BAE Systems Buys Malloy Aeronautics

BAE Systems announced today it has acquired British drone company Malloy Aeronautics.

Malloy Aeronautics designs and supplies all-electric uncrewed aerial systems to both civil and military customers, according to a BAE statement. Its range of uncrewed, heavy lift quadcopters are capable of lifting payloads from 68kg to 300kg over short- to medium-range missions.

Malloy’s approximately 80-strong workforce will continue to operate from its site in Berkshire in the U.K., supporting its existing customers. BAE Systems and Malloy, who have been working together on UAS solutions since 2021, "will further develop Malloy’s existing portfolio and accelerate new and novel technologies to customers worldwide," the statement reads.

Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

"Our acquisition of Malloy Aeronautics is part of our ongoing strategy to develop and invest in breakthrough technologies which augment our existing capabilities and provide our customers with the innovation they need in response to evolving requirements," Simon Barnes, group managing director of BAE Systems' Air sector, said in the statement. "We're confident that the synergy between our two companies will pave the way for even greater achievements in uncrewed aerial systems and technologies.”

Engineers from the two companies have been developing the 300kg T-650 all-electric "heavy lift" UAS as a potential new solution for military, security and civilian customers.

Last year, the companies announced the successful demonstration of the carriage and release of a 200kg inert Sting Ray Training Variant Torpedo using the T-600 demonstrator aircraft during a NATO exercise called Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Uncrewed Systems (REPMUS).

Malloy Aeronautics will be part of FalconWorks, the research and development business within BAE Systems’ Air sector.