AeroVironment to deploy counter-drone system at Grand Forks Air Base

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), whose stock has surged 187% in the past six months and currently trades near its 52-week high of $417.86, announced Monday it is expanding its collaboration with GrandSKY to establish counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capabilities at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. According to InvestingPro data, the company has demonstrated robust growth with revenue increasing 44% year-over-year.

The partnership will deploy AeroVironment’s inner layer distributed C-UAS technology as part of the company’s "Golden Dome for America" limited area defense architecture, according to a press release. With a market capitalization of $20.37 billion and strong liquidity position, AeroVironment appears well-positioned to execute this strategic initiative. InvestingPro analysis reveals 18 additional key insights about the company’s financial health and growth prospects.

The system will integrate AV’s Titan and Titan-SV RF-based platforms for long-range detection and identification of aerial threats, unified through the company’s AV_Halo COMMAND software platform, which combines sensor and surveillance data into a single operating picture.

"We’re deploying technologies that deliver unmatched situational awareness to Grand Forks AFB while providing a road map to expand these limited area defense capabilities at critical sites throughout the nation," said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President and CEO of AeroVironment.

The initiative builds on a March 2025 memorandum of understanding between AeroVironment and GrandSKY supporting Project ULTRA, a $110 million public-private initiative championed by Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) to establish Grand Forks as a testing ground for advanced counter-UAS defense.

"Counter-drone is a critical priority for the future of our nation’s defense. We’ve seen in Israel and Ukraine how drones are being used to wage war in new and dangerous ways," said Senator Hoeven at the announcement.

GrandSKY, which operates a 217-acre UAS-focused flight center on Grand Forks AFB, has already integrated AeroVironment’s AV_Halo COMMAND Mission software into its Beyond Visual Line of Sight flight operations. While the stock currently trades above its InvestingPro Fair Value, analysts remain optimistic about the company’s growth prospects, with revenue expected to grow significantly in the current fiscal year. For detailed valuation analysis and expert insights, access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, AeroVironment announced the expansion of its Switchblade loitering munition product line with three new variants, including the Switchblade 600 Block 2, Switchblade 400, and Switchblade 300 Block 20. These new systems are designed to meet various mission requirements, ranging from tactical solutions to long-range anti-armor capabilities. In personnel developments, Mary Clum has been appointed as President of AeroVironment’s Space, Cyber & Directed Energy business segment. Clum, who joined AeroVironment after its acquisition of BlueHalo, brings over 25 years of industry experience. Additionally, AeroVironment released the VAPOR Compact Long Endurance unmanned aircraft system, an all-electric drone with a flight time of up to two hours. This autonomous vertical takeoff and landing drone aims to enhance military applications. On the financial front, Canaccord Genuity raised its price target for AeroVironment to $430, maintaining a Buy rating, citing the company’s strategic developments in defense technology. Meanwhile, Draganfly Inc. has partnered with Global Ordnance to enhance the adoption of its unmanned aerial systems by U.S. defense agencies.

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