Empirical Systems Aerospace

What Empirical Systems Aerospace does

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero) is a privately held aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing firm founded in 2003 in San Luis Obispo, California. The company specializes in the design, development, prototyping, and AS9100-certified manufacturing of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and electric drivetrain test equipment. Its core technical expertise lies in turbo-electric distributed propulsion (TeDP), electrified rotor head (ERH) architecture, and hydrogen fuel cell integration for aerial applications. ESAero's product portfolio includes the LUMBERJACK Group III multi-strike launched-effect UAS, the VESA VTOL counter-UAS platform, the FAST and FAST-ISR swarming UAS, the EDS Series electric motor dynamometer, and the IE-SOAR hydrogen fuel cell product line distributed under license from Intelligent Energy. The company is the only small business in history to serve as prime contractor for a manned NASA X-plane (X-57 Maxwell). ESAero generates revenue across five streams: sale of defense UAS hardware (Lumberjack, VESA, FAST), sale of test equipment (EDS dynamometers), distribution and integration of hydrogen fuel cell systems (IE-SOAR), engineering design and analysis services to government and commercial aerospace customers, and AS9100-certified contract manufacturing. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting U.S. DoD agencies, NASA, DARPA, ONR, AFRL, and defense prime contractors such as Northrop Grumman. On March 16, 2026, AeroVironment acquired ESAero for approximately $200 million in a stock-and-cash transaction, integrating it into AV's Precision Strike and Defense Systems group under the Loitering Munition Systems business unit.

Name

Empirical Systems Aerospace

Legal name

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc.

Website

https://esaero.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ESAero is a San Luis Obispo-based aerospace engineering firm that designs, prototypes, and AS9100-certifies electric and hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft systems, propulsion test equipment, and hydrogen fuel cell integrations for NASA, the DoD, and defense primes, and was acquired by AeroVironment in March 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Aerospace Engineering Services

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

UAS Power Systems & Propulsion (Motors, ESCs, Batteries, Fuel Cells) (IMABAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC), Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

Keywords

• Unmanned aircraft systems
• Aerospace engineering services
• Electric propulsion systems
• Aerospace manufacturing
• Counter-UAS solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Pismo Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Defense UAS Products: Sale of unmanned aircraft systems including Lumberjack, VESA, FAST-ISR, and FAST drones to defense customers including DoD and prime contractors.
2. Test Equipment (EDS Series): Sale of electric motor dynamometer systems for characterization and certification of electric drivetrains, targeting aerospace manufacturers and testing facilities.
3. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Integration: Distribution and integration of Intelligent Energy's IE-SOAR hydrogen fuel cell systems (800W to 24kW) for aerial applications, including retrofit kits and support services.
4. Aerospace Engineering Services: Engineering design, analysis, testing, validation, and design for manufacturing services provided to government and private aerospace customers including NASA, DoD agencies, and commercial entities.
5. Manufacturing Services: AS9100-certified manufacturing services ranging from prototyping and low-rate-initial-production to high-rate-serial manufacturing for UAS and electrified aircraft propulsion systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) is a full-service aerospace engineering firm that designs, develops, prototypes, and manufactures unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), electric and hybrid-electric propulsion technologies, and supporting test equipment. Its product portfolio includes the LUMBERJACK Group III multi-strike launched-effect UAS, the VESA counter-UAS platform, the FAST and FAST-ISR swarming UAS, the EDS Series electric motor dynamometers, and IE-SOAR hydrogen fuel cell power systems, complemented by AS9100-certified design-for-manufacturing and engineering services.

Product overview

Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) is a full-service aerospace engineering firm offering a portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems, electric propulsion technologies, and test equipment. The product lineup centers on UAS platforms including LUMBERJACK (multi-strike launched effect), VESA (counter-UAS), FAST-ISR (ISR), and FAST (swarm UAS), complemented by IE-SOAR hydrogen fuel cells for extended endurance and EDS Series dynamometers for drivetrain testing. These products share a foundation in electric and hybrid propulsion expertise, rapid prototyping, and AS9100-certified manufacturing capabilities, with the company operating as a subsidiary of AeroVironment since March 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LUMBERJACK: Multi-Strike Launched Effect - Group III Unmanned Aircraft System designed for mass deployment from ground systems or air vehicles
• VESA
• FAST
• FAST-ISR
• IE-SOAR
• EDS Series

Products and services

• LUMBERJACK Group III Unmanned Aircraft System A Group III unmanned aircraft system designed as a multi-strike launched-effect vehicle that can be launched from ground systems or air vehicles to deliver enhanced lethality to multiple locations. Features autonomous target sensing, signature-managed survivability, two-soldier transportability, and modular payload capabilities for contested environments. Targeted at U.S. DoD and defense prime contractors.
• VESA Counter UAS A VTOL electric small aircraft designed for advanced air defense against small UAS and loitering munitions. Features a top speed of 120 mph, vertical takeoff, onboard object detection and tracking, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication for swarm deployment. Targeted at defense and military customers requiring counter-UAS capability.
• FAST-ISR UAS Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) variant of the FAST platform featuring a FLIR Hadron 640R EO/IR camera on a 2-axis gimbal. Supports autonomous ISR techniques including object following, loitering, and surveying with modular payload capabilities. Targeted at defense and government ISR customers.
• FAST Utility Swarm UAS Field Adaptable Swarming Technology (FAST) — a rapidly deployable utility swarm UAS enabling fleets of vehicles operated by a single ground station for payload delivery beyond 3 miles, with a modular payload interface. Targeted at defense and government customers.
• EDS Series Electric Motor Dynamometers Electric motor dynamometer systems (EDS-200, EDS-300) designed for characterization and certification of high-powered electric drivetrains, supporting hybrid and electric aircraft certification with regenerative power capabilities. Targeted at aerospace manufacturers and testing facilities.
• IE-SOAR Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Systems Lightweight hydrogen fuel cell power systems ranging from 800W to 24kW for aerial applications. ESAero serves as US distributor and integrator, offering direct battery replacement and modular parallel configuration for extended flight times. Targeted at UAS and electric aircraft developers.
• Aerospace Engineering Services Engineering design, analysis, testing, validation, and design-for-manufacturing services provided to government and private aerospace customers including NASA, DoD agencies, and commercial entities. Covers aircraft modifications, conceptual air vehicle designs, electric/hybrid propulsion development, and prototyping.
• AS9100-Certified Manufacturing Services AS9100-certified manufacturing services ranging from prototyping and low-rate initial production to high-rate serial manufacturing for UAS and electrified aircraft propulsion systems, including additive manufacturing, composite manufacturing, 3D scanning, CNC machining, wire harness manufacturing, battery pack manufacturing, and electrical assemblies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lumberjack progressed from concept to first flight in under 14 months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Development partnership for Lumberjack autonomous UAS. ESAero developed the Lumberjack aircraft in partnership with Northrop Grumman and Palantir Technologies. The system progressed from concept to first flight in under 14 months and was demonstrated during U.S. Army's Operation Lethal Eagle with the 101st Airborne Division.
• AeroVironmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026AeroVironment acquired ESAero for approximately $200 million in March 2026. ESAero became part of AeroVironment's Precision Strike and Defense Systems group under the Loitering Munition Systems business unit. Deal expected to be accretive to adjusted EBITDA within first year.
• Red CatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025Manufacturing partnership to support production of Red Cat's Teal Black Widow drone. ESAero leverages its manufacturing capabilities to support Red Cat's production needs for this small military UAS.
• Red CatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Development partnership announced between ESAero and Red Cat for the Teal 2 drone platform, which has since evolved into a manufacturing partnership.
• Intelligent EnergycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerUSA distributor agreement for Intelligent Energy's IE-SOAR hydrogen fuel cell product line (800W to 24kW). ESAero serves as authorized distributor and integrator for these fuel cell systems, offering them as a power solution for aerial applications and providing integration and support services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anduril Industries: Defense-tech prime building autonomous UAS (Bolt, Roadrunner) and AI-enabled strike systems, directly competing with ESAero's Lumberjack in the Group III launched-effects category and with VESA in counter-UAS.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Tactical UAS and target drone manufacturer (XQ-58 Valkyrie, MQM-178 Firejet) with comparable DoD customer base and Group III/IV platform development that overlaps ESAero's Lumberjack and swarm UAS portfolio.
• Shield AI: Defense UAS company (V-BAT, Hivemind autonomy) competing head-to-head with ESAero in DoD autonomous-aircraft programs and pursuing swarming/autonomy contracts that overlap FAST.
• Red Cat Holdings: Small tactical UAS supplier (Teal 2, Black Widow) and an ESAero contract-manufacturing partner; comparable because both target the US Army small-UAS procurement with similar attritable platform positioning.

Broad incumbents

• L3Harris Technologies: Large defense prime with UAS, avionics, and integrated mission systems portfolios that overlap with ESAero's propulsion/avionics integration work and the same DoD customer set.
• AeroVironment: Parent company since March 2026 and the dominant US tactical UAS / loitering munition house (Switchblade, Puma, Raven). Directly comparable because AeroVironment's Loitering Munition Systems unit now houses ESAero's Lumberjack and VESA products.
• Northrop Grumman: Tier-1 defense prime and ESAero's co-development partner on Lumberjack; comparable because it integrates autonomous UAS (MQ-4C, Fire Scout) alongside payloads and AI — the same role NG plays for ESAero's products.

Emerging players

• ZeroAvia: Hydrogen-electric aviation propulsion developer; a peer to ESAero's hydrogen fuel cell (IE-SOAR) integration business and the broader turbo-electric distributed propulsion (TeDP) thesis.
• Joby Aviation: eVTOL/air mobility developer that intersects ESAero's Electrified Rotor Head (ERH) and distributed electric propulsion expertise; comparable technology base and overlapping AAM/certifiable electric propulsion ambitions.
• Performance Drone Works: Emerging tactical UAS company focused on quadcopter platforms for defense and public safety; overlaps with ESAero's VESA counter-UAS and small Group I/II UAS work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ESAeroUS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empirical-systems-aerospace-inc-

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Empirical Systems Aerospace