LEONARDO DRS EXPANDS WITH STRATEGIC GIMBAL ACQUISITION

Company Will Integrate Cutting-Edge Technologies to Meet Diverse U.S. Government Requirements.

 Leonardo DRS, Inc. revealed that it has acquired Ascendant Engineering Solutions (AES), renowned as one of the premier gimbal manufacturers globally. 

AES excels in the design, development, and production of high-efficiency, stabilized, multi-sensor gimbal systems tailored for the expanding market of Group 1, 2, and 3 UAS within the U.S. military branches. With its innovative systems, the firm is concentrating on gimbal payload prospects in significant U.S. government initiatives, particularly those aimed at countering existing and future anti-access and area-denial systems. AES operates out of Austin, Texas, which is also the headquarters of the Army’s Futures Command. 

This acquisition will empower Leonardo DRS to integrate its cutting-edge Electro-Optical and Infrared components and systems with the advanced gimbals from AES to deliver cohesive solutions that cater to the rapidly expanding market for lightweight military platforms, including compact unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

“The urgent requirement for smaller and more lightweight sensing solutions is among the primary objectives of defense forces worldwide,” stated Jerry Hathaway, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Leonardo DRS Electro-Optic and Infrared Systems division. Leonardo DRS is strategically positioned to tap into this surging small gimbal market with the new lightweight capabilities that AES contributes across a diverse spectrum of military platforms, ranging from aircraft to maritime systems, ground vehicles, and ground-based security frameworks, Hathaway remarked. “Leonardo DRS takes pride in introducing this compact and advanced integrated solution set that merges our top-tier sensors into best-in-class, small-form gimbal-based sensor systems, providing our warfighters with an enhanced tactical advantage on the battlefield.”

Leonardo DRS stands as a global frontrunner in innovative sensor systems that address various military requirements, including targeting, surveillance, and force protection. This acquisition will enable Leonardo DRS to further vertically integrate its advanced sensors and gimbals. Such integrated technologies empower military platforms to perceive their surroundings at extended ranges in real-time, offering intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) imagery and targeting data to aerial and ground forces, enhancing their operational reach and survivability.   

Gimbal-based sensor technology constitutes a crucial segment of the expansive Leonardo DRS advanced sensor technology portfolio, which boasts a vast footprint within the U.S. military. Force protection remains a significant strategic emphasis for Leonardo DRS as the company amalgamates its world-class sensing and laser technologies to deliver defensive protective systems for the dedicated men and women of the U.S. armed forces.