AEVEX
AEVEX is a defense technology company that designs, manufactures, and deploys autonomous unmanned systems, precision strike munitions, and mission solutions for U.S. and allied military forces, with a proprietary additive manufacturing approach for rapid drone production at the tactical edge.
- CEO / Founder
- Roger Wells
- Team Size
- 501-1000
- Stage
- Public
- Total Funding
- Publicly Traded
- Latest Round
- IPO
- Key Investors
- Madison Dearborn Partners; Trive Capital; Bain Capital Credit; CoVant Management
Technology & Products
Key Products
Unmanned Systems: Atlas (Group II precision strike), Disruptor (next-gen precision strike), Raker (long-endurance fixed-wing UAS), Vandal (low-signature 3D-printed UAS), Dagger, Sicario X-Frame, Onyx, Dominator; Long Endurance Aircraft: Mariana; Unmanned Surface Vessels: Mako, Mako Lite; Mission Solutions: Additive Manufacturing (ForgeX), Intelligence Analysis, Full Spectrum Airborne ISR, Aircraft Integration/Modification/Testing, Counter UAS Red Teaming; Autonomy Platform: CompassX (CompassCore, CompassVision, CompassEngage, CompassPNT, CompassEarth)
Technological Advantage
ForgeX mobile additive manufacturing system for point-of-need drone production; CompassX open-standards AI-driven autonomy platform with vision-based navigation for GPS-denied environments; vertically integrated design-to-production capabilities across 100,000+ sq ft of UxS manufacturing facilities
Differentiation
Value Proposition
AEVEX delivers combat-proven autonomous systems engineered for contested and GPS-denied environments, leveraging proprietary additive manufacturing (ForgeX / Drone Factory of the Future) to compress design-to-delivery timelines and enable production at the tactical edge.
How They Differentiate
AEVEX differentiates through its proprietary additive manufacturing approach (ForgeX / Drone Factory of the Future) that enables distributed production at the tactical edge, combined with combat-proven systems, vertically integrated engineering-to-manufacturing capabilities, and the CompassX AI-driven autonomy platform for GPS-denied navigation.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Special Operations Command), U.S. Intelligence Community, allied partner nations
Industry Verticals
Defense; National Security; Aerospace
Competitors
Anduril Industries; AeroVironment; Shield AI
Growth & Milestones
Major Milestones
2017: Company founded via merger of Merlin Global Services, CSG Solutions, and Special Operations Solutions; 2019: Trive Capital recapitalization with $160M Bain Capital Credit facility; 2020: Madison Dearborn Partners and CoVant Management acquire majority ownership; 2022: Produced 121 Phoenix Ghost drones for Ukraine; 2024: Acquired Veth Research Associates for GPS-denied navigation capabilities; 2025: Launched 'Drone Factory of the Future', acquired RapidFlight assets; 2025: Roger Wells appointed President (later CEO); 2026: U.S. Army selects Atlas for Launched Effects fielding; 2026: IPO on NYSE (AVEX) raising $320M; 2026: $18.5M U.S. Air Force contract for additive-manufactured Group 3 UAS
Notable Customers
U.S. Air Force; U.S. Army; U.S. Special Operations Command; U.S. Intelligence Community; Ukrainian military (Phoenix Ghost drones, 2022)