AIRO Group
About
About AIRO Group
AIRO Group operates across uncrewed air systems, avionics, embedded autonomy and mission-readiness training. Sky-Watch builds the hand-launched RQ-35 Heidrun for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, while the larger RQ-70 Dainn extends the product line toward longer-range operations. The JC250 and JX250 programme applies a shared hybrid-electric vertical-lift architecture to cargo and persistent sensing missions.
The company listed on Nasdaq in 2025 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with operations in the United States, Canada and Denmark. During 2026 it secured Blue UAS status for the RQ-35, completed further aircraft deliveries and reported a drone backlog of $163 million at the end of the second quarter. Aircraft maturity still differs by model: RQ-35 is delivering, while RQ-70 and JC/JX250 remain newer programmes.
Supply
Supply chain relationships
- Sky-Watch A/S
Outbound - Components - AIRO Group supplies Zentra camera suite for RQ-35 Heidrun unmanned aircraft
Source
Financials
- AIRO - NASDAQ - USD
Team
- Joe Burns - Chief Executive Officer - Leads the current group and its integrated drone, avionics and training strategy.
- Chirinjeev Kathuria - Executive Chairman - Chairs the public company and its aerospace portfolio strategy.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-08-13 - Market Signal - AIRO drone backlog reaches US$163 million as Q2 revenue rises 76%
AIRO expects most of the disclosed drone backlog to convert over the next 12 months, and said the figure excludes additional US backlog. The group recorded US$1.7 million of operating profit, compared with a US$19.7 million operating loss in the prior-year quarter.
Source - 2026-07-16 - Production Milestone - AIRO completes major RQ-35 Heidrun delivery
AIRO framed the delivery as evidence of scaled production across its autonomous-systems business. The fixed-wing RQ-35 provides real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance with onboard AI processing.
Source - 2026-07-14 - Regulatory - RQ-35 Heidrun receives U.S. Blue UAS status
The designation confirms compliance with U.S. defense requirements for secure design and trusted supply chains. Blue UAS status makes the RQ-35 eligible for government and defense acquisition under NDAA requirements. The approval removes a procurement review hurdle for qualified U.S. defense and government customers.
Source - 2026-07-09 - Deployment - AIRO completes first operational delivery with Zentra sensor suite
The delivery was completed during the second quarter of 2026 and announced on 9 July. Zentra combines electro-optical and infrared sensing, thermal detection and navigation support for GNSS-challenged environments. The suite also includes AI analytics, panoramic imaging, 4K capture and continuous optical zoom.
Source - 2026-05-12 - Product Launch - AIRO unveils JC250 and JX250 autonomous VTOL platform
The full-scale aircraft was presented publicly at XPONENTIAL 2026. JC250 targets middle-mile cargo and remote resupply while JX250 targets long-endurance ISR missions. The platform uses a common slowed-rotor architecture, modular payloads and a detachable cargo-pod system.
Source - 2026-05-11 - Product Launch - AIRO introduces RQ-70 Dainn long-range ISR drone
The design targets eight hours of flight time and an operational range above 100 kilometres. RQ-70 includes VTOL, modular payloads, autonomous operation and resilience in GPS- and GNSS-denied environments. AIRO said the platform was shaped by operational feedback from more than four years of RQ-35 use in Ukraine.
Source - 2026-02-10 - Contract Award - AIRO training division receives USD 1.9 million Navy contract
The award covers specialized training support for Navy aviation and Joint Terminal Attack Controller programmes. Coastal Defense will support realistic close-air-support coordination and joint procedures. The contract extends AIRO's military training work through a named operating subsidiary.
Source - 2025-12-16 - Production Milestone - AIRO completes first U.S.-built RQ-35 systems
The systems completed Phase 1 assembly and manufacturing validation. A full flight-test campaign concluded with successful final flights on 11 December 2025. The aircraft were built to the same specifications as RQ-35 systems produced in Denmark.
Source - 2025-11-14 - Award - Sky-Watch receives USD 4.5 million counter-electronic-warfare program
The program will develop electronic-warfare resilience capabilities for Sky-Watch unmanned aircraft. Aalborg University and another technology collaborator joined the development work. The planned capability builds on the RQ-35 platform for GPS- and GNSS-denied operating environments.
Source - 2025-11-14 - Partnership - AIRO and Nord-Drone execute transatlantic defense joint venture
AIRO will contribute U.S. manufacturing, procurement and research capabilities. Nord-Drone will contribute combat-tested systems and European production capacity. The venture targets tactical reconnaissance, loitering-munition and multi-role drone requirements in the United States, Ukraine and NATO markets.
Source - 2025-06-26 - Deployment - AIRO completes 90-day Naval Special Warfare training mission
The mission used fighter aircraft and modified Cessna aircraft for hundreds of close-air-support training hours. AIRO supported Navy and Marine Corps Joint Terminal Attack Controller training under multiple-award IDIQ contracts. The work included intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, full-motion video, simulated and live munitions, and remotely controlled ground targets.
Source - 2025-06-16 - Market Signal - AIRO closes USD 69 million initial public offering
The total included the underwriters' full exercise of an option for 900,000 additional shares. AIRO shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker AIRO on 13 June 2025. The company planned to use net proceeds for segment growth, debt repayment and general corporate purposes.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Aalborg University
Research Partner - Aalborg University joined the counter-electronic-warfare development program.
- Sky-Watch A/S
Corporate Parent And Delivery Announcer - Sky-Watch A/S is linked with AIRO Group through the cited event.
- Aspen Avionics
Parent Company - Aspen Avionics is a division and wholly owned subsidiary of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.
- Nord-Drone
Joint Venture Partner - AIRO and Nord-Drone executed a definitive transatlantic defense-drone joint-venture agreement.
Context
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Shared workflows
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workflow adjacency - Aerial Isr
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Context tags
- Defence UAV builder - Stack Layer - Primary company research supports this operating context.
- Aerial ISR - Workflow - Primary company research supports this operating context.
Commercial
- AIRO training division receives USD 1.9 million Navy contract
2026-02-10 · Order / contract · AIRO subsidiary Coastal Defense received a USD 1.9 million one-year IDIQ contract for U.S. Navy flight and JTAC training.
Source