Edge Autonomy

What Edge Autonomy does

Edge Autonomy designs, manufactures, and supports long-endurance uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for defense and government customers. The company's product portfolio centers on two fixed-wing UAS families: the Stalker platform (including Block 30, Block 40, and Stalker VTOL variants) and the Penguin platform (including Penguin C VTOL and Mk2 variants). Stalker variants achieve up to 39-hour flight times enabled by Adaptive Energy solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology — acquired by Edge Autonomy in August 2022 after more than a decade of integration in its airframes — and the Stalker is listed on the DoD Blue UAS List, certifying compliance with U.S. National Security Requirements. The Penguin drone has been combat-proven in Ukraine with over 200 units delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The company sells primarily through direct contracts with U.S. military branches (Marine Corps, Army) and allied governments, supplemented by European channel partners — Eurolink Systems for Italy and UXV Technologies under a memorandum of understanding covering broader NATO/EU interoperability. Key programs include the U.S. Marine Corps Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) program under PMA-263, where the VXE30 Stalker fleet has exceeded 200 aircraft, and the U.S. Army Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) program. A Red Cat Holdings integration partnership combines the Stalker VTOL with Black Widow quadcopters for extended Army missions.

In June 2025, Redwire Corporation acquired Edge Autonomy for $925 million, contributing $107 million in revenue to Redwire's fiscal year 2025 results. By January 2026, Redwire retired the Edge Autonomy brand and consolidated operations into unified Space and Defense Tech segments. Manufacturing operates from a 10,000 m² facility in Riga, Latvia (opened in 2026 and nearly doubling prior capacity), while the U.S. corporate presence has shifted under Redwire's Jacksonville, Florida headquarters. Pricing is non-public, quote-based defense procurement with multi-year contract cadence.

Name

Edge Autonomy

Legal name

Edge Autonomy

Website

https://edgeautonomy.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Edge Autonomy, now part of Redwire Corporation, designs and manufactures long-endurance fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems — principally the Stalker and Penguin families — for U.S. and allied defense forces including the Marine Corps, Army, and Ukraine Armed Forces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unmanned Aerial Systems (Defense UAVs)

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft (UAV) (IMABAIAB), VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)

Keywords

• Unmanned aerial systems
• Fixed-wing UAVs
• Defense drones
• Aerial reconnaissance platforms
• Military surveillance UAVs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Luis Obispo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. U.S. Military UAS Contracts: Edge Autonomy generates revenue through direct contracts with U.S. military branches including the Marine Corps, Army, and Department of Defense. Contracts include aircraft systems, spares packages, training services, and follow-on orders. The company contributed $107 million in revenue to parent Redwire in fiscal year 2025.
2. NATO Allied Defense Contracts: Edge Autonomy sells to European NATO allies through direct contracts and partnerships. The company has delivered Stalker UAS to undisclosed European NATO countries and partnered with Eurolink Systems for Italian market distribution.
3. Ukraine Armed Forces Contracts: Redwire has been contracted directly by the Ukraine Armed Forces to deliver Penguin UAS for advanced combat-proven reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities. Over 200 Penguin drones have been delivered.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Edge Autonomy designs, manufactures, and supports long-endurance fixed-wing and VTOL unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for defense and government customers, anchored by the Stalker UAS family (Block 30, Block 40, VTOL) and the Penguin UAS family (C VTOL, Mk2). The company integrates solid oxide fuel cell power systems for extended endurance missions and delivers aircraft, spares, training, and integration services to U.S. military branches, NATO allies, and allied forces through direct procurement and channel partners.

Product overview

Edge Autonomy, now consolidated under Redwire Corporation following its $925 million acquisition in June 2025, provides combat-proven uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for defense applications. The product portfolio centers on two primary UAV families: the Stalker platform (including Block 30, Block 40, and VTOL variants) and the Penguin platform (including C VTOL and Mk2 variants). These systems serve long-endurance, long-range reconnaissance and intelligence gathering missions for U.S. and allied forces, with over 200 Penguin drones deployed in Ukraine. The company also offers the VXE30 Stalker for the Marine Corps Long Range/Long Endurance program, has integrated Adaptive Energy's solid oxide fuel cell technology for extended endurance, and provides ground control systems supporting NATO interoperability. Following the acquisition, Edge Autonomy's operations have been merged into Redwire's unified Space and Defense Tech segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stalker UAS: Long-endurance fixed-wing uncrewed aerial system listed on DoD Blue UAS List, capable of vertical takeoff with 39-hour flight times and silent low-altitude operations
• Penguin Drone
• Stalker Block 30/40
• Penguin C VTOL
• Mk2 Platforms

Products and services

• Stalker UAS Long-endurance fixed-wing unmanned aerial system providing advanced reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities; listed on the DoD Blue UAS List and integrated with fuel cell technology for extended endurance missions for defense customers.
• Stalker Block 30 Stealthy fixed-wing drone variant with vertical takeoff capability, up to 39-hour endurance, and silent low-altitude operations for long-range reconnaissance missions; procured by the U.S. Marine Corps.
• Stalker Block 40 Advanced configuration of the Stalker UAS platform designed for enhanced operational capabilities in contested environments.
• Stalker VTOL Vertical take-off and landing variant of the Stalker UAS, integrating with partner payloads such as Red Cat Holdings' Black Widow quadcopters for extended mission range and battlefield surveillance.
• Penguin Drone Combat-proven fixed-wing UAV extensively deployed in Ukraine with over 200 units delivered for advanced reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities.
• Penguin C VTOL Vertical take-off and landing variant of the Penguin platform designed for long-endurance, long-range reconnaissance missions with flexible deployment options.
• Penguin Mk2 Next-generation configuration of the Penguin UAS platform featuring enhanced capabilities for multi-domain operations.
• VXE30 Stalker (Small Uncrewed Aircraft System) Small uncrewed aircraft system designated for the U.S. Navy Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program (PMA-263) supporting the Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) program of record.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 combat-proven UAS delivered to Ukraine and U.S. military programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Eurolink SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 November 2025Edge Autonomy partnered with Eurolink Systems to bring mission-proven UAS technology to the Italian defense sector. The collaboration includes promotion and support of Edge Autonomy's Uncrewed Systems portfolio featuring the Stalker Block 30, Block 40, Penguin C VTOL and Mk2 platforms designed for long-endurance, long-range reconnaissance missions. Eurolink provides local support and integration services in Italy, representing an expansion of Edge Autonomy's European operations.
• UXV TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Edge Autonomy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UXV Technologies to enhance uncrewed aerial systems for European defense. The collaboration focuses on integrating ground control systems to improve interoperability and support NATO and EU strategic priorities. Partnership signed in Riga, Latvia during Danish-Latvian Industry Days.
• Redwire CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Redwire Corporation acquired Edge Autonomy for $925 million in June 2025, consolidating Edge Autonomy's operations into Redwire's unified Space and Defense Tech segments. The acquisition positioned Redwire as a vertically integrated provider across civil space, commercial space, and multi-domain defense missions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AeroVironment: AeroVironment is a leading U.S. tactical UAS manufacturer (Switchblade, Puma, JUMP) that competes directly with Edge Autonomy in small/medium long-endurance fixed-wing and VTOL military drones. Both serve U.S. DoD and allied forces with similar reconnaissance and loitering munition use cases.
• Anduril Industries: Anduril is a venture-backed defense tech company building autonomous UAS (Roadrunner, Ghost, Bolt) and AI-enabled mission software. It competes with Edge Autonomy in defense autonomy and uncrewed platforms, with substantially more private capital and a broader software stack.
• Shield AI: Shield AI develops the V-BAT VTOL UAS and Hivemind autonomy software for military applications. It directly competes with Edge Autonomy's VTOL UAS offerings (Stalker VTOL, Penguin C VTOL) and shares the same DoD and allied defense customers.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos develops tactical and target UAS (XQ-58 Valkyrie, MQM-178 Firejet, BQM-177) and offers affordable attritable drone platforms. It competes with Edge Autonomy in defense-focused UAS and shares exposure to U.S. DoD and allied procurement.
• Textron Systems: Textron Systems produces the Aerosonde small UAS and is a key competitor in long-endurance, expeditionary military drones. It directly competes with Edge Autonomy's Stalker and Penguin platforms in U.S. and allied tactical UAS tenders.

Broad incumbents

• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: General Atomics manufactures the Predator, Reaper, and MQ-9B UAS, dominating the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAS segment. It competes with Edge Autonomy in the broader defense UAS market, especially around ISR and NATO interoperability, though at a much larger Group 4/5 scale.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman produces the Global Hawk high-altitude long-endurance UAS and is a broad defense prime. It overlaps with Edge Autonomy in defense UAS, ISR, and autonomous systems, particularly with U.S. Army and Air Force customers.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a diversified defense prime that produces ISR systems, tactical UAS, and autonomous mission solutions. It overlaps with Edge Autonomy in defense uncrewed systems and shares the same military and NATO customer base.

Emerging players

• Skydio: Skydio is a U.S.-based autonomous drone manufacturer that has expanded from commercial into defense and public safety. It is an emerging competitor in autonomy and tactical small UAS, intersecting with Edge Autonomy's mission sets, particularly for short-range reconnaissance.
• Red Cat Holdings: Red Cat Holdings produces the Black Widow and Teal tactical quadcopters for U.S. Army drone programs (e.g., SRR program). It is an integration partner of Edge Autonomy (Black Widow is integrated with Stalker VTOL) and an emerging competitor in the tactical UAS space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Edge_Autonomy
• Facebookfacebook.com/edgeautonomyio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edgeautonomy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Edge Autonomy