AIRO Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Urban air mobility, Drone technology |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Greater Chicago Area , United States |
Key people | Chirinjeev Kathuria (Executive Chairman), Joe Burns (CEO, AIRO Drone and Agile Defense), John Uczekaj (President and CEO, Aspen Avionics), Martin Schousboe (CEO, Sky-Watch), Pramod Raheja (Founder and leader, Airgility), Kyle Stanbro (Founder and President, Coastal Defense), Martin Peryea (CEO and CTO, Jaunt Air Mobility) |
| Products | Urban air mobility vehicles, drones, avionics technology, training services |
| Owner | AIRO Group |
AIRO Group, commonly referred to as AIRO, is an American enterprise specializing in urban air mobility and drone ecosystems. Established in 2005, the company is based in the Greater Chicago Area. The executive chairman of AIRO is Chirinjeev Kathuria.
History and growth
AIRO's operations span the aerospace, autonomy, and air mobility industries, with a particular emphasis on urban air mobility and drone-related technologies. The company was founded to manage AIRO Drone and Agile Defense, initially concentrating on air drone solutions.
In 2021, AIRO expanded its portfolio by acquiring Aspen Avionics and integrating Coastal Defense through a merger. On October 6, 2021, Jaunt Air Mobility became part of the AIRO Group via merger. As a subsidiary, Jaunt made significant progress in the AFWERX High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing Concept Challenge, sponsored by the United States Air Force and United States Special Operations Command.
AIRO confidentially filed a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of preparations for a potential initial public offering of its common shares.
Overview
The company’s activities cover commercial and military sectors, including robotics, crewed and uncrewed aerial systems, as well as multi-modal aircraft and avionics platforms. Its expertise extends to cargo transport and training services within the comprehensive drone ecosystem.
AIRO consists of seven aerospace subsidiaries: AIRO Drone and Sky-Watch focus on commercial drone operations; Aspen Avionics specializes in cutting-edge avionics technology; Agile Defense and Coastal Defense provide training solutions; Jaunt Air Mobility concentrates on electric vertical air mobility; and Aironet completes the group.
Leadership
Chirinjeev Kathuria holds the position of executive chairman at AIRO Group. Joe Burns serves as CEO for AIRO Drone and Agile Defense. John Uczekaj is president and CEO of Aspen Avionics. Sky-Watch’s CEO is Martin Schousboe. Airgility was founded by Pramod Raheja, who also leads the company. Kyle Stanbro acts as founder and president of Coastal Defense. Jaunt Air Mobility’s CEO and CTO roles are fulfilled by Martin Peryea.
Among notable investors and advisors for Jaunt Air Mobility are Călin Rovinescu, former president and CEO of Air Canada, alongside Mitch Garber, an investor with global expertise in technology and growth capital.
Collaborations
On June 24, 2021, AIRO formed a partnership with Stantec GenerationAV to create solutions involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and autonomous platforms. Jaunt Air Mobility works closely with L&T Technology Services Limited as a principal engineering collaborator. Additionally, Jaunt progressed to subsequent stages in the AFWERX High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing Concept Challenge organized for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Special Operations Command.