Volatus Aerospace Inc. has officially opened a 53,000-square-foot manufacturing and systems integration facility at Montreal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX), establishing a dedicated domestic production base for its autonomous defence and commercial drones systems.

Announced in a company press release on June 23, 2026, the new site at the YMX Innovation Centre will serve as the primary manufacturing hub for the company’s V-Series aircraft and drone docking stations. The facility is designed to fulfill orders across Canada and allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states, directly supporting Canada’s recently outlined Defence Industrial Strategy by localizing critical aerospace supply chains.

Scaling domestic production capabilities

Production operations at the Mirabel site are already underway, beginning with the assembly of drone docking stations. Manufacturing lines for the company’s larger autonomous platforms are scheduled to follow shortly. The facility provides the physical footprint required to integrate, test, and deploy these systems at scale for public safety, industrial, and military operators.

“Our Mirabel facility is a strategic investment in Canadian manufacturing capability,” Volatus Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Glen Lynch stated in the release. “By expanding our ability to manufacture, integrate, test, and deploy advanced autonomous systems domestically, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers while contributing to the industrial capacity needed to support Canada’s economic growth, create high-value jobs, and strengthen sovereign capability in critical technology sectors.”

Lynch noted that demand for autonomous systems is growing across multiple sectors. He indicated that the new facility positions Volatus as a strategic partner capable of delivering solutions at scale for both domestic and international customers.

Integrating the V-Series and V-Cortex AI

The Mirabel plant will serve as the assembly point for the V-Series aircraft family, which includes the V100, V200, and V300 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). Volatus acquired the intellectual property for these fixed-wing platforms from UK-based Caliburn Holdings LLP in late 2025 to expand its portfolio of NATO-aligned defence products. The aircraft are primarily designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Vehicles rolling off the Mirabel line will be equipped with the company’s proprietary V-Cortex AI Flight Controller and Autonomy Operating System. Volatus debuted the domestically developed autonomy stack at the CANSEC 2026 tradeshow on May 27, 2026. Integrating the V-Cortex system directly during the manufacturing process allows the company to offer a fully sovereign technology package to defence and public safety clients.

The establishment of the Mirabel facility coincides with a broader push by the Canadian government to build sovereign capacity in critical technology sectors. Canada’s recently released Defence Industrial Strategy emphasizes the need to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains for advanced military hardware.

AirPro News analysis

The opening of the Mirabel facility represents a significant maturation step for Volatus Aerospace as it transitions from a technology integrator and service provider to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). By securing a 53,000-square-foot footprint at a major aerospace hub like Montreal-Mirabel International Airport, the company is positioning itself to compete for larger federal and NATO procurement contracts. The strategic pairing of the acquired V-Series airframes with the domestically developed V-Cortex AI system addresses a growing requirement among Western militaries for autonomous platforms that are free from geopolitical supply chain vulnerabilities. We expect the company’s near-term success will depend on how quickly it can ramp up the V-Series production lines to meet the stated international demand.

Sources: Volatus Aerospace Inc.

Bristow Group Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Texas-based Berry Aviation for $105 million in an all-cash transaction. The deal, announced on June 23, 2026, accelerates Bristow’s strategic shift toward long-term government contracts and away from its historical reliance on the offshore energy sector.

In a press release issued by Bristow Group, the Houston-headquartered vertical flight provider confirmed the acquisitions from Acorn Capital Management is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. The transaction adds a fleet of more than 20 aircraft and specialized military authorizations to Bristow’s portfolio, supporting a broader corporate restructuring strategy.

Expanding government services capabilities

Berry Aviation, headquartered in San Marcos, Texas, generated $108 million in total revenue in 2025, with 72 percent derived from government services. The company holds highly specialized military and defense authorizations, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 Airdrop authorization, Commercial Airlift Review Board (CARB) certification, and the operational capability to fly in GPS-denied airspace.

Bristow President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Bradshaw stated the acquisition aligns with key megatrends, including increasing geopolitical risk and rising defense spending.

“Berry Aviation’s deep expertise, proven technical capabilities across a range of mission-critical operations and strong customer relationships are complementary to our existing Government Services operations, better positioning Bristow to compete for long-duration government programs,” Bradshaw said.

Following the close of the transaction, Bristow expects Berry Aviation’s leadership team to remain in their current roles. The company also intends to maintain a strong presence at Berry Aviation’s existing facilities. Acorn Growth Cos. previously acquired Berry Aviation in July 2018.

Strategic portfolio optimization

The Berry Aviation acquisition coincides with Bristow’s ongoing efforts to sell its Norway Offshore Energy Services business. Together, these moves represent a deliberate restructuring of the company’s revenue streams to reduce exposure to the cyclical oil and gas market.

Following the completion of both the acquisition and the planned exit from Norway, Bristow projects its pro forma revenue mix from government services will increase from 26 percent to 35 percent. Conversely, its exposure to offshore energy services is projected to decrease from 66 percent to 54 percent.

AirPro News analysis

We view Bristow’s $105 million acquisition of Berry Aviation as a calculated hedge against the volatility of the offshore energy market. By acquiring an established operator with CARB certification and specialized United States Department of Defense (DoD) clearances, Bristow bypasses the lengthy and complex process of building these capabilities organically. The addition of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) design capabilities positions the company to bid on a wider array of United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) contracts.

Sources: Bristow Group Inc.

Italian defense manufacturer Leonardo S.p.A. and Turkish aerospace company Baykar have successfully demonstrated the ability of a crewed fighter trainer to assume full in-flight control of an autonomous combat drone during live trials in Çorlu, Türkiye.

Announced in a press release on June 22, 2026, the May 2026 flight tests mark the completion of the first phase of the K-SWARM programme. The initiative focuses on advancing Crewed/UnCrewed Teaming (CUC-T) capabilities, a framework designed to integrate piloted aircraft with autonomous systems to reduce pilot workload and enhance mission efficiency through secure data exchange.

Flight test execution and autonomous capabilities

The live trials involved a company-owned Leonardo M-346 Fighter Attack (M-346FA) jet, an Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) T-346A acting as a chase aircraft, and a single Bayraktar KIZILELMA Uncrewed Fighter Aircraft. According to reporting by The War Zone, the KIZILELMA completed its taxi and takeoff phases autonomously before joining the M-346FA in formation.

Once the aircraft were integrated into formation, the two-person crew aboard the M-346FA utilized a newly developed avionics suite to take full control of the uncrewed KIZILELMA. The drone then executed a series of maneuvers, position changes, separations, and rejoins based on commands issued directly by the M-346FA pilots.

These maneuvers were facilitated by “Smart Fleet Autonomy” algorithms developed at Baykar’s Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Laboratory. The system translates pilot commands into autonomous flight actions, allowing the uncrewed asset to operate as a loyal wingman without requiring continuous manual piloting from the crewed aircraft.

Strategic implications for future combat air systems

The successful integration of the M-346FA and the KIZILELMA builds upon previous autonomous flight milestones. In December 2025, Baykar demonstrated two KIZILELMA drones performing an autonomous close formation flight, as reported by Aviation International News. The K-SWARM trials represent the next step, bridging the gap between fully autonomous drone operations and crewed tactical control.

In its June 22, 2026, press release, Leonardo emphasized the strategic necessity of this technology for future military operations.

“Today’s design of Crewed/UnCrewed Teaming (CUC-T) is one of the fundamental strands for the transformation of military aircraft and security tools in all domains,” the company stated. “The programme is aimed at designing and developing interoperability between crewed and uncrewed aircraft.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the K-SWARM trials as a critical validation of interoperability between distinct national defense industrial bases. By successfully linking an Italian-built trainer-turned-light-fighter with a Turkish-built advanced combat drone, Leonardo and Baykar are demonstrating that CUC-T architectures do not require a single original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to function effectively.

The choice of the M-346FA as the command node is also notable. As air forces globally look to field mass through uncrewed systems, utilizing advanced trainers or light combat aircraft as command-and-control hubs could offer a cost-effective alternative to dedicating fifth-generation fighters to the loyal wingman control role. The integration of Baykar’s autonomy algorithms with Leonardo’s avionics and cyber-defense systems suggests a modular approach to future combat air system development that could appeal to export markets looking for accessible CUC-T capabilities.

Sources: Leonardo S.p.A.