Aerospace & Defense · Week of Nov 2, 2026
Big bets on drones, rockets and jets: the week in aerospace
Large capital moves dominated: Axon's $1.2 billion Skydio stake, AST SpaceMobile's own rocket, and fleet orders from Avolon and Wheels Up.
Capital commitments and aircraft orders defined the week. Axon said it will invest approximately $1.2 billion in Skydio and become its exclusive public safety distributor in the U.S. and Canada. AST SpaceMobile said it will pay approximately $800 million upfront to license Firefly Aerospace engines for Blacklift, its own reusable rocket. In commercial aviation, Boeing and Avolon said the lessor finalized 140 737-10 jets, and Wheels Up signed for six Embraer Phenom 300E jets.
Advanced air mobility firms reported both progress and cost. Horizon Aircraft signed a preliminary MOU with Constance Lake First Nation on potential Cavorite X7 medevac use in Northern Ontario. Eve Holding reported a wider third-quarter net loss as R&D spending rose. Elsewhere, DEFSEC said an ATF determination clears a path to U.S. civilian sales of its ARWEN Micro launcher, and Operation Healing Forces opened a Veterans Day matching campaign with Raymond James.
Axon
Axon Invests $1.2 Billion in Skydio to Build the Future of Drone as First Responder
Axon says it will invest approximately $1.2 billion in cash and stock in Skydio, adding about 20% to its fully diluted ownership at a $5.2 billion pre-money valuation, and will become Skydio's exclusive public safety distributor in the U.S. and Canada. The deal expands Axon's Drone as First Responder program and means public safety customers in those countries will buy Skydio products through Axon, with closings expected in Q4 2026 and Q1 2027.
AST SpaceMobile, Inc.
*Firefly CEO Jason Kim and AST SpaceMobile Chairman and CEO Abel Avellan in front of Firefly’s Miranda engine at its Rocket Ranch in Briggs, Texas; Credit: Firefly Aerospace
AST SpaceMobile says it will build Blacklift, a reusable 20-ton rocket carrying up to five BlueBird satellites per launch, using Firefly Aerospace's Miranda and Vira engines, with launches planned from late 2028. The company will pay approximately $800 million upfront for a perpetual manufacturing license, $400 million in cash plus 10 to 14 million Class A shares, and a further $250 million for engines for the first three rockets and $250 million over three years for engineering support.
DEFSEC Technologies Inc
DEFSEC Receives Favorable ATF Classification for Arwen Micro Non-Lethal Irritant Launcher, Clearing Path to U.S. Civilian Market
DEFSEC Technologies says the ATF determined that its single-shot ARWEN Micro (Pro-1) non-lethal irritant launcher is not a "Destructive Device" and remains classified as an "Any Other Weapon." The company says it expects to begin selling the Pro-1 to U.S. civilian buyers as early as Q2 of calendar 2027 and is planning U.S. production of the launcher.
Horizon Aircraft
Horizon Aircraft Signs MOU With Constance Lake First Nation to Bring Lifesaving Medical Aircraft to Remote and Isolated Indigenous Communities
Horizon Aircraft signed an MOU with Constance Lake First Nation to advance the potential purchase of Cavorite X7 hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for medevac, patient transfer and critical delivery in Northern Ontario. The agreement is preliminary, with no purchase commitment or service start date stated; Chief Rick Allen said the First Nation plans to own the aircraft and work with an aviation operator.
Eve Holding, Inc.
Eve Holding, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
Eve Holding reported a 3Q26 net loss of $58.1 million, compared with $46.9 million in 3Q25, mainly due to higher R&D expenses, which rose to $48.3 million. The pre-operational eVTOL developer reported total liquidity of $470.4 million and says it now expects full-year 2026 cash consumption at the low end of its $225/275 million guidance.
Wheels Up
Wheels Up to Further Expand Premium Fleet with Order of Six Factory-New Embraer Phenom 300E Jets
Wheels Up signed a definitive agreement with Embraer for six factory-new Phenom 300E jets, scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2027, which it describes as its first-ever direct purchase of new aircraft from Embraer. The order adds to a premium controlled fleet of 29 Phenom 300/300E and 15 Challenger 300 series aircraft; the purchase price and financing terms were not disclosed.
Operation Healing Forces
Operation Healing Forces Celebrates 15 Years of Impact with $15,000 Matching Gift Campaign Supported by Raymond James
Operation Healing Forces says Raymond James will match donations dollar for dollar, up to $15,000, throughout November 2026 to mark the nonprofit's 15th anniversary and Veterans Day. OHF says the campaign could raise $30,000 or more for Special Operations Forces service members, veterans and their families.
Boeing
Avolon Finalizes Order for 140 Boeing 737-10 Jets
Boeing and Avolon say the lessor finalized an order for 140 737-10 airplanes, described as a record 737 MAX order by a lessor, raising Avolon's 737 MAX backlog to more than 240 airplanes. According to the release, lessors have placed firm orders for more than 230 737-10s in 2026, five times the variant's lessor backlog at the end of 2025.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not ScoopByte reporting.