# AeroVironment acquires Empirical Systems Aerospace

AeroVironment (AV) acquired Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero), a producer of unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility platforms, based in San Luis Obispo, California.

- Type: Acquisition
- Announced: 2026-03-16
- Where: San Luis Obispo, California, United States
- Value: $200.0M
- Status: completed
- Products: unmanned aircraft systems, advanced air mobility platforms
- Sectors: [Automation and Robotics](https://endata.com/sectors/automation-robotics.md), [Aerospace Components](https://endata.com/sectors/aerospace-components.md)

## Companies

- [AeroVironment](https://endata.com/companies/27059.md) (acquirer)
- [Empirical Systems Aerospace](https://endata.com/companies/27762.md) (target)

## Sources

- [investor.avinc.com](https://investor.avinc.com/news-releases/news-release-details/av-acquires-empirical-systems-aerospace-inc), 2026-03-16: "ESAero brings an impressive agility in moving from design to manufacturing, which will accelerate AV's ability to bridge the gap between conceptual design and manufacturing execution."
- [manufacturingdive.com](https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/5-manufacturing-companies-announce-expansions-investments-in-us/815973/), 2026-03-30: "ESAero is recognized for its deep engineering expertise, innovative electric and hybrid propulsion capabilities, rapid aerospace prototyping, and AS9100 Certified UAS manufacturing."

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Data from Endata (https://endata.com/). Announcements are summarized from public sources and may be incomplete; check the linked originals.