AIRO Group has completed production of the first RQ-35 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drones at its US manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona, marking a key milestone in the program’s expansion. The US-built aircraft are produced to the same technical specifications as the systems assembled in Denmark, ensuring full interoperability and consistency across production lines.
The RQ-35 drones completed Phase 1 of AIRO’s manufacturing and validation process, which included full system integration and an extensive flight-test campaign. According to the company, testing concluded successfully on December 11, confirming the platform’s performance in demanding operational environments. The aircraft are optimized for GPS-denied conditions and heavy electronic warfare scenarios, enabling persistent ISR missions with minimal operator workload.
AIRO executives highlighted close coordination with Danish partner Sky-Watch, noting that the collaboration ensured strict compliance with engineering, production, and testing standards. The effort also advances the RQ-35 through the US Department of Defense’s Blue Unmanned Aerial System certification pathway, which is intended to simplify future procurement by US military and government customers.
Beyond US production, the RQ-35 ISR—also marketed internationally as the RQ-35 Heidrun—has seen growing adoption among NATO allies. Denmark and Germany have been prominent operators, with Germany transferring multiple batches of the drones to Ukraine, including an initial delivery of 20 units in mid-2023. In 2024, the Netherlands, working with Denmark and Germany, announced a €200 million multinational order for RQ-35 Heidrun systems to support Ukraine’s reconnaissance capabilities.
