Defence technology company Aevex Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire BlackSea Technologies, a provider of unmanned surface and subsea vessels in the US defence market.
Under the terms of the agreement, Aevex will acquire BlackSea for up to US$650 million on a cash‑free, debt‑free basis, consisting of approximately US$250 million in cash and approximately US$350 million in shares of class A common stock of Aevex priced at US$27.50/share (approximately 12.7 million shares).
The acquisition is expected to close in September 2026, subject to the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.
Aevex and BlackSea together will deliver a portfolio spanning air, surface, and subsea domains. Also, Aevex’s high-volume production capabilities will combine with BlackSea’s state-of-the-art Baltimore facilities with deepwater access, robotic welding, and capacity for approximately 40 unmanned vessels per month.
"Joining Aevex is a natural next step for BlackSea," said Bob Pudney, Chief Executive Officer of BlackSea Technologies. "We’ve spent years building and deploying autonomous maritime systems in real‑world environments, from hybrid fleet operations to contested logistics, and Aevex brings the scale, manufacturing depth, and autonomy ecosystem needed to accelerate everything we’ve built."
