Orange Aerospace
Orange Aerospace is a Netherlands-based scale-up that designs, prototypes, and manufactures custom manned and unmanned aerial vehicles for research institutes, UAV manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, and bespoke aviation clients, with full in-house engineering, composite and CNC manufacturing, and flight testing capabilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersBosschenhoofd, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Orange Aerospace does
Orange Aerospace B.V. is a Dutch private limited company headquartered at Breda International Airport in Bosschenhoofd, the Netherlands, that designs, develops, tests, and manufactures prototype and one-off manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. The firm operates as a one-stop-shop engineering and manufacturing house, with in-house capabilities spanning conceptual and structural design, aerodynamic and CFD analysis, composite and metal manufacturing, 5-axis CNC machining (including a DMU 75 Monoblock and a 10m x 5m x 2m EIMA large-format mill), autoclave curing, 3D printing, and flight operations supported by a Mobile Operations Unit deployable across Europe. Its product portfolio includes the ScalAir 1:8.5 scale Airbus A320 demonstrator, the HyFly H510 hydrogen VTOL cargo drone, the AMPYX Power AP3 tethered airborne wind energy drone, the OA60 multi-purpose UAV, the DEP-SSFD distributed electric propulsion demonstrator, the Isabelle satellite-communication research platform, a 55% scale SR-71 Blackbird replica, the Orange Jetwing jet-powered wingsuit, and integration of Sovereign Autonomous Systems autopilot stacks.
The company generates revenue through fixed-price, project-based engineering and manufacturing contracts, supplemented by professional services for flight operations and test campaigns. It serves four primary customer segments: research institutes (sub-scale flight testing and validation of novel configurations), UAV manufacturers (turnkey engineering and manufacturing partnerships), aircraft manufacturers (airframe design, prototyping, and component production), and custom-built aircraft clients (one-off manned and unmanned vehicles). Pricing is quote-based with no public tiers, and engagements are structured as multi-year projects following a documented 10-step approach from idea through product support. The firm is AS9100 certified by Lloyd's Register and positions itself as a scale-up with active hiring across production, engineering, and support functions. Customers and partners include HyFly, Ampyx Power, NLR, the European Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, ESA, DNW, Desert Aerospace, and Breda International Airport.
Orange Aerospace firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Orange Aerospace
- Legal name
- Orange Aerospace B.V.
- Website
- https://orange-aerospace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Orange Aerospace is a Netherlands-based scale-up that designs, prototypes, and manufactures custom manned and unmanned aerial vehicles for research institutes, UAV manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, and bespoke aviation clients, with full in-house engineering, composite and CNC manufacturing, and flight testing capabilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Orange Aerospace industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Aerospace Prototyping and Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Aircraft (3721), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Special-Mission Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (ISR, AEW&C, Patrol) (IMABAAAH), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO), Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)
Keywords
Where Orange Aerospace is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bosschenhoofd
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Orange Aerospace business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Custom Aircraft Design and Manufacturing: Project-based engineering and manufacturing services for custom-built aerial vehicles. Clients include research institutes, UAV manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, and private individuals. Revenue generated through fixed-price project contracts from initial design through to delivery and product support.
- Prototype and One-off Production: Design, development, testing and manufacturing of prototype and one-off manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. Pricing varies by project complexity, with a 10-step approach from idea to product support.
- Flight Operations Services: Operations support including UAV test pilots, multidisciplinary ground crew, certified UAS operators, and the Mobile Operations Unit for flight campaigns and test operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based custom engineering and manufacturing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Orange Aerospace product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Orange Aerospace designs, develops, tests and manufactures prototype and one-off manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. The company provides end-to-end custom aircraft and UAV engineering and manufacturing services, supported by in-house CNC machining, composite manufacturing, sub-scaled flight testing, and certified flight operations. Projects span research demonstrators, commercial UAV platforms, and bespoke custom-built aircraft.
Product overview
Orange Aerospace is a design, development, and manufacturing company specializing in prototype and one-off manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The company's portfolio includes custom-built aircraft (like the scaled SR-71 Blackbird and Orange Jetwing), research flight demonstrators (ScalAir, DEP-SSFD, Mini-LAB), commercial UAV products (OA60, Autonomous Flight Demonstrator), and specialized ground operations support (Mobile Operations Unit). Through partnerships, they also offer Sovereign Autonomous Systems' autopilot and flight control solutions. Their end-to-end capabilities span from conceptual design through manufacturing, testing, and product support across research institutes, UAV manufacturers, and aircraft manufacturers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mobile Operations Unit Modified Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based standalone mobile UAS operations unit for flight campaigns and test operations. Supports UAV platforms, day and night operations, and multiple connectivity options including 5G, 4G, RF datalinks, VHF, satellite, and GNSS. Designed for enterprise clients running UAV operations.
- OA60 UAV Platform Multi-purpose in-house drone platform with 60kg maximum flying weight and 60kg payload capacity. Features modular and configurable design with spacious accommodation for additional equipment, used for R&D, demonstration, and validation of techniques.
- Autonomous Flight Demonstrator 20KG MTOW test platform with autonomous flight capabilities, low wing and high fuselage configuration, electrical propulsion with fixed-pitched propeller, retractable landing gear, and flaps. Equipped with Sovereign Autonomous Systems autopilot for full autonomous operations.
- Custom Aircraft Design and Manufacturing Project-based engineering and manufacturing of custom-built aerial vehicles from initial design through delivery and product support. Follows a documented 10-step approach from idea to delivery. Serves research institutes, UAV manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, and private individuals.
- UAV Development and Manufacturing Turnkey UAV solutions including industrial inspection UAVs, sensory UAVs for large industrial sites, VTOL and fixed wing platforms, BVLOS and VLOS operations, and automated and manual deployment. Targets UAV manufacturers seeking engineering and manufacturing partnerships.
- Sub-Scaled Flight Testing Sub-scaled flight testing service that validates computer models and predicts full-scale aircraft behaviour, particularly for unconventional designs. Conducted since 2012, providing proof of concept for novel aircraft configurations and propulsion systems.
- Flight Operations and Testing Services Flight operations support including UAV test pilots, multidisciplinary ground crew, certified UAS operators, and deployment of the Mobile Operations Unit. Certified for UAV operations anywhere in Europe under European drone regulations.
- In-house Variable Pitch Propeller Proprietary in-house developed variable pitch propeller for UAVs where pitch is automatically adjusted depending on requested thrust and air speed, providing more sustainable, longer, and more silent flight than comparable weight systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- First-time-right quality achieved through documented 10-step process from idea to delivery
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Orange Aerospace
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Orange Aerospace technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Orange Aerospace partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sovereign Autonomous SystemscoreStrategic partnership providing access to over 50 years of advanced flight control systems development. Enables integration of industry-standard autopilot systems for both manned and unmanned applications with auto-coding, automated waypoint generation, sense and avoidance capabilities, and auto-tune functions.
- NLR (Netherlands Aerospace Centre)coreCollaborative research partner in Dutch aerospace projects. Partnered on ESA-subsidized Isabelle project for drone-integrated satellite communication antennas and other joint aviation research initiatives.
- European Clean Sky 2 Joint UndertakingcoreEU Horizon 2020 research programme partnership for ScalAir sub-scaled flight demonstrator project. Grant agreement No 717183. Orange Aerospace developed 1:8.5 scale Airbus A320 model to validate sub-scaled flight testing methodology.
- ESA (European Space Agency)coreSubsidizing the Isabelle research project focused on integration of embedded array antennas for satellite communication in drones. Project executed by NLR with flight operations by Orange Aerospace.
- Desert Aerospace LLCminorPartner company displayed on website, indicating collaborative relationship in the aerospace industry.
- Breda International AirportcoreHost location for Orange Aerospace headquarters. Proximity enables efficient flight testing and operations integration with airport infrastructure.
- HyFlycoreClient and development partner for Hydrogen Cargo Drone H510 project. Unique VTOL hydrogen-powered cargo drone configuration developed based on HyFly's proposal for sustainable cargo delivery.
- German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW)minorWind tunnel testing partnership for aerodynamic analysis and aircraft validation. External partner providing specialized wind tunnel facilities for aircraft testing.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Orange Aerospace competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GKN Aerospace: Global tier-1 aerospace supplier of aerostructures, engine components, and electrical wiring across commercial and defense markets. Comparable in aerospace manufacturing capability and AS9100-grade operations, but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Fokker Techniek: Dutch aerospace MRO, modification, and manufacturing services company serving commercial and defense customers. Comparable as a Netherlands-based aerospace services provider with manufacturing heritage, though focused on MRO rather than prototype development.
Emerging players
- Wingcopter: German UAV manufacturer specializing in eVTOL delivery drones for medical, logistics, and inspection applications. Comparable in European UAV delivery drone market with VTOL configurations, similar to HyFly H510's target use cases.
- Quantum Systems: German manufacturer of professional UAVs for defense, survey, and inspection markets with vertical integration from design to production. Comparable as a European mid-sized UAV company, but with more standardized product lines rather than custom prototypes.
- Destinus: European emerging player developing hydrogen-powered unmanned and manned aircraft for cargo and passenger applications. Comparable in pursuing hydrogen propulsion in custom airframes, though Destinus is earlier-stage and more vertically integrated into aircraft programs.
Direct peers
- Scaled Composites: Founded by Burt Rutan and now part of Northrop Grumman, Scaled Composites is the benchmark for one-off and prototype manned and unmanned aircraft, including SpaceShipOne and Voyager. Directly comparable in business model — custom prototype design, build, and flight test — though operating at a much larger scale.
- Pipistrel (Textron eAviation): Slovenian light and electric aircraft manufacturer (now part of Textron eAviation) producing certified and experimental fixed-wing aircraft. Comparable in custom and electric fixed-wing aircraft development, though Pipistrel focuses on certified light aircraft versus one-off prototypes.
- TEKEVER: Portuguese UAV systems company developing surveillance and commercial drones with vertical integration from airframe design to autonomy software. Comparable as a European, mid-sized UAV integrator targeting defense and commercial markets.
- Airborne International: Netherlands-based composites and engineered products company serving aerospace and defense customers with automated composite manufacturing. Directly comparable in Dutch aerospace composites manufacturing and tier-2 supplier profile.
- KVE Composites Group: Dutch composites manufacturer specializing in advanced thermoplastic and thermoset composite parts for aerospace and industrial customers. Comparable in size, geographic base (Netherlands), and aerospace composites manufacturing focus, though broader across industries.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Orange Aerospace social profiles
Digital presenceOrange Aerospace compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Orange Aerospace financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Orange Aerospace leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Orange Aerospace subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Orange Aerospace funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Orange Aerospace M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Orange Aerospace
What does Orange Aerospace do?
Orange Aerospace designs, develops, tests and manufactures prototype and one-off manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. The company provides end-to-end custom aircraft and UAV engineering and manufacturing services, supported by in-house CNC machining, composite manufacturing, sub-scaled flight testing, and certified flight operations. Projects span research demonstrators, commercial UAV platforms, and bespoke custom-built aircraft.
Is Orange Aerospace a public or private company?
Orange Aerospace is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Orange Aerospace founded?
Orange Aerospace was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Orange Aerospace based?
Orange Aerospace is headquartered in Bosschenhoofd, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Orange Aerospace make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Aircraft Design and Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are prototype and One-off Production and flight Operations Services.
Who are Orange Aerospace's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GKN Aerospace and Fokker Techniek. Emerging players are Wingcopter, Quantum Systems and Destinus. Direct peers are Scaled Composites, Pipistrel (Textron eAviation), TEKEVER, Airborne International and KVE Composites Group.
Does Orange Aerospace have an API?
No public API is recorded for Orange Aerospace.
What industry is Orange Aerospace in?
Orange Aerospace's product category is Custom Aerospace Prototyping and Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAAAJ, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMABAAAH, Special-Mission Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (ISR, AEW&C, Patrol). Its NAICS code is 336411 and its SIC code is 3721.