Aeryon Labs
Canadian developer of VTOL quadcopter UAVs for military and disaster response.
Aeryon Labs, based in Waterloo, Ontario, designs and builds small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Founded in 2007, the company is now owned by FLIR Systems, which is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It has created several vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) quadcopters, such as the Aeryon Scout and the SkyRanger series. These drones have been used in various disasters and conflicts worldwide, as well as by Canadian police forces. As of 2018, military customers in 20 different countries had purchased and operated Aeryon’s UAVs.
The company began in 2007 to research and develop VTOL quadcopters in Waterloo, Ontario, and later expanded to two offices in that city. In 2018, it established a U.S. subsidiary, Aeryon Defense USA, in Denver, Colorado, to target sales to the American government. FLIR Systems then bought Aeryon Labs in January 2019 for US$200 million.
In 2011, Aeryon provided a Scout UAV to the Free Libyan Air Force. In 2014, its drones were used in the Philippines following Typhoon Hagupit. During the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, they helped survey damage, and that same year they were sent to Ecuador to assess damage from a 7.8-magnitude earthquake. In 2018, a SkyRanger drone supported disaster response after Hurricane Irma. In 2024, the Canadian federal government announced it would donate 800 Aeryon SkyRanger R70 units to Ukraine, with delivery expected by spring 2024.
Canadian police services, including those in Thunder Bay, Windsor, and Waterloo Region, use Aeryon UAVs. Waterloo Regional Police acquired one in 2018 at a cost of $85,172.11, employing it to photograph car crashes and search for missing persons. The drones are also used for inspecting power lines, offering an alternative to helicopters.
The Aeryon Scout, a small reconnaissance UAV, was developed between 2007 and 2009 and produced from 2009 to 2015. The SkyRanger R60, another small reconnaissance drone, was developed from 2011 to 2013; the Ontario Provincial Police use it for traffic accident reconstruction and locating missing people. The unarmed SkyRanger R70, launched in 2013, has reportedly gathered intelligence in more than 30 countries. The R80D SkyRaider was unveiled at a trade show in Colorado in 2018.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Aerospace
- Founded
- Waterloo, Canada (· 2007 · 02 · 02)
- Hq Location City
- Waterloo, Ontario
- Hq Location Country
- Canada
- Products
- Unmanned aerial vehicles
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The company was founded in 2007 to research and develop VTOL quadcopters unmanned aerial vehicles in Waterloo, Ontario. It has since expanded to two offices in Waterloo. In 2018, they formed the subsidiary Aeryon Defense USA based in Denver, Colorado to focus on sales to the US Government. Aeryon Labs was subsequently purchased by FLIR Systems in January 2019 for US$200 million.
Products include the Aeryon Scout, developed between 2007 and 2009 and produced from 2009-2015, and the SkyRanger series. The Aeryon SkyRanger R60 was developed between 2011–2013. The Aeryon Skyranger R70, an unarmed aircraft launched in 2013, has been reported to gather intelligence information from more than 30 countries. The R80D SkyRaider was unveiled in 2018 at a trade show in Colorado.
In 2011 the company provided a Scout UAV to the Free Libyan Air Force. In 2014, they were used in the Philippines after Typhoon Hagupit. In 2016, they were used for relief efforts during the Fort McMurray wildfire and sent to Ecuador to survey damage from a 7.8 earthquake. In 2018, the SkyRanger drone supported disaster response following Hurricane Irma. In 2024, the Canadian Federal government announced it is donating 800 Aeryon SkyRanger R70 to Ukraine, to be delivered by Spring 2024.
Reader's Guide
Aeryon Labs is notable for its role in providing miniature VTOL quadcopters for military, disaster response, and police use. The company's UAVs have been deployed in multiple conflicts and natural disasters, including the Libyan conflict, Typhoon Hagupit in the Philippines, the Fort McMurray wildfire, the Ecuador earthquake, and Hurricane Irma. By 2018, the militaries of 20 countries had purchased and used their UAVs. The company's acquisition by FLIR Systems in 2019 for US$200 million marked a significant consolidation in the UAV industry. Their drones are also used by Canadian police services, including Thunder Bay, Windsor, and Waterloo Regional Police, for tasks such as photographing car crashes and searching for missing persons. Additionally, they are used to inspect power lines as an alternative to helicopters. The 2024 donation of 800 SkyRanger R70 units to Ukraine underscores their ongoing relevance in international defense and humanitarian operations.
Did You Know?
- Aeryon Labs was founded in 2007 in Waterloo, Ontario.
- By 2018, their UAVs were in use by the militaries of 20 countries.
- In 2024, Canada announced a donation of 800 Aeryon SkyRanger R70 drones to Ukraine.
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