AIRO Completes First US-Built RQ-35 ISR Drones
AIRO Group has finished production of the first RQ‑35 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drones at its US facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
Built to the same specifications as the systems produced in Denmark, the US-assembled RQ‑35s completed Phase 1 of AIRO’s manufacturing and validation program, including full system assembly and a comprehensive flight-test campaign that concluded successfully on December 11.
The aircraft are optimized for GPS‑denied and electronic warfare‑intense environments, designed to provide persistent ISR coverage with minimal operator workload.
Executives from AIRO and its Danish partner, Sky‑Watch, emphasized the seamless collaboration that ensured adherence to engineering, production, and testing standards, while also advancing the RQ‑35 through the Department of Defense’s Blue unmanned aerial system certification process to streamline future procurement.
RQ‑35’s Global Footprint
Outside of the US manufacturing milestone, the RQ‑35 ISR — often marketed internationally as the RQ‑35 Heidrun — has gained traction with NATO partners and allied forces.
Denmark and Germany have been among the most visible operators: Berlin delivered batches of RQ‑35 Heidrun drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including an initial shipment of 20 units in mid‑2023 and additional systems thereafter to bolster Ukraine’s reconnaissance capabilities.
Coalition efforts have also expanded in 2024, when the Netherlands, in collaboration with Denmark and Germany, announced an order worth roughly 200 million euros ($234 million) for RQ‑35 Heidrun drones earmarked for delivery to Ukraine through a multinational coalition.
