AeroVironment has acquired California drone maker Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) for about $200 million in a deal that strengthens its ability to design, prototype, and produce advanced unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for defense applications.
AeroVironment will integrate ESAero as a subsidiary within its Precision Strike and Defense Systems group, adding engineering and manufacturing facilities in San Luis Obispo, California, to its portfolio of loitering munitions, missiles, and unmanned systems.
The transaction was funded with roughly $160 million in stock and the remainder in cash.
A key part of the deal is ESAero’s expertise in electric and hybrid propulsion, rapid aerospace prototyping, and AS9100-certified UAS manufacturing, which AeroVironment says will help accelerate development from design to production.
The acquisition builds on AeroVironment’s broader strategy of integrating innovation hubs into a cohesive suite of mission-critical solutions for defense customers. It follows the company’s roughly $4.1-billion acquisition of BlueHalo in 2025.
Purchasing Drone Companies
AeroVironment’s strategy of expanding through deals predates its ESAero purchase in 2026.
The company announced a planned acquisition of US tech firm Tomahawk Robotics in 2023, intended to fuse advanced control systems and autonomy technologies with AeroVironment’s tactical UAS products.
Other recent industry moves show continued consolidation and technology acquisition in the unmanned systems market.
In December 2025, Uvision Group completed its acquisition of Israeli company SpearUAV, bringing the developer of encapsulated, AI-enabled loitering systems fully into its portfolio and expanding its footprint in autonomous aerial munitions and related systems.
SpearUAV’s Viper family of loitering systems now complements Uvision’s HERO product line, broadening operational coverage from reconnaissance to electronic warfare.
