US defence technology company Aevex Corporation has completed its acquisition of BlackSea, the company announced on September 8.
BlackSea will operate as Aevex's maritime systems division, covering unmanned surface and subsea systems. Former BlackSea Chief Executive Officer Bob Pudney will lead the division.
BlackSea has supplied more than 350 unmanned surface vessels and recorded more than 25,000 operational hours, including missions supporting the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and Operation Epic Fury.
The acquisition includes BlackSea’s manufacturing facility in Baltimore, Maryland, which has deepwater access, two 30-tonne bridge cranes, robotic welding equipment and reported production capacity of approximately 40 vessels per month.
Aevex reported a 114 per cent year-on-year increase in production volume during the second quarter and said it had delivered or committed more than 10,000 unmanned systems through 2026.
The company said the acquisition would add maritime systems to its existing unmanned air capabilities and support operations across air, surface and subsea domains.
Operations will continue under the existing structure to support programmes for the US Navy, US Special Operations Command, the intelligence community and allied customers.
“With demand for autonomous systems accelerating globally, customers are prioritizing providers who can deliver field-proven capability at scale,” said Roger Wells, Chief Executive Officer of Aevex.