AEVEX Corp. (NYSE: AVEX) said on Sept. 8, 2026, that it had completed its acquisition of BlackSea Technologies, a provider of unmanned surface and subsea vessels for the U.S. defense market. BlackSea will operate as AEVEX's Maritime Systems division.
BlackSea has delivered more than 350 unmanned surface vessels and logged over 25,000 operational hours, including support for U.S. Navy 5th Fleet operations. The company's Baltimore manufacturing facility has deepwater access and a production capacity of approximately 40 unmanned surface vehicles per month.
AEVEX said BlackSea will maintain its current operational structure while supporting the Navy, Special Operations Command, the intelligence community and allied programs. The acquired company's systems will be integrated with AEVEX's CompassX autonomy software and cross-domain capabilities.
AEVEX said it has delivered more than 10,000 systems through 2026 and recorded 114% year-over-year production volume growth in the second quarter. The company manufactures unmanned aerial systems ranging from Group I to Group V classifications, precision strike systems and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms.
Brian Raduenz, founder and executive chairman of AEVEX, said the closing marks an important milestone in the company's strategy and that BlackSea's maritime platforms, engineering talent and mission-focused culture align with AEVEX. CEO Roger Wells said BlackSea brings one of the Navy's most operationally deployed unmanned surface systems, significant production capacity and trusted customer relationships.
Bob Pudney, former BlackSea CEO and head of AEVEX's new Maritime Systems division, said the combination allows BlackSea to expand its maritime mission support while preserving its engineering and customer relationships.
