AEVEX Corp.

AEVEX Corp. announced Specter, a new jet-powered autonomous platform under development that will expand its unmanned aircraft systems portfolio with a high-speed, turbojet-powered one-way attack design. The platform is being developed in collaboration with advanced manufacturing company Divergent, whose DAPS digital manufacturing platform is being incorporated into Specter's development to support scalable production and rapid iteration. Specter features a modular, swappable nose section designed to accommodate kinetic, non-kinetic, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and future payloads, along with a turbojet propulsion architecture enabling both ground-launched and air-launched variants. AEVEX said the design draws on lessons from thousands of operational deployments and its CompassX autonomy architecture. "Specter reflects our lessons learned on capability from delivering thousands of autonomous systems in theater," said Manan Patel, Chief Technology Officer at AEVEX. "We are not optimizing for a fixed requirement, we are building an architecture that adapts."

AEVEX has been selected to support the Department of War Test Resource Management Center's SkyRange program under a US$92.2 million contract with a three year ceiling. Under the award, AEVEX will provide airborne range integration, engineering services, flight operations, airborne telemetry relay, resilient communications, and mission data support across Western U.S. and Pacific test corridors. The work ties directly into converting former RQ-4 Global Hawks into Range Hawk platforms, placing AEVEX inside the data and networking layer of hypersonic testing rather than only on the airframe side. The contract aligns with the company's focus on autonomous systems, CompassX software, and high volume production supporting a reported US$8b pipeline, and broadens its role across hypersonic related missions alongside existing launched effects and one way attack work. Investors will watch whether SkyRange triggers follow on work or related awards before the three year ceiling is reached, including new Test Resource Management Center task orders, extensions tied to higher hypersonic test frequency, or additional Range Hawk related contracts over the next 12 to 18 months.

The total exit value of PE-backed companies in the aerospace and defense sector has already surpassed last year's total, jumping from $17.7 billion at year-end 2025 to $26.8 billion in the first half of 2026, according to PitchBook's Q2 2026 Aerospace and Defense Report. The market was carried by five major public listings in the sector, compared with zero in Q2 2025. The largest was the June listing of DPC Holdings, a UK-headquartered specialist manufacturer of metal parts for jet engines, which valued the business at $4.9 billion, providing an exit for J.F. Lehman & Company. Other top IPOs include the $3.4 billion listing of Global Medical Response, the $3.4 billion debut of Applied Aerospace & Defense, and a $2.2 billion exit for Aevex. The sector's success in exiting provides relief to an asset class with a logjam of aging portfolio companies, as private equity managers sit on over $860 billion in buyout NAV concentrated in funds that are seven years or older. In aerospace and defense, the quarter saw an exit count of 27, up 17.4% quarter-over-quarter and 22.7% year-over-year, while total deal count rose 10.9% quarter-over-quarter but deal value fell to $6.5 billion from $11.1 billion.

The administration of President Donald Trump has announced tariffs of up to 100% on imported unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, and related components, in a bid to reduce reliance on foreign drones and strengthen domestic industry amid intensifying technology and security competition with China. The White House said the maximum 100% tariff will apply to certain drone sizes or drones with capabilities related to national security, while smaller drones without national security-related capabilities will face a 25% import tariff. Measures for many product categories will take effect within 21 days, and this portion of the measures will take effect in another 180 days. Countries and economic zones that have trade agreements with the Trump administration will receive lower tariff rates if all hardware and technology originate from those countries or the United States. Drones from the European Union, Japan, Switzerland, and Taiwan will be subject to a 15% tariff, while drones and components from the United Kingdom will face a 10% tariff. The latest measures are likely to have a significant impact on China's drone industry, because China is the world's largest manufacturing base for remotely controlled aircraft, especially DJI Technologies, the major drone maker from Shenzhen, which as of last year held about 70% of the U.S. commercial drone market. The tariff announcement also comes ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping and could increase pressure on Beijing before talks between the two leaders. The drone tariff increase is being carried out under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which gives the government authority to restrict imports of goods deemed to affect national security after an investigation process. After the measures were announced, shares of U.S. drone makers rose in after-hours trading, with AeroVironment, Aevex, and Unusual Machines all attracting buying interest on expectations that the domestic drone industry will benefit from the new tariff wall.

AEVEX Corp. announced a $17.5 million follow-on contract to provide mission-focused, data-driven services in support of US national security objectives. The award reinforces the company's role in delivering specialized expertise and integrating multi-domain solutions to transform complex data into actionable insights for time-sensitive operations. Additionally, on June 30, AEVEX appointed Murali Krishnan as Chief Growth Officer, bringing over two decades of executive experience in defense technology and national security to lead global business development, strategic partnerships, and long-term market expansion initiatives. Krishnan previously held senior leadership positions at Northrop Grumman, overseeing portfolios in space systems, sensor solutions, and strategic growth.

AEVEX has secured a $17.5 million follow-on contract under its Global Solutions portfolio to continue providing mission-focused services supporting U.S. national security objectives. The company's Global Solutions capabilities integrate technology and multi-domain expertise to transform complex data into actionable insight for time-sensitive missions. The stock price increased about 3% on Monday during pre-market hours.