- AIRO Group completed the first RQ-35 ISR drones manufactured to full operational standard at its Phoenix, Arizona facility.
- The U.S.-built systems completed Phase 1 manufacturing, validation, and flight testing, with final flights conducted on December 11.
AIRO Group Holdings said it has completed the first RQ-35 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drones produced to full operational standard at its U.S. manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
According to a press release from AIRO, the newly completed aircraft are the first RQ-35 systems manufactured in the United States and represent the initial output of the company’s Made-in-America expansion effort. The systems were built to the same specifications as RQ-35 drones produced at AIRO’s facility in Denmark.
The company said the aircraft completed Phase 1 of the U.S. manufacturing and validation program, which included full system assembly and integration of all major components. Following assembly, the drones underwent a comprehensive flight-test campaign that concluded with successful final flights on December 11.
In a statement, AIRO Chief Executive Officer Joe Burns said the completion of the first U.S.-built systems reflects coordinated work across the company’s international teams.
“Completing the first U.S.-built RQ-35 systems is a significant milestone for AIRO and a testament to the skill and dedication of our Phoenix and Denmark teams,” Burns said. “Their seamless collaboration, rigorous training, and execution will enable us to deliver combat-proven ISR systems from U.S. soil. This achievement reflects our commitment to our customers, our partners, and our promise to expand reliable, mission-ready drone production in the United States.”
John Uczekaj, president and chief operating officer of AIRO, emphasized the role of cooperation between U.S. and Danish personnel in standing up the Phoenix production line.
“I’m extremely proud of both our U.S. Drone team and the Sky-Watch team in Denmark,” Uczekaj said. “Their close collaboration and the hands-on support from Sky-Watch leadership have been instrumental in standing up our U.S. manufacturing capability. Their combined expertise has accelerated our path to producing reliable, operationally proven RQ-35 systems in Phoenix.”
Sky-Watch, which has been involved in the RQ-35 program, also highlighted the effort to align U.S. production with existing standards. In a statement, Sky-Watch Chief Executive Officer Martin Schousboe said the focus has been on consistency and discipline across engineering, production, and testing.
“Our focus has been on ensuring the Phoenix team is aligned with the engineering, production, and testing standards that define the RQ-35,” Schousboe said. “We are committed to providing the technical and operational expertise needed to establish a consistent and reliable U.S. production line. The combined efforts of our Danish and U.S. teams reflect a strong, disciplined partnership that we are proud of.”
AIRO describes the RQ-35 as an ISR and targeting drone optimized for operations in GPS-denied, jamming-intense, and electronic warfare-rich environments. The company says the system is designed to deliver persistent intelligence with minimal operator workload and to operate reliably in both extreme cold and extreme heat.
The RQ-35 platform features resilient communications, optimized payload options, and an airframe designed for durability. According to the company, the aircraft has accumulated a record of operational use across multiple theaters, where it has been employed as a force-multiplying ISR asset.
AIRO said the start of U.S. production also advances the RQ-35 within the Department of War’s Blue UAS certification process. Completion of this step is intended to support more efficient procurement and deployment pathways for U.S. government users.
The company added that the milestone strengthens its broader drone portfolio, which includes the RQ-35, the Nord Drone strategic joint venture, and ongoing work under the Bullet joint venture. AIRO said its business teams are actively pursuing opportunities with U.S. and allied government customers.
Chirinjeev Kathuria, executive chairman of AIRO, said the delivery of U.S.-built systems met a stated company goal.
“Today’s accomplishment is about keeping our promises—to our employees, our investors, and our clients,” Kathuria said. “We set a clear goal to deliver the first complete RQ-35 systems from our U.S. facility before the end of 2025, and we have done exactly that. This is only the beginning of what AIRO will achieve as we scale U.S. production.”