Red Cat’s Blue Ops Expands Maritime Defense Operations Through Strategic Partnership with Florida Atlantic University
Harbor Branch adds maritime testing access to a footprint that includes a 155,000-square-foot manufacturing operation in Valdosta, Georgia.
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Rhea-AI Summary
Red Cat Holdings (RCAT) has established a partnership with Florida Atlantic University to expand its Blue Ops division’s maritime defense operations. The partnership gives Blue Ops access to FAU’s 144-acre Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, Florida, including direct ocean access, waterfront infrastructure, specialized equipment and marine engineering expertise.
Red Cat expects the site to support development, integration, testing and demonstrations of uncrewed maritime systems under real-world conditions.
Key Figures
- FAU Harbor Branch facility
- 144 acres
- Secure deep-water facility available to Blue Ops
Previous Partnership Reports
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Planned integration of autonomy software across Blue Ops vessels and operational fleets for testing and demonstrations.
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Partnership targeted expanded Blue Ops manufacturing capacity and production of 5-meter and 7-meter USVs.
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FAU Harbor Branch adds deep-water access and maritime testing capabilities to Blue Ops’ growing U.S. footprint supporting the development and production of autonomous systems for U.S. and allied forces
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 01, 2026 (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, announced that its Blue Ops maritime division has established a strategic partnership with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) that will expand Blue Ops’ maritime defense operations to FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, Florida.
The partnership gives Blue Ops access to FAU Harbor Branch’s secure, 144-acre deep-water facility, including direct ocean access, waterfront infrastructure, specialized equipment and marine engineering and research expertise. The environment will allow Blue Ops to develop, integrate, test, and demonstrate uncrewed maritime systems under real-world conditions, accelerating the feedback between engineering, on-water evaluation and continued platform development.
The expansion comes as Blue Ops builds the U.S. infrastructure, technology and talent needed to support a resurgence in American maritime innovation and meet growing demand for autonomous systems. Harbor Branch adds a real-world maritime development and testing environment to an established Blue Ops footprint that includes its headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, and its 155,000-square-foot manufacturing operation in Valdosta, Georgia. Together, these capabilities support Blue Ops’ ability to develop, test, demonstrate, manufacture and scale autonomous maritime systems for U.S. and allied defense customers.
“Blue Ops has an opportunity to lead a new era of U.S. maritime innovation by combining our shipbuilding heritage with the best technologies being developed today in autonomy, AI, communications and advanced manufacturing,” said Barry Hinckley, president of Blue Ops. “Harbor Branch gives our team an environment where we can put systems on the water, integrate new capabilities and test them under the real-world conditions they were built for. Combined with our headquarters in West Palm Beach and growing manufacturing capacity in Valdosta, we are building the capabilities needed to move faster from innovation to operational systems in the hands of the warfighter.”
Blue Ops develops and manufactures a growing family of mission-adaptable USVs designed for U.S. and allied defense missions. Its growing family of USVs is built around Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) principles, allowing payloads, sensors, communications, autonomy and mission systems to be integrated based on evolving operational requirements. The platform is designed to support missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; force protection; harbor and coastal security; contested logistics; and other payload-adaptable operations.
“Harbor Branch was built for the kind of real-world research, testing and collaboration this partnership will enable,” said Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., interim executive director of FAU Harbor Branch. “Working with Blue Ops gives our researchers, engineers and students the opportunity to contribute to the development of autonomous maritime technologies with important national defense applications, while giving Blue Ops access to the expertise, facilities and maritime environment needed to advance these systems.”
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 integrated portfolio of trusted U.S. and allied hardware and software offerings, Red Cat supports military, government, and public safety operations across air, land, sea and space. Its systems span small unmanned aircraft systems, uncrewed surface vessels, wireless power transfer technology, and autonomous swarming software to enhance situational awareness, operational effectiveness, and mission safety. 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.
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. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Red Cat's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Red Cat undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
Investor Contact:
Ankit Hira
Solebury Strategic Communications for Red Cat Holdings, Inc.
E-mail: RCAT@soleburystrat.com
Media Contact:
Peter Moran
Indicate Media
Phone: (347) 880-2895
Email: peter@indicatemedia.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e41e39a7-95ea-4fd5-9135-8963369fa9ec
