Red Cat Announces Partnership to Enable FANG™ FPV Drone Deployment from AV’s P550™ UAS
Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (“Red Cat”), a U.S.-based provider of advanced multi-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, has announced a joint development roadmap with AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV). The collaboration aims to integrate Red Cat’s FANG™ FPV drones as deployable payloads from AV’s all-electric P550™ Group 2 eVTOL unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
Together, the companies are developing a “marsupial” configuration that allows the P550 to carry and release FANG drones using AV’s modular CLIK interface. Built on the P550’s Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture, this concept showcases how interoperable unmanned systems can operate cohesively—launching a smaller FPV drone from a long-endurance Group 2 platform—to enhance mission reach, flexibility, and tactical effectiveness.
“This collaboration reflects how U.S. companies can come together to advance modular, interoperable technologies that strengthen operational capability,” said Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat. “By exploring how FANG can be deployed from the P550, we’re showing what’s possible when small, agile systems are paired with long-endurance platforms to create greater reach, responsiveness, and mission versatility.”
“The P550 was engineered with open-architecture flexibility at its core,” said Jason Hendrix, Vice President & General Manager of sUAS at AV. “Our collaboration with Red Cat underscores that design philosophy and the integration of payloads like FANG broaden operational reach and create new mission possibilities for the warfighter. Together, we’re demonstrating how adaptable Group 2 systems can integrate with sUAS to support the Army’s vision for scalable, multi-echelon operations.”
A Development Roadmap for Modular, Multi-Echelon Operations
AV’s P550 is an autonomous, all-electric Group 2 eVTOL UAS designed with a modular 15-pound payload capacity, five-hour flight endurance, and advanced AI-driven autonomous capabilities.
Red Cat’s FANG™ FPV drone—part of the company’s Arachnid Family of Systems—is an NDAA-compliant platform developed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and tactical missions. When launched from the P550 in a marsupial configuration, FANG extends situational awareness beyond visual line of sight, enhances operator decision-making, and can be adapted for future payload integrations.
The two companies are working closely on engineering, interface design, and control systems to enable this innovative payload deployment concept. Design and compatibility testing are underway ahead of planned demonstrations, which will highlight how modular, interoperable systems can increase mission versatility for U.S. and allied defense operations.
This forward-looking collaboration aims to:
- Demonstrate interoperability between Group 2 and FPV-class systems
- Extend FPV operational range through aerial deployment
- Combine long- and short-range ISR capabilities within one mission
- Showcase modular, MOSA-aligned pathways for the Army’s evolving sUAS ecosystem