AEVEX unveils tactical UAS for USAF

AEVEX said on May 13 that the U.S. Air Force awarded the company an $18.5 million contract to deliver autonomous aircraft for one-way attack missions. The Solana Beach, California-based company said the production award also includes engineering and field-services support for the Air Force. The order covers additive-manufactured Group 3 unmanned aircraft systems, according to the company’s statement. AEVEX did not identify the aircraft by name or disclose delivery quantities. ### What exactly did AEVEX announce? AEVEX described the award as a production contract for “autonomous aircraft for One Way Attack missions,” a category the Pentagon generally uses for drones intended to strike a target and not return. The company said the systems are designed to be affordable, rapidly manufacturable and flexible enough for different mission sets. (aevex.com) Roger Wells, AEVEX’s chief executive, said in the release that the company was focused on delivering “dependable, mission-aligned capabilities” and said the Air Force had placed “continued trust” in AEVEX. The company added that it would not disclose further contract details. ### Which aircraft is most likely tied to this Air Force order? (aevex.com) AEVEX has recently highlighted its Atlas family in public materials, including at SOF Week 2026, where it said it was showing autonomous systems, launched effects and additive-manufacturing capabilities. The company has also integrated Persistent Systems’ Wave Relay networking technology into its Atlas unmanned aerial system, according to a May 5 announcement. (aevex.com) The Army selected the Atlas Precision Strike System in October 2025 for its first fielding of Launched Effects–Short Range technology, according to Army Technology. That report described Atlas as a Group II platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as strike missions, with autonomous operation and open-architecture payload integration. AEVEX has not said in its May 13 Air Force release that Atlas is the aircraft covered by the new contract, so any link between the two is an inference based on the company’s recent public portfolio disclosures. (markets.ft.com) ### What did AEVEX say about manufacturing and scale? AEVEX said the Air Force order supports deployment of additive-manufactured Group 3 systems built with advanced 3D-printing processes intended to speed production and fielding. The company said it would perform the contract through its existing U.S. production and engineering footprint. (army-technology.com) The company said that footprint includes about 100,000 square feet of unmanned-systems manufacturing facilities and a multidisciplinary engineering workforce of more than 150 people. AEVEX said those operations are spread across California, Virginia, Ohio, Florida and Alabama. ### How does this fit with AEVEX’s recent defense work? (aevex.com) Aviation Week reported in May that the Air Force had ordered a batch of one-way attack drones and support services from AEVEX, and said the company had supplied thousands of similar systems to Ukraine. Airforce Technology, citing the company’s announcement, separately reported that the contract covers Group 3 autonomous aircraft delivery for one-way attack missions. (aevex.com) AEVEX has been expanding its autonomy and launched-effects business since at least 2025. The Army’s LE-SR selection and the company’s SOF Week 2026 presentation both placed strike drones, ISR payloads and additive manufacturing at the center of its public pitch to U.S. and allied customers. ### What remains undisclosed? AEVEX did not disclose the number of aircraft, delivery schedule, unit cost or the specific Air Force office managing the program in its May 13 release. (aviationweek.com) The company also did not say whether the systems are intended for direct Air Force use, foreign-partner support or another U.S. government customer under Air Force contracting authority. (army-technology.com) The company’s next scheduled public event is a first-quarter 2026 earnings webcast on May 20, according to its investor relations page. That call is the next dated venue where executives could provide additional detail on the Air Force award, backlog or production plans. (ir.aevex.com) (aevex.com)