FLIR Systems Acquires Canadian Drone Innovator Aeryon Labs

FLIR Systems, Inc. has made an announcement of having acquired Aeryon Labs Inc for $200 million. The acquisition will expands FLIR’s Unmanned Systems Solutions with Advanced Airframes, Sensors, and Flight Management Software for Government and Defense Customers.

Aeryon Labs will now be a part of the FLIR Government and Defense Business Unit’s Unmanned Systems and Integrated Solutions division. Aeryon Labs is a leading developer of high-performance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the global military, public safety, and critical infrastructure markets. Aeryon’s vertical takeoff and landing quadcopter airframes integrate multiple sensors, including FLIR thermal technology, to provide users with immediate high-resolution intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.

Aeryon Skyranger

Jim Cannon, President and CEO of FLIR Systems said, “The acquisition of Aeryon Labs reinforces our long-term strategy to move beyond providing sensors to the development of complete solutions that save lives and livelihoods.” He further added, “This acquisition, coupled with our acquisition of Prox Dynamics in 2016, greatly increases our unmanned systems solutions capabilities, expanding beyond nano-UAS into Group 1 UAS solutions for military. We intend to continue to invest and build this area of our business and broaden our capabilities as we view unmanned and autonomous solutions to be a significant opportunity for organic growth in the coming years.”

Ayeron solutions have been very popular due to their ruggedness and reliability that are field-proven. Not only can Aeryon’s SkyRanger UAS be deployed in minutes by a single operator but they are rucksack portable too. SkyRanger UAS have proved their mettle in operations with demanding environments and inclement weather, including at high altitudes, gusting winds, and rain and snow. The latest additions to the SkyRanger family of aircraft establish a new benchmark for small UAS performance and reliability. Now rapid solution development, onboard artificial intelligence, and autonomous operations by end users and third party developers will be feasible thanks to a modular and open architecture, that could create tightly integrated payloads and software systems for the SkyRanger platform.

Ringing the @aeryonlabs gong one last time! Huge deal, and excited for our next chapter! pic.twitter.com/yTteQFKkxV

— Dave Kroetsch (@davekroetsch) January 28, 2019

Dave Kroetsch, Co-founder and CTO of Aeryon Labs made a statement saying, “We’re thrilled to join the FLIR family and to have a large, growth-oriented technology company as our new home” adding that, “as drone technology and its markets evolve and customers are seeking UAS as just one component of a broader solution. While Aeryon has been evolving in that direction for the past few years; being part of FLIR Systems brings a path to include our hardware and software technologies in much bigger solutions than would have ever been possible on our own.”

Dave Kroetsch, CTO & Co-Founder, Aeryon Labs

Based in Waterloo, Canada, Aeryon Labs was founded in 2007 and has become one of the leading designer and manufacturer of mission-focused Group 1 UAS solutions built around aircraft less than 20 pounds. Aeryon’s family of UAS is deployed by 20 militaries in over 30 countries around the world, including the United States Department of Defense.

FLIR Systems founded in 1978 and headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon is a world-leading maker of sensor systems that enhance perception and heighten awareness, helping to save lives, improve productivity, and protect the environment.