DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2026--
AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AIRO), a next-generation aerospace and defense company, together with its brand Jaunt Air Mobility, today announced the public unveiling of its full-scale autonomous aircraft at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 – a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform designed for defense and government missions, with dual-use capability for cargo logistics and remote operations.
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The aircraft represents a major milestone in the development of AIRO’s heavy-lift, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, designed to address critical needs across commercial logistics, defense, and government operations.
“This unveiling marks an important step as we move from concept to a tangible platform,” said Joe Burns, AIRO CEO. “The aircraft is designed to deliver reliable, scalable capability in environments where traditional aviation solutions are limited or unavailable.”
The program is currently advancing through the detailed design and engineering phase, with the team reporting strong progress across key subsystems. Development activities are tracking ahead of expectations, with the program currently running below projected R&D cost targets, reflecting disciplined execution and efficient integration across partners.
Based on current development progress, AIRO expects the aircraft to enter commercialization and operational deployment beginning in 2027, consistent with previously communicated program timelines.
“We are advancing the aircraft through design and development, enabled by an accelerated approach that integrates digital engineering and early system validation,” said Martin Peryea, AIRO SVP & GM Electric Air Mobility. “We remain on track for first flight by the end of this year.”
The unveiling at XPONENTIAL provides customers, partners, and industry stakeholders with the first opportunity to experience the aircraft configuration, offering a tangible view of its size, capabilities, and operational concept.
“This unveiling highlights the aircraft’s core capabilities—from its slowed rotor architecture to its combination of vertical lift and efficient forward flight and the flexibility enabled through modular payload configurations,” said Dr. Simon Briceno, AIRO VP Business Strategy. “These are the elements that we expect to drive real value across both government and commercial applications.”
Based on continued design optimization and mission analysis, the platform is now projected to achieve over 1,000 miles of range and 16 hours of endurance in the ISR configuration, significantly expanding its operational reach for long-endurance missions.
A Platform for Defense and Dual-Use Mission Needs
The aircraft is designed around a common architecture optimized for defense and government missions, where range, endurance, payload capacity, and operational flexibility are critical.
The platform includes two mission configurations:
The platform is engineered for operations in austere and infrastructure-limited environments.
Designed for Real-World Operations
The aircraft highlights several defining features of the platform, including:
About AIRO
AIRO Group Holdings is a next-generation aerospace and defense platform driving innovation across defense and commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, VA, with operations in the U.S., Canada, and Denmark, AIRO combines a global reach with deep technical expertise.
Through an integrated model, AIRO delivers mission-critical solutions centered on its drone platforms, leveraging advanced avionics, integrated training capabilities, and embedded autonomy across systems.
About Jaunt Air Mobility
Jaunt Air Mobility is a core business segment of AIRO, focused on the development of next-generation vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for defense and dual-use applications.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “designed to,” “projects,” or “anticipates,” or similar expressions which concern our strategy, plans, projections or intentions.
These forward-looking statements may be included throughout this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements relating to development, production, and anticipated performance of AIRO’s dual-use aircraft platform, development costs and financial projections, the demand for, market acceptance of and opportunity of AIRO’s products and services, and other statements that are not historical fact.
By their nature, forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact or guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in AIRO’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 31, 2026 as well as other filings AIRO may make with the SEC in the future. Forward-looking statements represent AIRO’s management’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date such statements are made. AIRO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
AIRO JC/JX250 Multi-Role UAV
CANNES, France (AP) — The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday with politics, artificial intelligence and the shifting priorities of Hollywood taking center stage at the global film gathering.
Under sunny French Riviera skies, strong breezes gusted though the resort town as Cannes unfurled the red carpet to launch 12 days of nonstop premieres that will culminate May 23 with the presentation of the prestigious Palme d'Or.
Inside the Palais des Festivals, winds of change were likewise blowing. At the introduction of the jury that will decide the Palme d'Or, Cannes' top honor, jury members spoke bluntly about holding a film festival during a time of geopolitical conflict.
Paul Laverty, the Scottish screenwriter known for his films with director Ken Loach, pointed toward this year's Cannes poster, of “Thelma and Louise,” while discussing attending Cannes during what he called “genocide in Gaza.” Quoting “King Lear,” he said: “Madmen lead the blind.”
“Cannes has a wonderful poster,” said Laverty. “Isn’t it fascinating to see some of them like Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo blacklisted because of their views in opposing the murder of women and children in Gaza? Shame on Hollywood people who do that.”
The nine-member jury is being presided over by Park Chan-wook, the South Korean filmmaker of “Oldboy” and “No Other Choice,” who said that politics and cinema go hand in hand.
“Art and politics are not concepts that are in conflict with each other,” said Park. “One cannot disqualify a film on the pretext that it has a political message. Just as one cannot reject a film because it would not be political enough.”
Other jury members include Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga and Demi Moore, who two years ago was celebrated in Cannes for her comeback performance in “The Substance.”
Moore spoke about a topic that's already dominated conversation at this year's festival.
“AI is here, and so to fight it is to, in a sense, to fight something that is a battle that we will lose,” she said. “So to find ways in which we can work with it, I think, is a more valuable path,” she said. “Are we doing enough to protect ourselves? I don’t know. My inclination would be to say probably not.”
The festival will kick off on Tuesday night with the opening-night film, “The Electric Kiss,” a French period-comedy, and the awarding of an honorary Palme d’Or to the “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson.
What isn’t at Cannes has been as buzzed about as much as what is. Hollywood is largely absent this year.
While recent blockbusters like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Elvis” have touched down at previous incarnations, studio films this year have been either scared away by the possibility of a rocky reception or by the high cost of flying in A-listers to the Cote d’Azur. The closest thing in Cannes' slate is an anniversary celebration for “Fast & Furious.”
Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux said Hollywood “is reshaping” in the midst of Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
“I hope the studio films will come back,” Frémaux told a press conference on Monday.
Cannes has become better known for its lengthy standing ovations than its boos.
This year, a long list of big-name filmmakers will have center stage. Among the filmmakers set to unveil new movies are Pedro Almodovar (“Bitter Christmas”), James Gray (“Paper Tiger”), Na Hong-jin (“Hope”), Pawel Pawlikowski (“Fatherland”) and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (“All of a Sudden”).
If Cannes has waned as a global launchpad for studio releases, it has grown as a breeding ground for Oscar contenders.
Two years ago, Sean Baker’s “Anora” won the Palme before winning best picture. Last year, Cannes selections like “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent” and “It Was Just an Accident” went on to play prominent roles in awards season.
More often than not, the specialty distributor Neon has been at the forefront of the Cannes-to-Oscars pipeline. Neon has backed the past six Palme d’Or winners, an unprecedented streak that it may be poised to extend. The company is attached to more than a quarter of the 22 films in competition for the Palme d’Or.
While Cannes may be light on big Hollywood movies, it isn’t lacking in stars. Set to appear over the next two weeks are Kristen Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Adam Driver, Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Rami Malek, Sebastian Stan, Sandra Hüller and many others.
How much any of this will serve as backdrop for “The White Lotus” remains to be seen. The fourth season of Mike White’s acclaimed HBO series is based around a trip to Cannes. Last month, the show began shooting on the French Riviera.
Crew members install the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals ahead of the opening ceremony of the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Jury member Demi Moore poses for photographers at the jury photo call at the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Jury president Park Chan-wook, third from left, poses with jury members Ruth Negga, from left, Demi Moore and Chloé Zhao at the jury photo call at the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Peter Jackson, recipient of the honorary Palme d'Or, poses for photographers during a photo call at the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Jury member Demi Moore poses for photographers at the jury photo call at the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A person walks past the Cannes film festival signage prior to the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A view of the old town prior to the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People walk past the Palais des Festivals during preparations for the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Hotel Martinez during preparations for the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A person takes a photo outside the Palais des Festivals during preparations for the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
