Aeryon Labs

Aeryon Labs, established in 2007 by Dave Kroetsch and Mike Peasgood, emerged from a desire to make sophisticated aerial intelligence accessible for non-aviator operators. Kroetsch, leveraging his engineering background from the University of Waterloo and prior experience at companies like PixStream and LSI Logic, aimed to simplify drone operation, moving beyond the hobbyist market to professional applications. The company established itself as a key supplier of high-performance, small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) targeting a global clientele across military, public safety, and commercial sectors.

The firm's core business revolves around the design, manufacturing, and sale of rugged, all-weather drones engineered for mission-critical tasks. Aeryon's primary product line, including the notable SkyRanger series, offers real-time, secure aerial intelligence gathering capabilities. These systems are field-tested and designed for rapid deployment in demanding environments, serving applications from tactical surveillance and search and rescue to infrastructure inspections. The business model combines hardware sales with recurring revenue from its proprietary software solutions and support services. Its client base includes over 20 military forces and customers in more than 30 countries, indicating a strong foothold in the global defense and security markets.

A significant milestone in the company's trajectory was its acquisition by FLIR Systems in early 2019 for $200 million. This event integrated Aeryon's sUAS technology into FLIR's broader portfolio of sensing solutions, enhancing its unmanned systems capabilities. Following FLIR's subsequent acquisition by Teledyne Technologies in 2021, Aeryon Labs now operates as part of the Teledyne FLIR Defense group, continuing to develop and supply advanced aerial systems under a larger corporate umbrella.

Keywords: aerial intelligence, unmanned aircraft systems, sUAS, military drones, public safety drones, commercial inspections, tactical surveillance, drone manufacturing, aerial reconnaissance, defense technology