and marked the first of what we hope are many operational maritime deployments of the JUMP 20.  What sets the JUMP 20 apart from other Group 3 UAS in its class is its superior payload capacity, unmatched modularity and exceptional endurance – all delivered without the need for launch or recovery equipment enabling fully hands-free operations and maximizing operational safety.”

According to the Navy, “Operation Southern Spear was a successful operation designed to advance the Navy’s Hybrid Fleet Campaign, operationalizing Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) through manned-unmanned teaming. In addition to meeting operational objectives, this operation transitioned from short-duration experimentation into long-duration operations aiding in the development of critical techniques and procedures designed to advance the global integration of RAS into the maritime environment. AV’s JUMP 20 served as a key ISR asset, operating alongside joint and interagency assets in the area.”

JUMP 20 has proven its reliability with over 130,000 land-based flight hours supporting U.S. Special Operations Command combat deployments.  JUMP 20’s expanded operations into these shipboard environments further extends its reach, enabling multi-mission multi-domain capabilities on a global scale, wherever and whenever needed.

AV’s JUMP 20 was ship-based and deployed for approximately six months during Operation Southern Spear under the Monitoring, Analysis, Reconnaissance, Logistics, Intelligence, and Network Services (MARLINS) Task Order as a subcontractor under the prime contractor, SMX.

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AV’s Tomahawk Awarded $5.1M contract for Human-Machine Integrated Formations Project by U.S. Army RCCTO

05/19/2025

AV’s Tomahawk Awarded $5.1M contract for Human-Machine Integrated Formations Project by U.S. Army RCCTO

ARLINGTON, Va., May 19, 2025 – Tomahawk GCS, an AeroVironment (“AV”) product line specializing in autonomous and intelligent multi-domain systems, has been awarded a $5.1 million contract to support the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) Human- Machine Integrated Formations (HMIF) rapid prototyping project. Following a rigorous selection process, AV’s Tomahawk’s Grip TA5 was selected as the Dismounted Common Controller (DCC) to significantly enhance human-machine teaming for battlefield operations.

The HMIF initiative, led by the U.S. Army RCCTO, is accelerating the integration of autonomous and robotic systems into formations to enhance situational awareness, lethality, and survivability. With its modular architecture and multi-platform compatibility, the Grip TA5 provides operators command-and-control of multiple robotic assets in real-time, enhancing mission adaptability and response speed.

“This award is a huge milestone, not just for AV, but for the future of human-machine teaming on the battlefield,” said Jason Hendrix, AV’s vice president and general manager of Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems. “We’re proud to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in multi-domain operations and delivering proven technology to the warfighter.”

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AV and Dutch Ministry of Defence Expand Partnership to Modernize Puma™ UAS Fleet and Deploy Scalable Long-Endurance Systems

05/13/2025

AV and Dutch Ministry of Defence Expand Partnership to Modernize Puma™ UAS Fleet and Deploy Scalable Long-Endurance SystemsArlington, Va., May 13, 2025 – AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced a new contract with the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) to modernize the Netherlands’ Puma™ UAS fleet with expanded capabilities for enhanced situational awareness and operational effectiveness.

Under the contract, the Dutch MoD is modernizing its Puma 3 AE UAS fleet with advanced capabilities that empower forces to carry out mission-critical operations autonomously and securely—even in GPS-denied and contested environments. Upgrades will boost survivability, strengthen communications and add the option for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) to maximize operational agility. Deliveries are underway, with the upgraded systems set for rapid deployment at the squad and platoon levels.

Additionally, the Netherlands is expanding its UAS portfolio with the acquisition of Puma LE, which delivers extended endurance and range. Both Puma 3 AE and Puma LE provide scalable ISR capabilities for tactical formations and civilian missions.

Battle-proven in the toughest combat zones—including ongoing deployment in Ukraine—Puma systems have earned their reputation in real-world, high-threat environments. Continuous updates driven by frontline experience keep both platforms mission-ready, rapidly adaptable, and equipped with the latest tech to outpace evolving threats.

“Our expanded partnership with the Dutch MoD underscores the rising demand for adaptable, mission-ready uncrewed systems across NATO,” said Trace Stevenson, AV’s president of Autonomous Systems. “AV’s battle-proven Puma platforms are built to deliver real-time intelligence and unmatched battlefield agility—so our partners can make faster, smarter decisions in the world’s most contested environments.”

Designed for fast-paced, expeditionary operations, Puma UAS can be launched by a single soldier or from Fennek reconnaissance vehicles—enabling agile ISR at the edge. These upgrades are part of a broader Dutch initiative to modernize and scale uncrewed capability across their operations.

 

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Press Release

AV Launches Titan 4 and Expands Titan Family, Ushering in the Next Era of RF Counter-UAS Dominance

05/06/2025

AV Launches Titan 4 and Expands Titan Family, Ushering in the Next Era of RF Counter-UAS Dominance

ARLINGTON, Va., May 6, 2025 – To meet the emerging air threats of today and the rapidly evolving threats of tomorrow, AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced Titan 4, the next generation of its battle-proven, warfighter-trusted Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) technology. Titan 4 is a smaller, lighter, more powerful, highly extensible Radio Frequency (RF)-based solution to detect and defeat Group 1 and 2 drone threats.

Titan 4 is portable and mission-adaptable—supporting mobile, dismounted, or fixed-site use—and can deploy in under five minutes to identify and neutralize threats, creating a protective dome around personnel and infrastructure. Titan 4 is 17% lighter and 73% smaller than its dual-chassis predecessor, now integrated into a single compact chassis as compared to its dual-chassis predecessor. It offers nearly 250% more transmit power with 540W of total output over six RF bands to address both current and emerging threats. For enhanced airspace awareness, AV has integrated its Titan-SV system within Titan 4 to provide operators with AI/ML-backed passive, long-range precision threat detection.

“With over a thousand units in the field and hundreds of thousands of operational hours, our team has taken lessons learned from active deployments in rapidly evolving threat landscapes to develop the next era of RF C-UAS superiority,” said Trace Stevenson, President of AV’s Autonomous Systems Segment. “Smaller, lighter and more powerful, Titan 4 is poised to better respond to both individual threats and drone swarms in the harshest environments–using adaptive, autonomous, escalating countermeasures to protect our warfighters, allies, and infrastructure and ensure successful military operations.”

Titan 4 is the flagship solution in AV’s Titan C-UASTM suite of autonomous RF counter-drone systems. In addition to Titan 4 and Titan-SV, AV is expanding this suite of solutions with technologies spanning from larger, fixed-site configurations to small, interoperable plug-and-play sensors:

Titan-MS is an AI-powered, multi-sensor technology that detects, identifies, tracks, defeats, and reports on unmanned system threats. As the largest, most powerful solution in the Titan family, Titan-MS (Multi-Sensor) is a multi-mission, multi-threat capability suitable for fixed-site installations in air, sea, and land domains. Fusing RF, radar, and optics with AI and ML algorithms from industry-leading sensors, Titan-MS detects, classifies, and defeats RF-controlled and autonomous drone threats —while also tracking human and vehicle movement. It provides operators with recorded video and detailed analytics for after-action review to continuously improve security operations.

Titan-EO/IR is a portable, multi-sensor platform to detect, identify, track, and defeat UAS threats. Leveraging the repeatable performance of Titan’s RF capabilities along with agile Middle Wavelength Infrared (MWIR) sensors, Titan-EO/IR integrates advanced sensor arrays into a unified interface, delivering full-spectrum airspace awareness.

Titan-SV LOB is a fixed-site or vehicle-mounted small-UAS (sUAS) detection and tracking solution that provides operators with the same long-range, 360° coverage of Titan-SV along with precise azimuth and elevation for all sUAS threats. For standard protocol sUAS, Titan-SV LOB (Line of Bearing) provides enhanced threat awareness with full 3D tracking. With proven commercial and government multi-sensor interoperability, plug-and-play compatibility with BlueSky 2″ Mast systems, and a secure API supporting a wide array of integrations, Titan SV-LOB is a versatile, multi-domain C-UAS solution.

Titan-SV MOSA/SOSA is the next generation of Titan-SV in development, putting the passive threat detection power of Titan-SV on an open-architecture sensor card for maximum interoperability on a wide variety of multi-mission systems and open standard chassis. Using Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) and Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) frameworks, Titan-SV SOSA/MOSA promotes interoperability, scalability, and rapid modernization across defense platforms.

“From our fixed-site capabilities to our plug-in integrations, the Titan family of RF C-UAS solutions is a force multiplier for our warfighters,” said Jimmy Jenkins, Executive Vice President of AV’s Precision Strike and Defense Systems Group. “With a proven track record across Titan and Titan-SV deployments, we’re proud to roll out Titan 4 and a full family of Titan solutions to meet the critical multi-mission needs of our customers. We’re moving these innovations from prototype to full-scale production to quickly deliver our U.S.-made and manufactured units into the hands of warfighters who are protecting us at home and abroad.”

Titan was selected as a C-UAS Program of Record (POR) capability for an undisclosed Department of Defense customer in 2022. Since that time, the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Special Operations Forces have deployed more than 1,000 units globally to protect U.S., allied, and coalition forces and critical infrastructure. Domestically, Federal departments have deployed Titan systems for crowd protection at large gatherings and major sporting events. Internationally, countries across the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Latin America, and other allied partners are trusting Titan to enhance their air defense capabilities against drone threats.

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Press Release

AV Unleashes Red Dragon: A New Breed of Fully Autonomous Capable, GPS-Denied One-Way Attack Unmanned Aircraft Systems

AV Unleashes Red Dragon: A New Breed of Fully Autonomous Capable, GPS-Denied One-Way Attack Unmanned Aircraft Systems

ARLINGTON, Va. – May 6, 2025 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) (“AV”) today announced the launch of Red Dragon™, a fully autonomous capable, software-defined unmanned aircraft system (UAS) designed for one-way attack missions in high-threat, GPS-denied, and communications-degraded environments. Developed as part of AV’s expanding portfolio of tactical autonomy, Red Dragon is built on the AV’s AVACORE™ shared software architecture—enabling rapid development, scalable manufacturing, and modular mission integration. AV’s industry leading SPOTR-Edge™ perception system enables detection and classification of targets to aid the operator in making decisions with confidence via AV’s proprietary DDIL radio system.

Red Dragon delivers a combination of autonomy, electronic warfare resilience, and tactical flexibility previously unavailable in its class. It is designed to penetrate contested airspace and operate effectively in denied, disrupted, intermittent, and low-bandwidth (DDIL) environments. The system is capable of autonomous execution of mission objectives without reliance on continuous operator input or satellite navigation.

Designed for manufacturing at scale, Red Dragon enables mass production, rapid deployment, and simplified logistics to meet operational demands. It is optimized for cross-domain use—across air, land, and maritime—and is designed so small teams can be trained quickly and effectively.

“Red Dragon represents a significant step forward in autonomous lethality,” said Jeff Rodrian, Executive Vice President, MacCready Works. “By combining advanced autonomy, GNSS-independent navigation, and mass producibility, Red Dragon delivers a mission-ready system designed for today’s contested battlespace. It is the first of a new generation of autonomous systems built for scale, speed, and operational relevance.”

“At AV, our mission is to change the way wars are fought—by putting the safety, survivability, and operational advantage of our warfighters first,” said Wahid Nawabi, President & CEO of AV. “Red Dragon reflects the kind of breakthrough capability that ensures U.S. and allied forces stay ahead in an increasingly complex threat environment. It’s not just about autonomy—it’s about delivering trusted, mission-defining technologies that protect lives and reshape the future of defense.”

Red Dragon is the first in a rapidly growing family of platforms under development at AV with a common software and hardware architecture for mission-specific variants. Each shares a common software and autonomy architecture designed to support rapid evolution across domains and use cases. This enables evolutions at the speed of software and warfare.

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Press Release

AeroVironment and BlueHalo Complete Transaction — Creating A Global Defense Technology

05/01/2025

Leader Built for Strategic Advantage in Modern Warfare

AV launches with an integrated portfolio, national manufacturing scale, and global reach — delivering proven systems and emerging capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber

ARLINGTON, Va. – May 1, 2025 – AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) announced today the successful completion of the transaction between AeroVironment, Inc. and BlueHalo, LLC (“BlueHalo”), advancing its position as a global defense technology leader with integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber.

“We are excited to complete the acquisition of BlueHalo and move forward as an even stronger and more unified AV that provides the scale, talent, and technology needed to lead in the most critical areas of modern defense,” said Wahid Nawabi, AV Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “By bringing together two mission-focused organizations, the new AV is built to accelerate innovation, strengthen our customer partnerships, and deliver operational impact across every domain. This is a pivotal step in our journey, and one that positions us to create long-term value for shareholders and strategic advantages for our customers.”

AV brings together proven systems and next-generation technologies to deliver integrated capabilities across every domain of modern warfare. Its systems include autonomous uncrewed systems, precision strike and defensive systems, including AV’s suite of counter-UAS solutions across radio frequency, directed energy and kinetic defeat technologies, space technologies, and cyber and advanced solutions. These capabilities are unified by advanced autonomy, mission software, and command & control systems that enable faster coordination, responsiveness, and decision-making at the tactical edge.

Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia – at the center of the defense innovation corridor – AV operates in more than 40 states and has a combined total of more than 3,750 employees. Its national network of innovation centers, manufacturing sites, and technology labs provide the infrastructure to continue scaling critical capabilities while supporting urgent mission demands. AV’s cross-domain innovation engine, MacCready Works, continues to support the development and rapid transition of next-generation systems that reinforce AV’s leadership across emerging mission areas.

As previously announced, Wahid Nawabi will continue to serve as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of AV. The combined leadership team includes experienced executives from both organizations, bringing together deep expertise across autonomy, space systems, cyber operations, and defense technology.

To align with customer missions and AV’s financial reporting structure, the company will operate in two business segments:

  1. Autonomous Systems: Encompasses uncrewed systems (Group 1–3 UAS), precision strike and one way attack systems (including loitering munitions), defense systems (counter-UAS solutions using radio frequency sensors and electronic warfare solutions), ground and maritime robotic solutions, and MacCready Works, AV’s innovation engine where autonomy, AI, and advanced platform technologies converge to deliver next-generation capabilities. Autonomous Systems is led by Trace Stevenson who formerly led AeroVironment’s Uncrewed Systems organization.
  2. Space, Cyber and Directed Energy: Encompasses space technologies, directed energy solutions, cyber solutions, and mission services. Space, Cyber and Directed Energy is led by Trip Ferguson who formerly served as BlueHalo’s Chief Operating Officer.

In connection with the transaction, David Wodlinger and Henry Albers, both from Arlington Capital Partners, have joined the AV Board of Directors, expanding the Board to ten members. More information on AV’s executive leadership and Board of Directors is available at www.avinc.com.

Advisors
RBC Capital Markets served as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisor to AeroVironment. Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher served as strategic communications advisor to AeroVironment. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as financial advisor and Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal advisor to Arlington Capital Partners and BlueHalo.

About AV
AV (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The company develops and deploys autonomous systems, precision strike systems, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities with speed, scale, and operational relevance.

For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

About Arlington Capital Partners

Arlington Capital Partners is a Washington, D.C.-area private investment firm specializing in government-regulated industries. The firm partners with founders and management teams to build strategically important businesses in the government services and technology, aerospace and defense, and healthcare sectors. Since its inception in 1999, Arlington has invested in over 175 companies and is currently investing out of its $3.8 billion Fund VI. For more information, visit Arlington’s website at www.arlingtoncap.com and follow Arlington on LinkedIn.

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains statements regarding AV, including its wholly owned subsidiary BlueHalo, that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “approximate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “could,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” “intend,” “may” and other similar expressions or the negative of such words or expressions.  Statements in this press release concerning AV’s business strategy, production capacity, competitive positions, growth opportunities, employment opportunities and mobility, plans and objectives of management, together with other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that are estimates reflecting management’s best judgment based upon currently available information.  Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and stockholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from expectations as a result of a variety of factors, including, without limitation, those discussed below.  Such forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which AV is unable to predict or control, that may cause actual results, performance or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these statements as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

  • unexpected costs, liabilities, charges or expenses resulting from the acquisition;
  • the risk that the integration of AeroVironment and BlueHalo will be more difficult, time-consuming or expensive than anticipated;
  • the risk of customer loss or other business disruption in connection with the transaction, or of the loss of key employees;
  • the fact that unforeseen liabilities of AeroVironment or BlueHalo may exist;
  • the risk of doing business internationally;
  • AV’s capital structure following the acquisition of BlueHalo;
  • the challenging macroeconomic environment, including disruptions in the defense industry;
  • risks that AV may not be able to manage strains associated with its growth;
  • dependence on key personnel;
  • stock price volatility;
  • the effect of legislative initiatives or proposals, statutory changes, governmental or other applicable regulations and/or changes in industry requirements;
  • AV’s ability to protect its intellectual property and litigation risks; and
  • other risks and uncertainties identified in the “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” sections of AV’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other risks as identified from time to time in its Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reports.

Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have a material adverse effect on AV’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict.  Except as required by applicable law or regulation, AV undertakes (and AV expressly disclaims) any obligation and does not intend to publicly update or review any of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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AV Secures $46.6M Contract with Italian Ministry of Defence for Combat-Proven JUMP 20 VTOL Aircraft System

04/21/2025

AV Secures $46.6M Contract with Italian Ministry of Defence for Combat-Proven JUMP 20 VTOL Aircraft System

ARLINGTON, Va., April 21, 2025 – AeroVironment (AV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain autonomous systems, today announced it has been awarded a $46.6M contract by the Italian Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the delivery of its JUMP® 20 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) medium uncrewed aircraft system (MUAS). The five-year contract encompasses the procurement of JUMP 20 air vehicles, engineering services, initial sustainment and onsite technical support – ensuring rapid fielding and operational readiness from day one.

JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed-wing UAS with 30 pounds of payload capacity, 13+ hours of endurance and an operational range of 185 km (115 mi). Purpose-built for expeditionary operations, the system can be stored and transported with ease and autonomously launched and recovered without personnel intervention, making it ideal for dynamic on-the-move operations.

The selection follows a rigorous and highly competitive procurement process, where JUMP 20 distinguished itself for its ability to meet the Italian MOD’s stringent technical and operational requirements while replacing their existing Shadow UAS fleet with a modern, adaptable solution.

“We are honored to strengthen our partnership with the Italian Ministry of Defence through the delivery of the JUMP 20, a system that enhances their operational capabilities,” said Shane Hastings, AV’s vice president and general manager of Medium UAS. “This contract builds on our history of supporting NATO allies with world-class uncrewed systems that reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation and mission success reinforcing our reputation as a trusted partner our customers can rely on.”

The JUMP 20 delivers advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities with multi-payload flexibility and seamless interoperability across current and future systems. Built on a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the platform enables rapid integration, easy upgrades, and unmatched adaptability to support a wide range of evolving mission demands.

 

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Manifest Space with Morgan Brennan

04/13/2025

“Manifest Space” hosted by CNBC’s Morgan Brennan focuses on the billionaires and brains behind the ever-expanding opportunities beyond our atmosphere. Brennan features conversations with the mega moguls, industry leaders, and startups in today’s satellite, space, and defense industries looking to invest in the next frontier and guides listeners on how to get in. Sit back, relax, and prepare for liftoff in “Manifest Space.”

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Press Release

AeroVironment Stockholders Approve Acquisition of BlueHalo

04/01/2025

ARLINGTON, Va. – April 1, 2025 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) (“AV” or the “Company”) today announced that its stockholders have approved the issuance of AV common stock in connection with the Company’s pending acquisition of BlueHalo LLC (“BlueHalo”) at a Special Meeting of Stockholders held earlier today.

“Stockholder approval marks an important milestone as we move forward with the acquisition of BlueHalo and accelerate our transformation into the leading next-generation defense technology company,” said Wahid Nawabi, AV chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “Together, AV and BlueHalo will drive agile innovation and deliver integrated, all-domain solutions designed to redefine the future of defense and address the most important priorities and needs of our nation and allies around the globe. We thank stockholders for their continued support and look forward to closing this transaction and unlocking new opportunities for growth and value creation.”

More than 99% of the shares voted by AV stockholders were in favor of the issuance of AV common stock to complete the pending acquisition. Final voting results will be reported in a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The transaction is expected to close in May 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

About AeroVironment, Inc.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) provides technology solutions at the intersection of robotics, sensors, software analytics and connectivity that deliver more actionable intelligence so you can Proceed with Certainty. Headquartered in Virginia, AeroVironment is a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, and serves defense, government and commercial customers. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements regarding AeroVironment, BlueHalo, the proposed transactions and other matters that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “approximate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “could,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” “intend,” “may” and other similar expressions or the negative of such words or expressions. Statements in this release concerning AeroVironment’s proposed transaction with BlueHalo and the closing date of the proposed transaction, together with other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that are estimates reflecting management’s best judgment based upon currently available information. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and stockholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from expectations as a result of a variety of factors, including, without limitation, those discussed below. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which AeroVironment and BlueHalo are unable to predict or control, that may cause actual results, performance or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these statements as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

 

  • The risk that the transaction described herein will not be completed or will not provide the expected benefits, or that we will not be able to achieve the cost or revenue synergies anticipated;
  • The risk that a condition to closing of the transaction may not be satisfied on a timely basis or at all;
  • The possible occurrence of an event, change or other circumstance that would give rise to the termination of the transaction agreement;
  • The risk of stockholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction, including resulting expense or delay in delay in closing of the transaction;
  • The failure of the proposed transaction to close for any other reason;
  • Unexpected costs, liabilities, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; and
  • Other risks inherent in AeroVironment’s and BlueHalo’s businesses

Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have a material adverse effect on AeroVironment’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, neither AeroVironment nor BlueHalo undertakes (and each of AeroVironment and BlueHalo expressly disclaim) any obligation and do not intend to publicly update or review any of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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AV Awarded Major Contract to Deliver Advanced Uncrewed Ground Vehicles to the German Federal Armed Forces

03/27/2025

AV Awarded Major Contract to Deliver Advanced Uncrewed Ground Vehicles to the German Federal Armed Forces

ARLINGTON, Va., March 27, 2025 – AV, through its wholly owned subsidiary Telerob, has been awarded a significant contract to deliver 41 large-sized advanced EOD/IED uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV) to the German Federal Armed Forces.  Initial deliveries are scheduled for summer 2025, with additional orders extending through 2027.

Following a rigorous competitive procurement process, the telemax™ HT300 UGV was selected to meet the German Armed Forces’ evolving requirements for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and counter-IED missions. Purpose-built for high-risk operations in complex terrain, the HT300 offers an advanced manipulator arm, exceptional traction, and mobility across uneven, unstable, and shifting surfaces.

“This award marks a major milestone in Telerob’s 30-year legacy of innovation and trusted performance,” said Florian Gruener, Managing Director of Telerob and Product Line General Manager for Uncrewed Ground Vehicles. “It is one of the most significant contracts we’ve secured in the past 15 years and further reinforces our longstanding, strategic partnership with the German Armed Forces. These next-generation systems will be built at our state-of-the-art facility in Ostfildern, Germany—delivering the precision, reliability, and operational advantage that today’s missions demand.”

The telemax™ HT300 is part of AV’s growing portfolio of multi-domain uncrewed systems designed to enhance force protection, mission success, and operator safety in the world’s most complex operational environments.

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News

Ready for Orbit: BlueHalo Announces Breakthrough in Long-Haul Laser Communication Capabilities

03/20/2025

Albuquerque, NM – BlueHalo, the company transforming the future of global defense through mission-critical innovation in the space domain, today announced the successful milestone demonstration of its two-terminal long-haul, multi-orbit laser communication system. The achievement marks a significant breakthrough in the development of space-based laser communication technology with far-reaching implications for national security and commercial sectors.

During the demonstration, two laser communication optical terminals completed pointing, acquisition, and tracking sequences at transmit power levels supporting multi-orbit, space-to-space satellite crosslink amidst simulated challenges experienced in space environments, including jitter, extreme temperatures, and lack of atmosphere.

The demonstration’s success highlights new capabilities for transferring high bandwidth data in space – enabling the secure exchange of more data at a faster rate across further distances, including LEO, MEO, GEO orbits and beyond. With the successful prototype demonstration in an operational environment, BlueHalo has matured its optical communication terminals to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team, whose dedication to the mission has led to this milestone – developing a space-based laser communication capability that is orders of magnitude greater than existing technology on orbit today,” said Mary Clum, President of the Product & Space Systems Portfolio. “With the technology validated, BlueHalo is ready to begin quickly producing these advanced optical terminals for deployment on satellites across all echelons of space. It’s an urgent need to enhance our nation’s security posture – in space and on the ground – and support the rapidly accelerating demand for rapid transport of high-bandwidth, mission-critical data. We’re ready.”

BlueHalo’s laser communication terminals are suitable for both national security operations and commercial satellite bus providers, offering a longer range, greater accuracy, and higher reliability for free-space optical communications. The capability builds upon and advances systems previously developed and deployed by BlueHalo, many of which remain on orbit today.

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About BlueHalo

BlueHalo is purpose-built to provide industry-leading capabilities in the areas of Space, C-UAS and Autonomous Systems, Electronic Warfare & Cyber, and AI/ML. The company develops and brings to market next-generation capabilities to support customers’ critical missions and national security. Learn more at http://www.bluehalo.com and follow BlueHalo on LinkedIn.

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Press Release

AV’s Cutting-Edge One-Way Attack UAS Secures DIU Backing Under Project Artemis

03/14/2025

ARLINGTON, Va., March 14, 2025 – AeroVironment (AV), the leader in defense technology, has secured a contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to accelerate the deployment of next-generation autonomous precision munitions.

As part of its strategic expansion into a new sector of the multi-billion-dollar defense market, AV has been awarded an Other Transaction Authority (OT) award by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as part of Project Artemis, an initiative launched to rapidly test and operationally evaluate long-range, one-way uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) for the Department of Defense (DoD). This strategic effort, sponsored by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S), is driven by urgent congressional direction to accelerate the deployment of innovative precision-strike platforms in contested environments.

This award aligns with Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive in a memorandum issued on February 18, 2025, which exempts uncrewed systems from broad defense budget cuts and underscores the Pentagon’s commitment to advancing autonomous capabilities as a critical component of modern military operations.

AV’s fully autonomous, GPS-denied, precision-strike, one-way attack UAS is engineered for mass production and designed to operate in disrupted, disconnected, intermittent, and low-bandwidth environments, ensuring unmatched resilience against advanced electronic warfare (EW) threats. With a software-defined architecture, scalable manufacturing capabilities, and advanced GNSS-independent navigation, AV’s platform rapidly delivers a next-generation solution for modern conflict. AV’s AVACORE™ autonomy software and SPOTR-Edge™ computer vision are critical components enabling these capabilities quickly and at scale.

“Project Artemis represents a major step in transforming how the DoD identifies, tests, and deploys asymmetric capabilities to the warfighter at speed and scale,” said Jeff Rodrian, AV’s senior vice president and general manager of MacCready Works. “AV’s next-generation software-defined autonomous one-way attack UAS is already in the hands of early adopters and is now part of the Blue UAS ecosystem. Through this DIU contract, we look forward to quickly expanding its deployment to meet the urgent needs of today’s battlespace.”

As part of this initiative, AV will participate in aggressive testing and integration efforts, to demonstrate prototype success by the end of May 2025. These evaluations will provide critical data to inform procurement decisions for the Services and Combatant Commands, delivering options years ahead of traditional acquisition timelines.

The demand for long-range, autonomous precision strike systems has never been greater. AV is committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions that ensure U.S. and allied forces maintain an operational advantage in contested environments.

 

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