Red Cat Announces Partnership to Enable FANG™ FPV Drone Deployment from AV’s P550™ UAS

Rhea-AI Summary

Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) announced an engineering roadmap with AeroVironment (Nasdaq: AVAV) on Oct 14, 2025 to enable Red Cat’s FANG™ FPV drone to be carried and released from AV’s P550™ Group 2 eVTOL UAS using a marsupial payload configuration.

The P550 offers a 15-pound payload capacity and five-hour endurance, and the concept leverages a MOSA modular interface to combine long-endurance Group 2 reach with short-range FPV ISR within one mission. Teams are working on engineering, interface, and control requirements ahead of future demonstrations for U.S. and allied defense use.

Positive

• P550 offers 15-pound payload capacity
• P550 provides five-hour endurance
• Demonstrates Group 2–FPV interoperability for multi-echelon missions
• MOSA modular interface supports scalable payload integration

Negative

• None.

Insights

Systems Integration Analyst

Partnership to integrate Red Cat's FANG FPV as a deployable payload from AV's P550 enhances multi-echelon ISR options for defense users.

Red Cat and AeroVironment are developing a marsupial configuration to carry and release the FANG FPV from the P550 using the P550's Modular Open Systems Approach. The P550 offers a 15-pound payload capacity and five-hour endurance while FANG is an NDAA-compliant FPV ISR platform; teams are working on engineering, interface, and control requirements ahead of future demonstrations.

Key dependencies and risks include successful mechanical and command-and-control integration, safety and release testing, and demonstration outcomes; regulatory or operational constraints could limit fielding. The most concrete near-term items to watch are completion of design compatibility milestones and the announced demonstrations, which will show whether the concept achieves reliable deployment and control within a single mission framework.

Partnership explores new payload deployment capability combining long- and short-range reconnaissance within one mission framework

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat” or the “Company”), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, today announced a development roadmap with AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) to enable Red Cat’s FANG™ FPV drones to be deployed as a payload from AV’s P550™ all-electric Group 2 eVTOL UAS.

Red Cat is actively working with AV to develop a marsupial configuration that enables the P550 to carry and release FANG from its modular CLIK interface. Leveraging the P550’s Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture, the concept demonstrates how interoperable unmanned systems can work together to deploy a smaller FPV drone from a long-endurance Group 2 platform to extend reach and tactical flexibility within a single mission framework.

“This collaboration reflects how U.S. companies can come together to advance modular, interoperable technologies that strengthen operational capability,” said Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat. “By exploring how FANG can be deployed from the P550, we’re showing what’s possible when small, agile systems are paired with long-endurance platforms to create greater reach, responsiveness, and mission versatility.”

“The P550 was engineered with open-architecture flexibility at its core,” said Jason Hendrix, Vice President & General Manager of sUAS at AV. “Our collaboration with Red Cat underscores that design philosophy and the integration of payloads like FANG broaden operational reach and create new mission possibilities for the warfighter. Together, we’re demonstrating how adaptable Group 2 systems can integrate with sUAS to support the Army’s vision for scalable, multi-echelon operations.”

A Development Roadmap for Modular, Multi-Echelon Operations

AV’s P550 is an autonomous, all-electric Group 2 eVTOL UAS featuring a 15-pound modular payload capacity, five-hour endurance, and advanced AI-enabled autonomy.

Red Cat’s FANG™ FPV drone, part of its Arachnid Family of Systems, is an NDAA-compliant FPV platform built for ISR and tactical applications. When deployed from a P550 in a marsupial configuration, FANG can provide close-in situational awareness beyond visual line of sight, enhance operator decision-making and, in future iterations, support additional payload configurations.

Red Cat and AV are collaborating on the engineering, interface, and control requirements needed to enable this payload deployment concept. The teams are conducting design and compatibility work ahead of future demonstrations to showcase how modular systems can expand mission flexibility for U.S. and allied defense forces.

This forward-looking collaboration aims to:

• Demonstrate interoperability between Group 2 and FPV-class systems
• Extend FPV operational range through aerial deployment
• Combine long- and short-range ISR capabilities within one mission
• Showcase modular, MOSA-aligned pathways for the Army’s evolving sUAS ecosystem
  
  

About Red Cat Holdings, Inc.
Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, Red Cat develops American-made hardware and software that support military, government, and public safety operations across air, land, and sea. Its Family of Systems, led by Black Widow™, delivers unmatched tactical capabilities in small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). Expanding into the maritime domain through Blue Ops, Inc., Red Cat is also innovating in uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), delivering integrated platforms designed to enhance safety and multi-domain mission effectiveness. Learn more at www.redcat.red.

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will" "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our intended use of proceeds from the offering, annual revenue guidance, future manufacturing capacities and future market demand. Forward-looking statements are based on Red Cat Holdings, Inc.'s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Form 10-KT filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2025. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Media Contact:
Peter Moran
Indicate Media
peter@indicatemedia.com
(347) 880-2895

Investor Contact:
Investors@redcat.red

FAQ

What did Red Cat (RCAT) announce on October 14, 2025 regarding the FANG drone?

Red Cat announced a development roadmap with AeroVironment to enable FANG FPV drones to be deployed from the P550 Group 2 eVTOL via a marsupial payload configuration.

How does AeroVironment’s P550 specifications affect RCAT’s FANG operational range?

The P550’s 15-pound payload and five-hour endurance let FANG be carried by a long-endurance platform to extend FPV reach and mission flexibility.

Will the P550–FANG integration be NDAA compliant for defense customers?

Red Cat describes FANG as an NDAA-compliant FPV platform; the collaboration focuses on engineering and interface work to support defense use.

What investor-relevant milestones did RCAT and AV outline for the partnership?

Teams are conducting design and compatibility work ahead of future demonstrations; no commercial contracts, financial terms, or demonstration dates were disclosed.

What mission capabilities does the P550-launched FANG concept aim to combine for RCAT investors?

The concept aims to combine long-range Group 2 endurance with close-in FPV ISR in a single mission to improve reach and tactical flexibility.

How might the MOSA architecture cited in the announcement affect RCAT product integration?

MOSA-aligned design supports interoperable payloads and easier integration, potentially enabling faster integration of FANG and other modular payloads on Group 2 systems.