Red Cat Partners with ESAero to Support Manufacturing for Teal’s Black Widow™
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) has announced a strategic partnership with ESAero to enhance manufacturing capacity for its Black Widow small unmanned aerial system (sUAS). ESAero will provide AS9100-certified manufacturing facilities and engineering services to support the production of Black Widow, which was selected for the U.S. Army's Short-Range Reconnaissance Program of Record contract.
The collaboration leverages ESAero's multiple AS9100-certified manufacturing facilities in San Luis Obispo, CA, along with their vertically integrated capabilities and robust supply chain. This partnership aims to scale production and ensure continuous improvement in manufacturing Black Widow drones, which are designed for short-range reconnaissance missions providing military operators with improved situational awareness and autonomous capabilities.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) ha annunciato una partnership strategica con ESAero per aumentare la capacità produttiva del suo Black Widow, un piccolo sistema aereo senza pilota (sUAS). ESAero fornirà strutture di produzione certificate AS9100 e servizi di ingegneria per supportare la produzione del Black Widow, selezionato per il contratto del Programma di Ricognizione a Breve Raggio dell'Esercito degli Stati Uniti.
La collaborazione sfrutta le molteplici strutture di produzione certificate AS9100 di ESAero a San Luis Obispo, CA, insieme alle loro capacità integrate verticalmente e a una solida catena di approvvigionamento. Questa partnership mira a incrementare la produzione e garantire un miglioramento continuo nella realizzazione dei droni Black Widow, progettati per missioni di ricognizione a breve raggio, offrendo agli operatori militari una migliore consapevolezza situazionale e capacità autonome.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) ha anunciado una alianza estratégica con ESAero para aumentar la capacidad de fabricación de su Black Widow, un pequeño sistema aéreo no tripulado (sUAS). ESAero proporcionará instalaciones de fabricación certificadas AS9100 y servicios de ingeniería para apoyar la producción del Black Widow, que fue seleccionado para el contrato del Programa de Reconocimiento de Corto Alcance del Ejército de los Estados Unidos.
La colaboración aprovecha las múltiples instalaciones de fabricación certificadas AS9100 de ESAero en San Luis Obispo, CA, junto con sus capacidades integradas verticalmente y una cadena de suministro robusta. Esta asociación tiene como objetivo escalar la producción y asegurar una mejora continua en la fabricación de los drones Black Widow, diseñados para misiones de reconocimiento de corto alcance que brindan a los operadores militares una mejor conciencia situacional y capacidades autónomas.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT)는 Black Widow 소형 무인항공시스템(sUAS)의 제조 능력 강화를 위해 ESAero와 전략적 파트너십을 발표했습니다. ESAero는 미 국방부 단거리 정찰 프로그램 계약에 선정된 Black Widow 생산을 지원하기 위해 AS9100 인증 제조 시설과 엔지니어링 서비스를 제공합니다.
이번 협력은 캘리포니아 산루이스오비스포에 위치한 ESAero의 여러 AS9100 인증 제조 시설과 수직 통합 역량 및 강력한 공급망을 활용합니다. 이 파트너십은 단거리 정찰 임무용으로 설계된 Black Widow 드론의 생산을 확대하고 지속적인 제조 개선을 보장하여 군사 운영자에게 향상된 상황 인식 및 자율 기능을 제공합니다.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ : RCAT) a annoncé un partenariat stratégique avec ESAero afin d'accroître la capacité de fabrication de son système aérien sans pilote léger Black Widow (sUAS). ESAero fournira des installations de fabrication certifiées AS9100 ainsi que des services d'ingénierie pour soutenir la production du Black Widow, sélectionné dans le cadre du contrat du programme de reconnaissance à courte portée de l'armée américaine.
Cette collaboration s'appuie sur les multiples installations de fabrication certifiées AS9100 d'ESAero à San Luis Obispo, en Californie, ainsi que sur leurs capacités intégrées verticalement et leur chaîne d'approvisionnement robuste. Ce partenariat vise à augmenter la production et à garantir une amélioration continue dans la fabrication des drones Black Widow, conçus pour des missions de reconnaissance à courte portée offrant aux opérateurs militaires une meilleure conscience situationnelle et des capacités autonomes.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) hat eine strategische Partnerschaft mit ESAero angekündigt, um die Fertigungskapazitäten für sein Black Widow kleines unbemanntes Luftfahrtsystem (sUAS) zu erweitern. ESAero wird AS9100-zertifizierte Fertigungseinrichtungen und Ingenieurdienstleistungen bereitstellen, um die Produktion des Black Widow zu unterstützen, der für den Short-Range Reconnaissance Program of Record Vertrag der US-Armee ausgewählt wurde.
Die Zusammenarbeit nutzt ESAeros mehrere AS9100-zertifizierte Fertigungsanlagen in San Luis Obispo, Kalifornien, sowie deren vertikal integrierte Fähigkeiten und robuste Lieferkette. Diese Partnerschaft zielt darauf ab, die Produktion zu skalieren und eine kontinuierliche Verbesserung bei der Herstellung der Black Widow-Drohnen sicherzustellen, die für Kurzstreckenaufklärungsmissionen konzipiert sind und militärischen Bedienern verbesserte Situationsbewusstheit und autonome Fähigkeiten bieten.
- Partnership secures AS9100-certified manufacturing capacity, meeting aerospace industry quality standards
- Black Widow was selected for U.S. Army's Short-Range Reconnaissance Program of Record contract
- ESAero's vertically integrated facilities and supply chain enhance production capabilities
- Partnership strengthens Made-in-America manufacturing capabilities for military contracts
- None.
Insights
Red Cat's partnership with ESAero provides critical AS9100 aerospace-certified manufacturing capacity to scale Black Widow drone production for military contracts.
This manufacturing partnership represents a significant operational advancement for Red Cat Holdings. The deal secures AS9100-certified production capacity - a rigorous aerospace quality standard that's often a prerequisite for defense contracts. This addresses what's typically a major hurdle for smaller defense technology companies when transitioning from development to full-scale production.
The Black Widow drone's selection for the U.S. Army's Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record creates substantial production demands that would challenge Red Cat's existing manufacturing infrastructure. ESAero's facilities in San Luis Obispo provide the necessary capacity expansion without requiring capital-intensive facility investments from Red Cat, effectively accelerating their ability to fulfill military contracts.
What's particularly noteworthy is the vertical integration of ESAero's facilities and their robust supply chain. In the current defense manufacturing environment, supply chain resilience is nearly as critical as the technology itself. The
The emphasis on "Made-in-America" production aligns perfectly with current defense procurement priorities and the Pentagon's focus on strengthening domestic supply chains for critical technologies. Their existing 18-month relationship suggests this isn't an untested partnership but rather the formalization and expansion of proven collaboration.
For Red Cat, this partnership solves the classic scaling dilemma faced by defense technology companies: how to rapidly expand production when contracts materialize without overextending on fixed manufacturing assets that might be underutilized between major programs.
ESAero will provide AS9100 manufacturing capacity and engineering services to support production of the Black Widow sUAS
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) ("Red Cat"), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, today announced a partnership with ESAero to provide critical AS9100 manufacturing capacity for the Black Widow sUAS and its subsystems. The AS9100 standard ensures a manufacturer has a quality management system in place to meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry.
Teal Drones is a wholly owned subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings. The company’s Black Widow drone is a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) designed for short-range reconnaissance (SRR) missions. The system, which was down selected for the U.S. Army’s SRR Program of Record contract, provides military operators with improved situational awareness, autonomous capabilities, and rugged performance in contested environments.
“As we ramp up production of the Black Widow to fulfill our SRR contracts and meet growing demand from U.S. and international customers, securing high-quality, aerospace-certified manufacturing capacity is critical,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO. “ESAero’s facilities, combined with their deep engineering expertise, make them an ideal partner for Red Cat. This collaboration supports our ability to scale manufacturing, focus on continuous improvement, and deliver mission-ready sUAS platforms to the warfighters that depend on them.”
ESAero is committed to supporting Red Cat’s mission of delivering high-quality Made-in-America sUAS to its customers and the warfighter. With multiple AS9100-certified manufacturing facilities located in San Luis Obispo, CA, ESAero is well-positioned to enhance the production throughput of Teal’s technologies for key customers. ESAero’s vertically integrated facilities and robust supply chain are perfectly suited to bolster the production of components and subsystems for Black Widow in a schedule-driven manner.
“We have had a great relationship with Red Cat over the past year and a half supporting various developments, including the Teal 2 and Black Widow,” said Andrew Gibson, President, CEO, and Co-Founder of ESAero. “During this time, we have made significant investments in our manufacturing capability for producing Group I – III UAS at scale, which we are thrilled to now provide to Red Cat and Teal. We believe this partnership will effectively and efficiently provide Teal the capacity they need to meet the production needs of their customers and the warfighter.”
Red Cat and ESAero recognize the importance of strong partnerships within America’s industrial base to meet the critical production needs of the warfighter. By combining Teal’s core technology with ESAero’s proven ability to scale production of advanced systems, Black Widow will be well positioned to be deployed rapidly and reliably.
About Red Cat Holdings, Inc.
Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations. Through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, Red Cat has developed a leading-edge Family of Systems. This includes the flagship Black Widow™, a small unmanned ISR system that was awarded the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record contract. The Family of Systems also includes TRICHON™, a fixed wing VTOL for extended endurance and range, and FANG™, the industry's first line of NDAA compliant FPV drones optimized for military operations with precision strike capabilities. Learn more at www.redcat.red.
About Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero)
ESAero produces Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and advanced aerospace technologies for commercial and military applications. An established leader in the field, ESAero has been demonstrating for decades its core competencies in the design and manufacturing of innovative, reliable, and scalable aircraft systems including power and battery management systems. Based in San Luis Obispo, California, ESAero provides vertically integrated AS9100 certified services in R&D, engineering, design for manufacturing, rapid prototyping, testing, and serialized production expanding in the thousands. With over 130,000 sq.ft., ESAero has the capacity, capability, and facilities to scale and accelerate manufacturing to support its partners and customers.
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. 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-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2023. 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.
Contact:
INVESTORS:
E-mail: Investors@redcat.red
NEWS MEDIA:
Phone: (347) 880-2895
Email: peter@indicatemedia.com
FAQ
What is the partnership between Red Cat Holdings (RCAT) and ESAero?
What is the Black Widow drone by Red Cat (RCAT)?
Why did Red Cat (RCAT) choose ESAero as a manufacturing partner?
What military contract did Red Cat's (RCAT) Black Widow drone win?
Where are ESAero's manufacturing facilities for Red Cat's (RCAT) Black Widow located?
