Griffon Aerospace

What Griffon Aerospace does

Griffon Aerospace is a privately held U.S. defense contractor founded in 1995 and headquartered in Madison, Alabama, that designs, manufactures, and operates unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and aerial target vehicles for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied customers. The company holds ISO9001:2015 and AS9100D certifications and operates from a vertically integrated facility with stated capacity of more than 100 aircraft per month, having built over 10,000 airframes since inception.

The company's product portfolio spans Group 2 and Group 3 UAS. Core platforms include the Valiant Group 3 expeditionary VTOL, the Outlaw G2E (ISR/R&D) and Outlaw G2 / MQM-170C (aerial target), the RedWing VTOL and RedWing / MQM-186 (small UAS and target), the Arrowhead UAS / MQM-172 (delta-wing one-way attack and aerial target), and the Broadsword / MQM-171A large target. Supporting offerings include ground support equipment, engineering services, composite and precision manufacturing, and worldwide flight operations for live-fire training and weapon system evaluation.

Griffon generates revenue primarily through prime and subcontract awards from U.S. DoD agencies — particularly the U.S. Army — across named programs including FTUAS, Drone Dominance, MQM-170C/-171A/-172/-186 target production, Launched Effects, and AFRL Gray Wolf testing. Recent major awards include a $67.9 million Outlaw Gen 3 ISR drone contract from the U.S. Army and selection for the Army's Launched Effects Product Office alongside AEVEX Aerospace and Dragoon. The company also acts as subcontractor to defense primes such as Lockheed Martin, with a smaller commercial and university research channel, and serves allied nations for target and UAS sales.

Name

Griffon Aerospace

Legal name

Griffon Aerospace

Website

https://griffonaerospace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Griffon Aerospace is a privately held, AS9100-certified U.S. defense contractor that designs, manufactures, and flies Group 2 and Group 3 unmanned aerial systems and aerial target vehicles for the U.S. military, allied nations, and select commercial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Unmanned Aerial Systems

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft (3721)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC), Tactical & Strategic Missile Systems (IMABAHAB)

Keywords

• Unmanned aerial systems
• Aerial target vehicles
• Defense aerospace manufacturing
• VTOL UAS platforms
• ISR drone systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Defense Government Contracts: Prime and subcontract awards from U.S. DoD for ISR drones, aerial targets, and launched effects systems. Major recent contract includes $67.9M for Outlaw Gen 3 systems from U.S. Army.
2. UAS Product Sales: Direct sales of unmanned aerial vehicles including Valiant, Outlaw G2E, RedWing VTOL, and Arrowhead UAS to military and commercial customers.
3. Aerial Target Systems: Sales of target drones including Outlaw G2 (MQM-170C), RedWing (MQM-186), Broadsword (MQM-171A), and Arrowhead Aerial Target (MQM-172) for military training and testing.
4. Manufacturing Services: Vertically integrated manufacturing services including composite manufacturing, precision machining, electrical harness, metal fabrication, systems integration, and rapid prototyping. Production capacity of 100+ aircraft per month.
5. Flight Services: Live fire training for weapon systems, testing for cutting-edge technology, weapon system evaluation, development, and training operations worldwide.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Griffon Aerospace designs, manufactures, and operates unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and aerial target vehicles primarily for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations. Its product portfolio includes the Valiant Group 3 expeditionary VTOL UAS, the Outlaw ISR/target series, RedWing VTOL, Arrowhead one-way attack system, and Broadsword heavy target drone, supported by in-house flight, engineering, and vertically integrated manufacturing services.

Product overview

Griffon Aerospace is a defense contractor specializing in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and aerial target vehicles. The company's portfolio includes the Valiant (Group 3 tactical VTOL UAS), Outlaw G2E and G2 (MQM-170C) for ISR and target missions, RedWing VTOL and standard RedWing (MQM-186) for smaller operations, Arrowhead UAS (one-way attack system) and Arrowhead Aerial Target (MQM-172), Broadsword (MQM-171A) as its largest target vehicle, and the Lionheart legacy aircraft. The company also offers Ground Support Equipment and services including Flight Operations, Engineering, and Manufacturing. These products serve the US DoD, allied nations, and commercial customers for ISR, training, testing, and payload development missions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Valiant Versatile Group 3 expeditionary vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) tactical UAS with strategic-level performance in a unit-level asset, designed for ISR, multi-domain operations, modular payloads, and contested logistics.
• Outlaw G2E Trusted, reliable, and cost-effective open and customizable UAS platform for ISR missions, subsystem testing, and R&D with 180 lbs. MGTOW and 6+ hours endurance.
• RedWing VTOL All-electric VTOL vehicle with four motors for vertical takeoff/landing and one motor for forward flight, designed for ease of operation and training with minimal launch/recovery infrastructure.
• Arrowhead UAS Distinctive delta-wing one-way attack system based on the MQM-172 platform, designed to deliver effects against designated targets with payloads up to 100 lbs., launched pneumatically, via RATO, or from truck-mounted systems.
• Outlaw G2 (MQM-170C) Low-cost, reliable aerial target vehicle with enhanced visual signature and increased hit area, or inexpensive payload development platform offering 8+ hour endurance and 40-60 lbs. useful load.
• RedWing (MQM-186) Reliable and cost-effective Group 2 UAV designed for ISR missions, systems testing, R&D, and payload development with 6+ hour endurance and 12 lbs. payload capacity.
• Broadsword (MQM-171A) Largest and most robust aerial target vehicle with 550-lbs. gross takeoff weight, designed as a testbed for new technology with large payload capacity.
• Arrowhead Aerial Target (MQM-172) Distinctive delta-wing aerial target system designed to provide realistic threat profiles for military training and testing operations with rugged belly-landing recovery.
• Lionheart Vintage-inspired six-place kit aircraft recreation of the 1930s-era Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing using modern production techniques, powered by a 450-hp Pratt & Whitney radial engine.
• Ground Support Equipment Ground support equipment including launchers, ground stations, and scoring systems to ensure UAV and aerial target operations run smoothly.
• Flight Services World-class operations team providing support for weapon system evaluation, development, training, live fire training, and complex flight operations worldwide.
• Engineering Services Custom, modular engineering approach providing design, analysis, testing, advanced composites, avionics and payload integration, and systems engineering.
• Manufacturing Services Vertically-integrated manufacturing including composite manufacturing, precision machining, electrical harness, metal fabrication, systems integration, and rapid prototyping with capacity to produce over 100 aircraft per month.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 vehicles designed, built, and flown since 1995
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AEVEX AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Partnering with AEVEX and Dragoon under the Army's Launched Effects Product Office to develop and deliver advanced launched effects systems by 2026. The initiative uses a Modular Open Systems Approach to enable rapid technological upgrades and build resilient kill chains for U.S. forces.
• DragooncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Partnering with AEVEX and Griffon under the Army's Launched Effects Product Office to develop and deliver advanced launched effects systems by 2026 using Modular Open Systems Approach.
• HEKA (HEKA Aero)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025HEKA and Griffon Aerospace collaborated on the Valiant Tiltrotor program to develop advanced simulation, autonomy, and safety technologies for next-generation aircraft. The partnership involves integrating Griffon's Valiant aircraft into HEKA's Digital Twin simulation environment, focusing on reliability, safety, and digital validation.
• Parry LabscoreTechnology or Integration · 19 June 2023Parry Labs successfully flew their Edge Compute Micro (EC Micro) with MOSA software operating environment (Stratia) on Griffon's Valiant platform. EC Micro provides processing power, precision time, over 200 discrete signals, atomic scale clock for synchronization, and advanced GPUs for AI applications on Group 2, 3, and 4 vehicles at the edge.
• Lockheed MartincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2017Griffon's Outlaw unmanned aerial systems supported Lockheed Martin's successful laser weapon system testing. The 30-kilowatt class ATHENA laser system successfully brought down five Outlaw UAS at White Sands Missile Range, validating lethality models for future laser weapon development.
• Perry Johnson RegistrarsminorOthersCertification body providing ISO9001:2015 and AS9100D quality management system registrations for Griffon Aerospace.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AeroVironment: AeroVironment is the leading U.S. small-UAS prime (Switchblade loitering munitions, Puma, Raven), directly competing with Griffon in tactical ISR drones and one-way attack systems for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.
• AEVEX Aerospace: AEVEX is a co-developer with Griffon on the Army Launched Effects program and competes in the same launched-effects / loitering-munition space for DoD tactical programs.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos manufactures high-performance target drones (BQM-167, MQM-178 Firejet) and tactical UAS directly competing with Griffon's Outlaw/Broadsword/Arrowhead aerial target business for DoD training and test ranges.
• Dragoon Technology Solutions: Dragoon is a co-developer alongside Griffon and AEVEX under the Army Launched Effects Product Office, building tactical launched-effects systems directly comparable to Griffon's Arrowhead program.

Emerging players

• Anduril Industries: Anduril develops autonomous air vehicles (Roadrunner, Bolt) and Lattice software for DoD, increasingly competing with small UAS primes like Griffon for tactical and launched-effects programs.
• Shield AI: Shield AI builds autonomous VTOL tactical UAS (V-BAT) and AI-pilot software targeting DoD and SOCOM ISR and launched-effects use cases that overlap with Griffon's Valiant and RedWing portfolios.
• Skydio: Skydio is a leading small-UAS manufacturer with growing DoD business (short-range reconnaissance), competing with Griffon's smaller platforms like RedWing in tactical ISR and R&D use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a top-tier defense prime that has used Griffon's Outlaw as a target in laser weapon testing and is a strategic partner/competitor across DoD UAS and effects programs.
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: General Atomics builds the MQ-9 Reaper and is a major DoD UAS prime; while larger and at a different weight class, it competes for adjacent Army and SOCOM UAS budget pools that Griffon targets.
• Textron Systems: Textron produces the Aerosonde small UAS and is a broader defense prime competing with Griffon in tactical ISR and aerial targets, with deeper resources and a broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/griffonaerospace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/griffon-aerospace

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Griffon Aerospace