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Industry · Loitering munitions

AeroVironment and NIOA team to distribute and support Switchblade in Australia

NIOA's Australian Missile Corporation is an enterprise partner in Australia's effort to build a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing industry. NIOA's release names no new order.

AeroVironment has made NIOA its local partner for the Switchblade family of loitering munitions and the rest of its portfolio, covering distribution, customer engagement, support and long-term capability development. The partnership is meant to support the introduction into service, sustainment and growth of loitering munitions across Australia and New Zealand. The companies signed it at the Land Forces exposition in Perth.1

NIOA and AeroVironment announced a strategic partnership

The partnership covers the AeroVironment portfolio, including Switchblade

NIOAAeroVironment's local partner for distribution, customer engagement, support and long-term capability development
support the introduction into service, sustainment and future growthplanned
Australia and New Zealand
AeroVironmentSwitchblade family of precision loitering munitions
support the introduction into service, sustainment and future growthplanned
Australia and New Zealand

On July 8, 2024, the Australian Government announced Australian soldiers will be equipped with the Switchblade 300

The companies will explore opportunities to expand support and industrial capability in Australia

Source: NIOA release, Oct. 7, 2026; Australian Minister for Defence Industry, July 8, 2024

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

The customer is already there. Australia announced in July 2024 that its soldiers would be equipped with the Switchblade 300. Defence expected to introduce it into service in 2025.3 Ben James, NIOA's executive vice president for Australia and New Zealand, said Australia's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Plan "identified the acquisition and introduction into service of Switchblade as a key objective."1

Breaking Defense reported that Australia plans to set aside A$26 billion to A$36 billion for the GWEO effort, though the 2026 National Defence Strategy gives few details on where that money will go.4 NIOA's release names no new contract, order, quantity or value for the partnership.1

The family-owned group calls itself the largest privately owned supplier of munitions to Australian and New Zealand defence, law enforcement and commercial markets. Its Australian Missile Corporation was selected as an enterprise partner to help the government establish a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing industry.2

Industrial work is an option the companies have left open. They will "explore opportunities to expand support and industrial capability in Australia."1

One sign of business would be an Australian Defence contract naming NIOA for Switchblade support or sustainment. Any decision by the companies on industrial work in Australia would show whether the partnership reaches past distribution and support.1

Sources (4)
  1. NIOA: NIOA and AeroVironment partner up to advance Australian loitering munitions capability www.nioa.com.au
  2. NIOA: About www.nioa.com.au
  3. Australian Minister for Defence Industry: Australian Government announces acquisition of precision loitering munition (July 8, 2024) www.minister.defence.gov.au
  4. Breaking Defense: Australia's guided weapons and munitions effort makes progress, but risks remain (Oct. 6, 2026) breakingdefense.com
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Capital

AeroVironment expands revolving credit facility to $450 million

The Oct. 30 amendment adds $100 million in revolving commitments and brings in BMO Bank as a new lender.

AeroVironment expanded its revolving credit facility under an Oct. 30, 2026, amendment. Revolving commitments rose from $350 million to $450 million, with BMO Bank joining as a new lender.1

The Sixth Amendment raised aggregate revolving commitments by $100 million

On Oct. 30, 2026 AeroVironment entered a Sixth Amendment to its Credit Agreement

aggregate revolving commitments$450 million

The Sixth Amendment raised aggregate revolving commitments by $100 million, from $350 million to $450 million, and reallocated commitments among lenders including the new lender

revolving facility

The $150 million letter of credit sublimit and $10 million swingline sublimit are part of, not in addition to, the revolving facility

Source: AeroVironment Form 8-K. As of Nov. 4, 2026.

Sources
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The expansion adds $100 million in financing capacity.1 A higher letter of credit sublimit established earlier in October remains part of the revolver, and outstanding letters of credit reduce the amount available to borrow.1–2

An earlier amendment on Oct. 9, 2026, added JPMorgan Chase as a letter of credit issuer. It raised the letter of credit sublimit from $25 million to $150 million without increasing total revolving commitments.1

The Oct. 30 amendment also provided for bilateral letters of credit and certain cash-collateralized letters of credit for deposit obligations, subject to the amended agreement's terms and conditions.1

The facility still matures on Oct. 4, 2029, and its obligations remain secured by substantially all assets of AeroVironment and its guarantor subsidiaries.1

Before the amendments, AeroVironment described the revolver as available for working capital and general corporate purposes, including acquisitions that meet certain parameters.2 Its Nov. 4 filing states no amount borrowed under the amended facility or intended use of proceeds.1

Sources (2)
  1. AeroVironment Form 8-K, Nov. 4, 2026 www.sec.gov
  2. AeroVironment Form 10-Q, quarter ended Aug. 1, 2026 www.sec.gov
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Contracts · Directed energy

The U.S. Army’s Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) system represents the service’s transition of high-energy laser technology from prototype development to production.
Archive photograph · The U.S. Army’s Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) system represents the service’s transition of high-energy laser technology from prototype development to production. Darrell Ames / DVIDS Taken 2026-08-25. public-domain; reuse terms. The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.

Leonardo DRS joins AeroVironment's Army laser production program, DefenseScoop reports

DefenseScoop reports Leonardo DRS will provide integration expertise for AeroVironment's Army high-energy laser production effort, applying experience in vehicle integration, power and thermal management.

Leonardo DRS has received a subcontract from AeroVironment to support the Army's Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) production program, DefenseScoop reported Nov. 2, citing a DRS announcement.1

Leonardo DRS landed a subcontract to provide “rugged integration expertise”

Army’s Enduring-High Energy Laser production program

Leonardo DRS landed a subcontract to provide “rugged integration expertise” to support the Army’s Enduring-High Energy Laser production program, the company announced Monday.

AeroVironment$464.8 millionactual

The Army awarded AeroVironment a $464.8 million deal for its Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program

Prime contractor AeroVironment tapped DRS, per a press release

Leonardo DRS and AV did not immediately respond to questions Monday about the dollar value of the subcontract.

Reported by DefenseScoop, Sept. 2 and Nov. 2, 2026

Sources
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Aaron Hankins, vice president and general manager of DRS's land systems business, said the company is applying experience in vehicle integration, power and thermal management. The goal is to help AeroVironment deliver a mobile high-energy laser capability for the Army, he said.1

AeroVironment holds the Army's $464.8 million other transaction agreement for E-HEL, announced in September with the intent of moving the system from prototype to production.1–2 DRS and AeroVironment did not immediately respond to DefenseScoop's questions on Nov. 2 about the subcontract's dollar value.1

DRS cited earlier directed-energy work, including a rapid prototyping effort to integrate a high-energy laser into an armored vehicle for live-fire evaluations.1

DefenseScoop reports that officials envision integrating E-HEL with Army platforms such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle or Infantry Squad Vehicle, or in palletized setups. Fielding powerful lasers that work effectively and reliably in combat remains technically challenging; DRS aims to help address those challenges under the subcontract.1

Sources (2)
  1. DefenseScoop, Nov. 2, 2026: Leonardo DRS tapped to support Army's high-energy laser program defensescoop.com
  2. DefenseScoop, Sept. 2, 2026: Army awards AeroVironment nearly $500M contract for laser weapons defensescoop.com
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