AeroVironment said on 16 March it had acquired Empirical Systems Aerospace, known as ESAero, a designer and manufacturer of unmanned aircraft, for about $200m in stock and cash.
Why AeroVironment, Inc. is buying Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero)
AV said ESAero's ability to move quickly from concept to manufacturing would help it bridge design and production for loitering munitions, missiles and drones, and would strengthen its work on electric and hybrid propulsion. The deal was expected to be accretive to adjusted EBITDA in its first year.
Deal terms and financing
About $160m of the price was paid in AV shares and the balance in cash. ESAero becomes a subsidiary reporting into AV's Precision Strike and Defense Systems group, under the Loitering Munition Systems unit.
Regulatory approvals and timing
The acquisition was completed on announcement; no further approvals were outstanding.
Market context
ESAero operates a 32,000 sq ft design and prototyping facility and a 53,000 sq ft AS9100-certified manufacturing plant in San Luis Obispo. It is AV's second acquisition in under a year, following the $4.1bn purchase of BlueHalo in May 2025.
