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AV Expands Huntsville Facility to Accelerate Production of Next-Generation Freedom Eagle-1 Interceptor

Friday, May 29th, 2026

Facility expansion positions AV to scale production, accelerate fielding, and provide cost-effective defense against mass aerial threats

ARLINGTON, Va., May 26, 2026 – AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global defense technology leader, today announced an additional government investment of $20.2 million in AV’s Huntsville, Alabama facility to increase quantities of Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and accelerate future Full-Rate Production (FRP) of the Next-Generation Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Missile (NGCM), known as Freedom Eagle-1 (FE-1).

The expanded site will serve as the system-level integration, manufacturing, and production hub for FE-1, enabling rapid scale-up of interceptor production and accelerated delivery timelines to meet urgent U.S. Army and Combatant Command operational needs.

The 24,000-square-foot expansion and associated job growth in Huntsville reflect AV’s continued investment in meeting evolving national security demands for subsonic missiles while strengthening cost-effective production capacity, driving innovation, and supporting on-time delivery.

“Growing our presence in Huntsville places AV more firmly at the center of the Army’s air and missile defense ecosystem, enabling tighter integration, faster iteration, and more efficient production at scale,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at AV. “That proximity is critical as we begin production of Freedom Eagle-1, a system designed to deliver a scalable, cost-effective response to increasingly complex and high-volume aerial threats.”

The investment builds on AV’s recent selection and $95.9 million contract award under the U.S. Army’s NGCM and Long-Range Kinetic Interceptor (LRKI) programs, executed through the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (CCDC AvMC) and the Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium (AMTC), and marks the next phase in transitioning Freedom Eagle-1 from development to scaled production and operational fielding.

In March, AV announced a $97 million contract to design and integrate prototype test environments for next-generation missile defense sensor testing at Redstone Arsenal — a Huntsville-based federal center that is home to more than 70 organizations, including NASA, the FBI, Missile Defense Agency, Army Program Acquisition Executive Fires, and the future U.S. Space Command headquarters.

“This expansion is a critical step in scaling production of Freedom Eagle-1 and accelerating its delivery to the field,” said Jimmy Jenkins, Executive Vice President of AV’s Precision Strike and Defense Systems Group. “By increasing manufacturing capacity, strengthening integration, and enabling production at volume, we’re delivering a cost-effective interceptor designed to counter increasingly complex and high-volume aerial threats.”

Freedom Eagle-1 is designed to address these challenges with a combination of performance and affordability. The system is a low-cost, high-performance interceptor capable of neutralizing Groups 2 and 3 UAS while maintaining residual capability against Group 1 UAS, fixed-wing, and rotary-wing aircraft, with increased lethality, extended range, and rapid launch capabilities.

The system has achieved several key development milestones, including a successful live-fire demonstration of its dual-thrust solid rocket motor, controlled test vehicle launches, and warhead testing, demonstrating technical maturity and reduced risk as the program transitions toward field deployment.

“As the nation’s defense and security demands increase, it is crucial that we meet capability needs, and there is no better place for AV’s expansion as Alabama continues to lead in defense manufacturing and innovation,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04).

The expansion in Huntsville also reflects AV’s broader strategy to scale domestic manufacturing capacity, following a recent announcement of a $30 million expansion of its Albuquerque, New Mexico campus, a move that is expected to generate more than $670 million in economic impact over the next decade, create more than 450 high-wage jobs, and boost production of mission-critical defense and space technologies.

Posted in Munitions, Press Release | No Comments »

US Army Selects AV’s Switchblade 400 for LASSO Program

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026

Award establishes Switchblade 400 as key component of Army’s enduring next-generation loitering munition program

ARLINGTON, Va.– AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that it has been awarded a prototype agreement from the U.S. Army for the Low-Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program to support the rapid development, delivery and testing of the Switchblade® 400 loitering munition.

The award establishes Switchblade 400, AV’s medium-range, man-portable, anti-armor loitering munition, as a key component of the Army’s LASSO program, supporting the service’s modernization priorities for rapidly deployable, precision strike capabilities that can operate effectively in contested environments.

“This award reflects the Army’s confidence not only in Switchblade 400, but in AV’s ability to deliver at scale,” said Trace Stevenson, President of Autonomous Systems at AV. “Being selected under the LASSO program positions AV as a long-term partner to the Army as it modernizes its loitering munition capabilities, from development and testing through production, fielding, and continuous capability evolution.”

The first loitering munition purpose-built to operate within AV_Halo™, AV’s modular command-and-control ecosystem, Switchblade 400 incorporates advanced aided target recognition (ATR) and autonomous capabilities to detect, classify, and engage targets, day or night, in denied and contested environments while delivering the same anti-armor performance comparable to larger systems, like the Switchblade 600 Blk 2.

Core to Switchblade 400 is the implementation of a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) in system design to ensure long-term system resilience and relevance allowing for interoperability, upgradeability, and affordability as missions evolve.

Known as the “Lightweight Tank Destroyer,” and sized to fit common launch tubes, Switchblade 400 enables a sensor-to-shooter concept of operations that allows a single soldier to detect, identify, and engage targets through a unified, networked architecture – shortening decision timelines while increasing precision, speed, and operational flexibility at the tactical edge. The system features an all-up round (AUR) weighing under 40 pounds that provides the soldier with a lightweight, man-portable, anti-tank weapon system.

“Switchblade 400 is the product of continuous feedback from the field and the soldiers who rely on our systems in real-world operations,” said Brian Young, Senior Vice President of Loitering Munitions at AV. “We are constantly leaning forward, integrating new capabilities, enhancing performance, and reducing the burden on the warfighter. That soldier-driven approach is central to how we develop, test, and deliver capability for the Army.”

The new OTA award under LASSO follows a recent $186 million delivery order from the U.S. Army for Switchblade® 600 Block 2 and Switchblade® 300 Block 20 explosively formed penetrator (EFP) loitering munition systems, part of the Army’s existing five-year, $990 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract under the Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS) Directed Requirement (DR), which was awarded in August 2024. It was the Army’s first Switchblade order containing EFP payload, delivering enhanced lethality against armored threats.

“The Army’s trust in the Switchblade family has been earned through years of real-world use by soldiers who rely on these systems every day,” said Jimmy Jenkins, Executive Vice President of Precision Strike and Defense Systems at AV. “That trust reflects a clear operational need for precision, speed, and adaptability at the tactical edge—capabilities the Switchblade family is designed to deliver as missions and threats continue to change.”

Posted in Army, Contracts, Munitions, Press Release | No Comments »

BRAKER Breakthrough: New Air-Delivered Bunker Busting Warhead Tests Successfully

Sunday, April 26th, 2026

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – In a significant leap forward for battlefield technology, U.S. Army Infantry Drone Operators have successfully tested a new warhead designed to be delivered by an unmanned aerial system (UAS).
The live-fire demonstration of the Bunker Rupture and Kinetic Explosive Round (BRAKER), which took place at a Redstone Arsenal in Alabama on March 26, comes only weeks after the initial design and rapid prototyping of the system, showcasing the Army’s accelerated approach to innovation in the face of evolving threats.

VIDEO BELOW:

The Army continuously transforms by using the latest technologies for warfighting advantage, and ensures that the force is lethal, modern and ready. The development of this air-delivered munition directly supports that mission as well as two senior leader priorities in Readiness and Transformation.

SLOW-MOTION VIDEO BELOW:

The BRAKER project, led by a team from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center and Project Manager Close Combat Systems (PM CCS), a project office under the U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition and Energetics (CPE A&E), aimed to create a lightweight, powerful, and lethal warhead that could be deployed from a small, agile drone.

“Our Picatinny team went from concept to live-fire in two weeks,” said Col. Vincent Morris, PM CCS. “BRAKER proves our ability to rapidly develop and safely deliver devastating effects from small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). We are now creating the architecture with Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit (CLIK) and the small universal payload interface (sUPI) for industry to scale this critical warfighter advantage.”

The Picatinny CLIK is a safe and effective method for integrating lethal payloads with UAS platforms, designed and developed by DEVCOM Armaments Center engineers.

The rapid development-to-testing timeline of BRAKER was made possible by the Army’s emphasis on additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing.

Beginning in early March, Armaments Center engineers began design, explosive pressing, housing manufacture, and integration of the warhead to be used on a low-cost and expendable one-way attack drone.

Shortly thereafter, transfer and compatibility tests were conducted at Picatinny and approximately a dozen warheads were assembled, with one being tested on a makeshift bunker on one of the installation’s test ranges.

After proving worthiness and validating effectiveness, the prototype warheads departed Picatinny for Redstone where a live demonstration was conducted for U.S. Army leadership.

The successful detonation of the device deployed on a drone on a designated target demonstrates a new and potent capability for the modern warfighter and illustrates how engineers can quickly design, fabricate, and integrate hardware to meet urgent and compelling needs.

“Rapid demonstrations of overwhelming lethality such as BRAKER are attributed to years of continued technology investments and the organic core technical competencies and facilities resident at the DEVCOM Armaments Center,” said Anthony Sebasto, Executive Director, Munitions Engineering and Technology Center.

By Eric Kowal

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post, Munitions | No Comments »

Major Order Worth Billions: Rheinmetall to Supply the Bundeswehr with FV-014 Loitering Munition

Thursday, April 23rd, 2026

Rheinmetall has received a major order from the Bundeswehr for FV-014 loitering munition systems. A contract to that effect was signed today in Koblenz. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027, following qualification from the second quarter of 2026. The framework contract is worth billions, with the first call-off amounting to approximately €300m gross. The order will be booked in April 2026. The framework agreement optionally includes a five-figure number of FV-014 autonomous recce and strike drones.

“Within a very short time, Rheinmetall has developed an autonomous drone that combines reconnaissance and strike capabilities. The FV-014 will enable the Bundeswehr to protect its own forces and engage critical targets in a fast, controlled and effective manner. We are grateful for the trust placed in us and will begin producing the system in large quantities on an industrial scale very soon”, said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG.

The FV-014 loitering munition system has a range of up to 100 km and is equipped with a 4 kg warhead and detonator mechanism. The drone can remain airborne for up to 70 minutes, monitoring targets until engaging on them. The system combines intelligence and firepower and is manufactured entirely within the EU.

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Rheinmetall and Destinus to Form a Joint Venture for Missiles

Tuesday, April 14th, 2026

The Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall and Destinus, a Netherlands-based European defence technology company focused on scalable strike and interception systems, have agreed to establish a joint venture. The aim of the two partners is to set up the joint venture, to be named Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems, during the second half of 2026. It will manufacture, market, and deliver advanced missile systems. These will include cruise missiles and ballistic rocket artillery. Rheinmetall will hold a 51 percent stake, while Destinus will hold the remaining 49 percent. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
As part of the partnership, Rheinmetall and Destinus intend to exploit market opportunities and further develop modern missile systems. Within agreed markets and under applicable approvals, they intend to provide innovative solutions for cruise missiles and ballistic rocket artillery, and to strengthen existing product portfolios.
Destinus remains headquartered in the Netherlands and will continue to develop and manufacture core systems and components across its Dutch and broader European footprint. The joint venture adds Germany-based qualification and serial production capacity within Rheinmetall’s industrial facilities.
Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall, said: “We must expand the industrial base for modern defence systems in Europe. This joint venture reflects this necessity. We are combining Rheinmetall’s production capacities and experience in managing large-scale programs with Destinus’s specific technology and system design. By doing so, we are laying the foundations for scalable, operational missiles that are tailored to the current requirements of the European and allied armed forces.”
“Europe is entering a new phase of scaling missile production,” added Mikhail Kokorich, co-founder and CEO of Destinus. “Modern conflict is defined by volume and cost-per-effect. Missile systems are evolving from limited-production assets into industrial products. The real constraint in Europe today is not demand, but industrial capacity.”
Recent conflicts, including in Ukraine and the Middle East, have demonstrated that demand for scalable strike systems is no longer measured in limited batches. Instead, there is an increasing demand for thousands of systems per year, which could grow to tens of thousands over time as European and allied procurement adapts. This translates into a market opportunity of hundreds of millions of euros annually in the near term, with the potential to reach the low billions over time.
This partnership combines Destinus’ battle-proven system architecture, product design, and scalable platform development, including systems already operationally validated and used in Ukraine, with Rheinmetall’s industrial scale, qualification capabilities, and manufacturing execution as the leading German defence company. Destinus develops and manufactures cruise missile systems and turbojet engines, with an established serial production program in Europe, currently producing over 2,000 cruise missile systems a year. Rheinmetall brings many years of experience in developing and producing complex defence systems, an industrial presence in Germany, and extensive ongoing investment in independent, scalable defence production. Together, the partners will add Germany-based industrial capacity for serial production and qualification, supporting European sovereignty objectives and allied requirements.
The joint venture will focus on manufacturing, assembling, testing, and delivering advanced cruise missile systems to accelerate the delivery of a missile system specifically developed for this purpose, meeting the requirements of national and international customers.
The joint venture will target a broad international market in Europe, as well as selected partner countries within the NATO alliance. For individual key markets, the involvement of local industrial partners may be considered. Both companies will contribute their regional expertise and market knowledge to define suitable sales structures and drive sustainable growth in relevant market segments.
This initiative reflects a broader shift in modern warfare, with long-range strike capabilities evolving from predominantly drone-based approaches toward faster, more resilient, and industrially scalable cruise missile systems. With this joint venture, Rheinmetall and Destinus aim to bridge the gap between what Europe and Ukraine require and what Europe’s defence industry can deliver, at volume and at industrial tempo.

Posted in Industry, International, Munitions, Press Release | No Comments »

NIOA Announces Deal with GDOTS on Apache Rockets Collaboration

Tuesday, March 31st, 2026

Australian weapons and munitions prime NIOA and US aerospace and defence company General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS) have signed an agreement to collaborate on the potential supply of 70mm rockets to equip the Australian Army’s new Apache helicopters.

An Apache helicopter fires off a Hydra-70 rocket. Australian-owned NIOA has inked a deal with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems to potentially supply the ADF with the 70mm family of rockets. Photo courtesy: DVIDS

The potential supply of these rockets to the ADF would build upon current ADF 70mm rocket supply arrangements through Foreign Military Sales.

The multiple natures of Hydra-70 rockets are key munitions for the Australian Defence Force’s incoming AH-64E Apache helicopter fleet being delivered under Project LAND 4503 and as a kinetic effector in Counter UAS systems.

Subject to appropriate US Government approvals, the companies intend to explore opportunities for Australian assembly of the rockets under a multi-year agreement, offering increased flexibility, shorter lead times, assured domestic supply, and overall lower life-cycle cost for these munitions.

In line with the Commonwealth’s Defence Industrial Development Strategy (DIDS) goals, NIOA and GDOTS will assess which components of the system which might cost-effectively be manufactured in Australia with a view to seeking transfer of production to the Australian defence industrial base.

On the establishment of local assembly arrangements for Hydra-70 rockets, there is expected to be an increase in skilled jobs at the Australian government owned, contractor operated (GOCO) munitions facility at Benalla in regional Victoria where NIOA operates ammunition and primary explosive manufacturing capabilities.

NIOA Australia-New Zealand CEO Ben James said: “This agreement further extends the NIOA/GDOTS relationship and represents a key sovereign munitions production opportunity in support of the ADF and forward-deployed US troops.

“The 2024 Defence Industrial Development Strategy emphasised the importance of international industrial partnerships to build the strategic weight Australia needs to shape the future and recent international events have further highlighted the critical nature of sovereign supply chains and manufacturing capacity.

“Manufacturing warheads and key munitions for Apache would represent a key step in realising that objective.”

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Successful Testing: Rheinmetall Demonstrates the FV-014 Loitering Munition System to a Potential NATO Customer

Monday, February 23rd, 2026

Rheinmetall has successfully demonstrated its new FV-014 loitering munition system to a potential NATO customer. The demonstration took place on 18 February 2026 at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt. During the demonstration, the FV-014 loitering munition system (LMS) simulated various mission scenarios and attack flights. For Rheinmetall, the successful test marks another milestone in its loitering munition activities.

Rheinmetall’s state-of-the-art LMS FV-014 is designed for dynamic combat deployment at ranges of up to 100 kilometres. The system combines high effectiveness against armoured and soft targets with state-of-the-art sensor technology, network capability and deployment options even in GNSS-jammed environments.
The FV-014 is designed as a true LMS, combining reconnaissance and effect in a single system. It supports tactical units in combating high-value point targets, such as combat vehicles, artillery positions or command vehicles, over long distances beyond the line of sight.

The system is launched from a launch container using a booster, but can also be deployed from a multi-launcher. After launch, the FV-014 unfolds its folding wings and transitions to aerodynamic flight. The system has an operational range of up to 100 kilometres with a flight duration of 70 minutes, providing sufficient time for observation, target selection and attack decision-making.

Operation and system integration
The FV-014 is initially designed as a portable system for use at troop level and is controlled via a user-friendly ground station that enables permanent human-in-the-loop control. The operator can identify targets, fly to them, launch a precise attack or abort the mission if conditions change.

Design and survivability
The FV-014 flight body follows a classic wing concept with electric propulsion and faceted structures to reduce signatures and enable high approach speeds in the target area. The system is optimised for low acoustic and thermal signatures and can also be used in electromagnetically demanding scenarios with disrupted satellite navigation.

You can view a video of a demonstration of the FV-014 LMS at the Rheinmetall proving ground Unterluess at the following link: Loitering Munition System FV-014 | Rheinmetall

The FV-014 at a glance

? Type: Loitering munition / kamikaze drone
? Mission spectrum: Target reconnaissance, target tracking, precise single or swarm attack, deployment in GNSS-denied scenarios.
? Launch weight: approx. 20 kg with 6 kg payload.
? Range: up to 100 km, (60 km data link range).
? Flight duration: 70 minutes.
? Warhead: approx. 5 kg HEDP (High-Explosive Dual Purpose) with a penetration capacity of more than 600 mm RHA, also effective against unarmoured targets and infrastructure.
? Transport and launch container with booster launch for quick deployment.
? Operator station with data link for real-time situational awareness and target assignment.
? Designed for swarm operations to simultaneously engage multiple targets or saturate enemy defence systems.
? Can be used in mobile and scalable launcher configurations on land vehicle platforms and seagoing units.
? Electric motor with propeller for quiet approach.
? Designed for reduced radar and IR signature.
? Robust against GNSS interference, suitable for use in highly contested airspace.

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Anduril Awarded $23.9 Million Contract for US Marine Corps Organic Precision Fires-Light Program

Monday, January 19th, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Anduril a $23.9 million contract to deliver more than 600 Bolt-M systems for the next phase of the Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program beginning in February 2026. The USMC’s OPF-L program is designed to provide dismounted Marine infantry rifle squads with a man-packable, easy-to-operate precision strike capability to engage adversaries beyond line of sight.

The contract award comes after 13 months of rigorous testing. During that phase, Anduril delivered an initial tranche of more than 250 Bolt-M systems and validated Bolt’s performance against a variety of safety, environmental, and performance requirements. Across hundreds of flights, Bolt-M demonstrated its category-leading range, endurance, and payload capacity against multiple target sets. Following that successful testing, the U.S. Marine Corps selected Bolt-M for initial fielding.

Under the next phase of the program, Anduril will deliver more than 600 Bolt-M systems – and associated ground control and ancillary equipment – to the USMC between February 2026 and April 2027. Bolt-M will be fielded into the first operational Marine units beginning in the summer of 2026, where end users will train and employ organic, loitering, precision strike capabilities in tactical formations.

In parallel, Anduril has been investing internally to scale production capacity and processes for Bolt-M to meet the needs of the OPF-L program, and others. Anduril has refined its Bolt production process – across design engineering, supply chain, quality, manufacturing engineering and operations – and the Bolt production facility itself, scaling production capacity to more than 100 all-up-rounds per month. This year, Anduril plans to scale production across Bolt variants to a sustained rate of more than 175 systems per month.

Anduril recently built and delivered more than 300 Bolt systems to another customer within just five months of contract award. That effort validated Anduril’s production ethos: develop, manufacture and deliver category-defining, reliable products at unprecedented speed and scale.

Posted in Contracts, Munitions, Press Release, USMC | 1 Comment »