Redwire Company, which specializes in the development of satellites for low Earth orbit (LEO), as well as space infrastructure, announced the acquisition of drone manufacturer Edge Autonomy for 925 millions of dollars. The agreement includes 150 million dollars in cash and 775 million dollars in shares. Expected, that the merger will be completed in the second quarter 2025 year, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.
Edge Autonomy, located in California, specializes in military unmanned aircraft systems. Its technologies, including Penguin drones, already used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After the acquisition, the company will operate as a division of Redwire.
A new direction in the field of defense.
Redwire CEO Peter Cannito noted, that the deal allows the company to enter the promising market for autonomous combat systems, based on drones and artificial intelligence. Завдяки досвіду Redwire у створенні космічних супутників та інфраструктури, а також передовим технологіям дронів Edge Autonomy, планується створення інтегрованих систем управління для військових.
The company predicts, what 50% revenues of the combined structure will come from defense contracts, in particular in the USA and Europe, where Edge Autonomy is already enjoying considerable success.
Synergy of drones and satellites.
The main area of cooperation will be the integration of Edge Autonomy drones with Redwire satellites, which operate in very low orbit. This will allow the creation of autonomous networks for multi-branch military operations, covering land, sea, air, space and cyberspace.
Edge Autonomy drones are equipped with artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation and real-time data processing capabilities. Their cooperation with satellites will ensure quick decision-making and effectiveness on the battlefield.
Це злиття не лише зміцнює позиції Redwire у сфері оборонних технологій, але й дозволяє поєднати інновації в аерокосмічній галузі та автономних системах, responding to modern challenges of military strategy.
Source: https://spacenews.com/redwire-expands-into-defense-with-925-million-purchase-of-edge-autonomy/