AIRO Unveils Full-Scale Next-Generation Dual-Use Aircraft Platform at XPONENTIAL 2026
Showcasing a next-generation VTOL aircraft platform designed for defense, cargo logistics, and long-endurance ISR missions.
AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AIRO), a next-generation aerospace and defense company, together with its brand Jaunt Air Mobility, today announced the public unveiling of its full-scale autonomous aircraft at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 – a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform designed for defense and government missions, with dual-use capability for cargo logistics and remote operations.
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AIRO JC/JX250 Multi-Role UAV
The aircraft represents a major milestone in the development of AIRO's heavy-lift, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, designed to address critical needs across commercial logistics, defense, and government operations.
"This unveiling marks an important step as we move from concept to a tangible platform," said Joe Burns, AIRO CEO. "The aircraft is designed to deliver reliable, scalable capability in environments where traditional aviation solutions are limited or unavailable."
The program is currently advancing through the detailed design and engineering phase, with the team reporting strong progress across key subsystems. Development activities are tracking ahead of expectations, with the program currently running below projected R&D cost targets, reflecting disciplined execution and efficient integration across partners.
Based on current development progress, AIRO expects the aircraft to enter commercialization and operational deployment beginning in 2027, consistent with previously communicated program timelines.
"We are advancing the aircraft through design and development, enabled by an accelerated approach that integrates digital engineering and early system validation," said Martin Peryea, AIRO SVP & GM Electric Air Mobility. "We remain on track for first flight by the end of this year."
The unveiling at XPONENTIAL provides customers, partners, and industry stakeholders with the first opportunity to experience the aircraft configuration, offering a tangible view of its size, capabilities, and operational concept.
"This unveiling highlights the aircraft's core capabilities—from its slowed rotor architecture to its combination of vertical lift and efficient forward flight and the flexibility enabled through modular payload configurations," said Dr. Simon Briceno, AIRO VP Business Strategy. "These are the elements that we expect to drive real value across both government and commercial applications."
Based on continued design optimization and mission analysis, the platform is now projected to achieve over 1,000 miles of range and 16 hours of endurance in the ISR configuration, significantly expanding its operational reach for long-endurance missions.
A Platform for Defense and Dual-Use Mission Needs
The aircraft is designed around a common architecture optimized for defense and government missions, where range, endurance, payload capacity, and operational flexibility are critical.
The platform includes two mission configurations:
- JC250 (Cargo): Optimized for middle-mile logistics, remote resupply, and humanitarian operations
- JX250 (ISR): Configured for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions for defense and government customers
The platform is engineered for operations in austere and infrastructure-limited environments.
Designed for Real-World Operations
The aircraft highlights several defining features of the platform, including:
- Detachable cargo pod system for rapid loading and unloading
- Hybrid-electric propulsion architecture for extended range and operational flexibility
- Vertical takeoff and landing capability enabling access to remote or constrained areas
- Modular design supporting mission adaptability across defense and commercial applications
About AIRO
AIRO Group Holdings is a next-generation aerospace and defense platform driving innovation across defense and commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, VA, with operations in the U.S., Canada, and Denmark, AIRO combines a global reach with deep technical expertise.
Through an integrated model, AIRO delivers mission-critical solutions centered on its drone platforms, leveraging advanced avionics, integrated training capabilities, and embedded autonomy across systems.
About Jaunt Air Mobility
Jaunt Air Mobility is a core business segment of AIRO, focused on the development of next-generation vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for defense and dual-use applications.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "designed to," "projects," or "anticipates," or similar expressions which concern our strategy, plans, projections or intentions.
These forward-looking statements may be included throughout this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements relating to development, production, and anticipated performance of AIRO's dual-use aircraft platform, development costs and financial projections, the demand for, market acceptance of and opportunity of AIRO's products and services, and other statements that are not historical fact.
By their nature, forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact or guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify, including those described in the section titled "Risk Factors" in AIRO's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 31, 2026 as well as other filings AIRO may make with the SEC in the future. Forward-looking statements represent AIRO's management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date such statements are made. AIRO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
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Media Contact
Dan Johnson
AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.
media@theairogroup.com
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AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.
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