BAE Systems announced on 2 February 2024 that it has acquired UK-based heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) specialist Malloy Aeronautics.
Malloy’s approximately 80 strong workforce will continue to operate from its site in Berkshire, supporting its existing customers. Meanwhile, BAE Systems and Malloy, who have been working together on advancing cutting-edge UAV solutions since 2021, will further develop Malloy’s existing portfolio, which features a range of heavylift quadcopter UAVs that are capable of lifting payloads from 68 kg to 300 kg over short- to medium-range missions.
In September 2023 the two companies announced they had demonstrated the release of a Sting Ray torpedo from a Malloy T600 electric quadcopter UAV during NATO’s Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Uncrewed Systems (REPMUS) exercise in Portugal.
The companies have also been collaborating to develop the 300 kg T650 electric heavylift UAV as a potential new solution to deliver a cost-effective, sustainable rapid response capability to military, security and civilian customers.
“Our acquisition of Malloy Aeronautics is part of our ongoing strategy to develop and invest in breakthrough technologies that 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, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We’re confident that the synergy between our two companies will pave the way for even greater achievements in uncrewed aerial systems and technologies.”
Oriol Badia, chief operating officer for Malloy Aeronautics, added, “We’ve come a long way over the last 10 years, turning our vision of sustainable electric heavylift technology into reality, thanks to the dedication and efforts of our team. This new step in our journey with BAE Systems will allow us to combine the strengths and vision of a young company with the reach and support of an experienced one, ultimately giving our customers the ability to scale their demands and allow us to deliver innovative new products – including the T650 – at pace.”
