Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Airo has announced plans to open a new U.S. manufacturing and engineering development center for its drones division. The aerospace and defense group announced on July 14 that the new facility will be used to produce the RQ-35 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform that is already manufactured in Denmark by its European subsidiary, Sky-Watch.
This facility is part of wider expansion plans at the company, which in June raised $69 million through a long-planned Nasdaq initial public offering. Airo is also focused on growing its involvement in military training and avionics, as well as seeking to enter the emerging advanced air mobility sector with its Jaunt eVTOL subsidiary. Airo has not yet said where the new production site will be or when it will open.
According to the group’s executive chairman and co-founder, Chirinjeev Kathuria, Airo aims to take a growing share of increased government investment in military technology on both sides of the Atlantic. In his view, rising defense spending by NATO member states will expand the addressable markets for both support services and uncrewed platforms. At the same time, he feels Airo can capitalize on directives from the Trump Administration to boost U.S.-based capability and production.
In response to various Pentagon IDIQ (indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity) contracts, Airo’s Training division, consisting of its Agile Defense and Coastal Defense subsidiaries, is looking to increase its fleet of fighter aircraft with additions that could include the Czech-built L-39 jet trainer. The group’s CEO, Joe Burns, told AIN he is also looking to acquire a Part 141 flight training school in the U.S. to expand its bandwidth to meet U.S. Air Force training needs.
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-img">
<img alt="The Airo group trains military aircraft pilots" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4a15f6fe-07a5-4b16-b1fa-eab1a5651937" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/AIRO_Training_Cockpit1_0.png" width="1625" height="908" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>The Airo group trains military pilots in light fighter jets.</figcaption>
</figure>

In June, the company concluded a 90-day training support mission for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. This involved deploying several fighters and modified Cessna twin-engine aircraft for close air support exercises in California, Idaho, and Nevada.
<h2>Jaunt Prioritizes Cargo eVTOL</h2>
Montreal-based <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-06-23/jaunt-prepares-evtol-aircraft-manufacturing-quebec-naming-supply-chain">Jaunt Air Mobility</a> has shifted focus to prioritize the development of its rotorcraft eVTOL vehicle as an uncrewed cargo platform. It is still working on the four-passenger Journey version of its slow rotor compound rotorcraft design, but feels the air taxi use case is not yet sufficiently established.
According to Airo, the cargo eVTOL will be a one-third-scale version of the Journey and could achieve certification under “drone rules” in 2027. It now expects the Journey itself to be ready to complete certification in Canada under existing CAR 529 rules for helicopters in 2031, based on experience gathered from more than 300 piloted flight test hours logged on several demonstrator aircraft.
Burns said that some of the fresh capital raised through <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1927958/000164117225015147/form424b4.htm">the IPO </a>will be made available for product development by Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Aspen Avionics. It is looking to add new sensors, autopilot technology, and large-format displays to its portfolio, in part through possible acquisitions.
With the exception of its electric air mobility division (Jaunt), Airo’s three other business units are now generating revenues that totaled $88 million in 2024. Sky-Watch accounted for $75 million, followed by Aspen Avionics with $9 million and the Training division with $4 million.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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