What AE Industrial Partners does

AE Industrial Partners, LP is a private investment firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, that manages approximately $9.0 billion in assets across private equity, aerospace leasing, and venture capital strategies. The firm invests across three platforms: private equity control buyouts in middle-market aerospace, defense, and national security companies; AEI Aerospace Leasing, which deploys capital into commercial aircraft, engines, business aviation, and special mission aviation; and AE Ventures, an early-stage vehicle focused on seed through Series B investments in space, future mobility, industrial technology, and national security. Since 2015 the firm has closed more than 155 investments across 30+ platform companies and 80+ add-on transactions, with current portfolio assets spanning satellite manufacturing (York Space Systems), space infrastructure (Redwire, Sierra Space), launch services (Firefly Aerospace), defense engineering (Belcan, Gryphon Technologies, CASE), defense AI (BigBear.ai), aerospace MRO (Air Transport Components, AIM MRO, Kellstrom Aerospace), precision manufacturing (G.S. Precision, Applied Composites, Moeller Aerospace), UAS autonomy (Edge Autonomy), specialty chemicals (American Pacific, Calca Solutions), and commercial HVAC services (United Building Solutions).

The firm's revenue model combines management fees (typically 1–2% on committed or invested capital across its PE and leasing funds) with carried interest on profitable exits, supplemented by transactional lease income from its aerospace leasing platform. Deal sourcing is relationship-driven, leveraging deep ties to Boeing, GE Aviation, Gulfstream, and former military leadership; a Senior Operating Partner Group including former Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Kevin McAllister and former GE Aviation Services CEO Paul McElhinney supports portfolio companies operationally and on boards.

Customers of the investment business are institutional limited partners (commitments to Fund III of $1.28B and Aerospace Leasing Fund II of $418M) and management teams seeking a first institutional partner in mission-critical sectors. The end customers of portfolio companies are heavily concentrated in the U.S. Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, NASA, the U.S. Space Force, major U.S. commercial airlines, and allied governments — segments characterized by long product life cycles, sole-source supplier relationships, and regulatory barriers to entry.

Name

AE Industrial Partners

Legal name

AE Industrial Partners, LP

Website

https://aeroequity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AE Industrial Partners is a Boca Raton-based private investment firm managing approximately $9 billion across private equity, aerospace leasing, and venture capital strategies focused on aerospace, defense, national security, and industrial services companies, serving institutional limited partners and mission-critical government and commercial end markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity / Alternative Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Vehicles (52599)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Security & Defense / GovTech Growth Equity (FSANACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrials & Manufacturing Growth Equity (FSANACAF), Transportation, Logistics & Mobility Growth Equity (FSANACAK)

Keywords

• Private equity investments
• Aerospace defense investing
• Venture capital funding
• Aircraft leasing services
• Portfolio management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boca Raton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Fund Management: AE Industrial Partners generates revenue through management fees and carried interest from its private equity funds. The firm manages approximately $9.0 billion in assets across multiple funds including Fund III ($1.28 billion closed in 2024), Aerospace Leasing Fund II ($418 million closed in 2025), and potentially additional vehicles.
2. Aerospace Leasing: Aircraft and engine leasing under tailored lease agreements producing current income and capital appreciation. Fleet includes commercial aircraft (A319, A320, A321, B757, B737 variants), commercial engines (CFM56 variants), and special mission aircraft (Columbia 234, Beechcraft King Air, Bombardier Global).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AE Industrial Partners is a private investment firm that makes control-oriented investments in middle-market aerospace, defense, national security, and industrial services companies. The firm operates three core investment strategies: a Private Equity platform (control investments in middle-market companies), an AEI Aerospace Leasing platform (commercial, business, and special-mission aircraft/engine leasing), and AE Ventures (Seed through Series B venture capital in national security and aerospace). Revenue is generated through management fees and carried interest on approximately $9.0 billion in assets under management.

Product overview

AE Industrial Partners is a private equity and venture capital firm managing $9.0 billion in assets under management with over 155 investments closed since 2015. The firm operates three distinct investment strategies: (1) Private Equity - control-oriented investments in middle-market aerospace, defense, and national security companies; (2) AEI Aerospace Leasing - a dedicated platform for commercial aircraft, engines, business aviation, and special mission aviation leasing; and (3) AE Ventures - an early-stage venture capital platform for Seed through Series B investments in national security, aerospace, and industrial technology. The firm's portfolio spans satellite manufacturing (York Space Systems), space infrastructure (Redwire, Sierra Space), launch vehicles (Firefly Aerospace), defense technology (BigBear.ai, CASE, REDLattice), aerospace MRO services (Air Transport Components, AIM MRO, Kellstrom Aerospace), precision manufacturing (G.S. Precision, Applied Composites, Moeller Aerospace), military aftermarket (Blue Raven Solutions), HVAC services (United Building Solutions), and specialty chemicals (Calca Solutions).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AE Ventures: Venture capital platform investing in early-stage companies in aerospace, national security, and industrial markets
• AEI Aerospace Leasing

Products and services

• Private Equity Investment Platform AE Industrial Partners' core private equity strategy making control-oriented investments in middle-market aerospace, defense, and national security companies. The firm partners with management teams to drive long-term value through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
• AEI Aerospace Leasing A dedicated aerospace leasing platform offering commercial aircraft and engine leasing, business aviation financing, and special mission aviation leasing solutions, serving airlines, OEMs, MROs, and aftermarket service providers.
• AE Ventures The venture capital platform of AE Industrial Partners, investing Seed through Series B in early-stage companies solving critical problems in national security, aerospace, and industrial markets across space and connectivity, future mobility, industrial tech, sustainability, and enterprise digital.

Quantifiable outcome

• 155+ investments completed since 2015
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Firefly AerospacecoreOthers · 1 July 2024AE Industrial Partners invested in Firefly Aerospace (space launch vehicles and in-space services). Firefly Aerospace filed for IPO in 2025 at approximately $5.5 billion valuation. AE Industrial retains significant stake.
• L3Harris TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AE Industrial Partners agreed to acquire 60% controlling stake in L3Harris Technologies' Space Propulsion and Power Systems business (Rocketdyne) for $845 million in 2026. L3Harris retains 40% minority stake. Deal expected to close H2 2026.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Platinum Equity: Los Angeles-based PE firm with significant aerospace, defense, and industrial portfolio (e.g., Solenis, LifeScan, Mavis Tire); a comparable mid-to-large cap sponsor in adjacent sectors.
• Arlington Capital Partners: Washington, D.C.-based PE firm focused on government services, aerospace, defense, and intelligence sectors; one of the closest direct competitors to AE Industrial in mid-market defense and national security buyouts.
• Greenbriar Equity Group: New York-based PE firm focused exclusively on aerospace, defense, and industrial services; directly comparable mid-market sponsor competing for similar platforms.
• Veritas Capital: New York-based PE firm specializing in technology and technology-enabled services for government and commercial customers, including significant aerospace and defense investments; closely comparable to AE Industrial's national security thesis.
• J.F. Lehman & Company: New York-based PE firm exclusively focused on aerospace, defense, and maritime sectors; competes with AE Industrial for founder-owned aerospace and defense suppliers and related industrial services businesses.

Emerging players

• Shield Capital: Early-stage venture firm focused on defense, intelligence, and national security startups; an emerging complement to AE Ventures with comparable federal customer focus.

Broad incumbents

• KKR & Co. Global investment firm with aerospace, defense, and industrial services exposure (e.g., Q-Park, Refresco, BMC Software); represents the mega-cap competitor that defines the upper bound of AE Industrial's growth trajectory.
• The Carlyle Group: Global alternative asset manager with deep aerospace, defense, and government services franchise (e.g., Novolex, ManTech, Atotech); competes for larger carve-outs and serves as a comparable for AE Industrial's growth ambitions.
• TPG Capital: Global alternative asset manager with meaningful aerospace and government services portfolio (e.g., Cirium, McAfee, Vice); a comparable mid-to-large sponsor in adjacent sectors and a potential acquirer for AE Industrial portfolio exits.
• Blackstone: Global mega-fund with significant aerospace, defense, and industrial portfolio (e.g., Sphera, QTS, Aon divestitures); competes with AE Industrial in larger aerospace deals and provides an AUM scale benchmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ae-industrial-partners-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries29 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A35 records

Investments26 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AE Industrial Partners