AeroVironment
American defense technology company designing and manufacturing autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS, and space systems for military customers worldwide.
- CEO / Founder
- Wahid Nawabi
- Team Size
- 1001-5000
- Stage
- Public
- Latest Round
- Post-IPO
Technology & Products
Key Products
Switchblade loitering munitions (300, 400, 600); Puma UAS; Raven UAS; Wasp UAS; JUMP 20-X VTOL; P550 UAS; LOCUST X3 UGV; telemax EVO UGV; Ingenuity Mars Helicopter technology; AV_Halo software suite; Counter-UAS systems (Titan, ARGUS); Directed energy systems; Space systems (PANTHER, Sunglider HAPS)
Technological Advantage
Decades of UAS operational data and field feedback; proprietary AV_Halo AI software suite; advanced ceramic additive manufacturing for extreme-environment components (CAMP program with AFRL); vision-based navigation for GPS-denied environments; combat-proven Switchblade loitering munitions.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Battle-proven autonomous systems with 50,000+ deployments across 55+ countries, delivering integrated multi-domain defense capabilities from small hand-launched drones to loitering munitions and space systems.
How They Differentiate
50+ years of autonomous systems development (from human-powered aircraft to Mars helicopter); large deployed fleet of small UAS globally; vertically integrated across air/land/sea/space/cyber domains; MacCready Works advanced development group for rapid prototyping; $4.1B BlueHalo acquisition added directed energy and space capabilities.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
U.S. Department of Defense (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, SOCOM); allied foreign militaries; U.S. Air and Space Forces research labs
Industry Verticals
Defense; Aerospace; Space; Government/Public Sector
Competitors
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Skydio; Edge Autonomy (Redwire); L3Harris Technologies; General Atomics
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
FY2025 revenue: $820.6M; FY2026 first 9 months revenue: $1.3B; Market cap: ~$8.6-10B (2026); Employees: ~3,750 (2025); 50,000+ systems deployed in 55+ countries
Major Milestones
1971 — Founded by Paul B. MacCready Jr.; 1977 — Gossamer Condor wins Kremer Prize (first human-powered aircraft); 1979 — Gossamer Albatross crosses English Channel; 1987 — Sunraycer wins first solar car race; 1990s-2000s — NASA Pathfinder/Helios solar aircraft records; 2000s — Raven, Wasp, Puma UAS enter military service; 2016 — Wahid Nawabi becomes CEO; 2025 — Acquires BlueHalo for $4.1B; 2026 — $20M AFRL CAMP contract for ceramic AM; $874M FMS IDIQ contract for UAS/C-UAS
Notable Customers
U.S. Army; U.S. Marine Corps; U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM); U.S. Air Force; U.S. Space Force; allied foreign military forces across 55+ countries