AEVEX CEO Roger Wells touted growing drone production and rising demand for autonomous warfare.

  • AEVEX’s Tampa facility can make over 1,000 systems monthly, with an expansion set to more than double production. 
  • Wells said demand is shifting toward affordable autonomous systems and faster production. 
  • The company is planning a $650 million Black Sea acquisition and recently won a $41 million U.S. government award. 

AEVEX Corp. (AVEX) stock gained overnight after CEO Roger Wells said affordable autonomous drones could become a standard part of modern warfare, with such systems “deployed in every major combat” going forward. Wells highlighted the company’s growing U.S. production capacity, battlefield-proven platforms and rising demand for autonomous systems. 

AEVEX Ramps Up Domestic Drone Production 

During a CNBC interview, AEVEX CEO Roger Wells said the company is scaling its autonomous weapons business as demand rises for lower-cost unmanned systems capable of operating in heavily contested environments.

“Our Tampa production facility can generate over 1,000 systems a month. We've recently expanded another 83,000 square feet to more than double our production in the coming months. And we've onshore the vast majority of our supply chain to ensure that we're building here in America, building the industrial base and investing for scale.” 

AEVEX develops autonomous air and maritime platforms that can navigate and perform missions even when GPS signals are blocked, communications are disrupted or electronic warfare is active.

AEVEX stock traded over 6% higher overnight, ahead of Tuesday, and is on course to reverse two straight months of loss. 

AEVEX CEO Says Autonomous Warfare Is Expanding

Wells said inexpensive autonomous platforms are changing military operations and added that governments are increasingly seeking shorter production cycles, an environment he believes favors AEVEX because of its established platforms, factories and supply network.

“The proliferation of very affordable, autonomous unmanned systems is absolutely revolutionizing warfare. We're going to see these kinds of systems structurally deployed in every major combat in every major force structure moving forward.”

The company has deployed thousands of systems in Ukraine through its UCOM deep-strike program. AEVEX is also moving to expand its presence across multiple domains through its planned acquisition of Black Sea. Wells said the $650 million deal would create a major U.S. pure-play autonomous systems company spanning air, surface and subsurface platforms.

Last week, the company won a $41 million U.S. government award for one-way attack systems, strengthening demand for its autonomous platforms. 

AVEX Stock: Retail Stance 

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around the stock jumped to ‘bullish’ from ‘bearish’ territory the previous day. 

AVEX stock has cratered 33% year-to-date. 

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