BAE Systems acquires UAV manufacturer Malloy Aeronautics

BAE Systems has fellow UK firm acquired Malloy Aeronautics for an undisclosed amount. Berkshire-based Malloy Aeronautics designs and supplies all-electric Uncrewed Air Vehicles (UAV) to both civil and military customers. Malloy Aeronautics Malloy Aeronautics will become part of FalconWorks, the research and development business within BAE Systems’ Air sector.

The company’s range of uncrewed, heavy lift quadcopters are capable of lifting payloads from 68kg to 300kg over short to medium range missions. These platforms offer interchangeable capabilities and greater flexibility at a fraction of the cost and time of more traditional methods, whilst minimising risk to more expensive assets and human life.

Malloy’s approximately 80 strong workforce will continue to operate from its site in Berkshire, supporting its existing customers. BAE Systems and Malloy, who have been working together on UAV solutions since 2021, will further develop Malloy’s existing portfolio and accelerate new and novel technologies to customers worldwide.

Last year the two companies demonstrated the capabilities of Malloy’s T-600 heavy lift UAV at the REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Uncrewed Systems) exercise in Portugal.

During the multinational exercise, the T-600 demonstrator successfully released an inert Sting Ray training variant anti-submarine torpedo during a flight mission at sea for the first time.

L3Harris and General Dynamics UK both supported the demonstration as part of a multi-organisational partnership by providing the GnatHD carriage and release system and Distributed Stores Management control system, respectively. These advancements in technology have further unlocked the possibility of weapons integration on heavy-lift UAS.

The T-600 is an electric-powered demonstrator aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, can carry a payload of 200kg and can travel at up to 140km/h. It also has a range of up to 80km depending on payload. It is around the size of a small car and is designed to be easily disassembled for transportation.

“Our acquisition of Malloy Aeronautics is part of our ongoing strategy to develop and invest in breakthrough technologies which augment our existing capabilities and provide our customers with the innovation they need in response to evolving requirements,” said Simon Barnes, Group Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Air sector.

BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics engineers have been collaborating to develop the 300kg T-650 all-electric ‘heavy lift’ UAV as a potential new solution to deliver cost-effective, sustainable rapid response capability to military, security and civilian customers.