AeroVironment to buy ground robotics firm Telerob

US-based AeroVironment, which builds unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missiles, has agreed to acquire Germany’s Telerob Gesellschaft für Fernhantierungstechnik, which makes unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), AeroVironment announced on 8 December.

The Telerob Explosive Ordnance Disposal and observation robot (tEODor) is a remote-controlled bomb disposal system. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

AeroVironment said the acquisition will broaden its product portfolio to cover the fast-growing UGV market. The partnership will also help Telerob sell UGVs to the US Department of Defense and help AeroVironment sell UAS to the German Federal Ministry of Defense.

AeroVironment plans to spend about USD45.4 million (EUR37.5 million) in cash for Telerob and pay off about USD9.4 million in Telerob’s debt. Telerob’s owner-manager could receive an additional USD7.3 million over three years if certain milestones are met.

Telerob will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of AeroVironment, and its entire team will remain intact. The acquisition, which requires German government approval, is expected to close by spring 2021.

“Once the transaction closes, we plan to integrate our technology roadmaps to develop aerial and ground system solutions that deliver more capability in more complex operating environments to customers in defence and other applications,” said Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment’s president and CEO.

Founded in 1994, Telerob has 90 employees, is based near Stuttgart, and has a US office in Erie, Pennsylvania. Its UGVs perform such missions as explosive ordnance disposal, hazardous materials handling, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threat assessment.

AeroVironment is not new to acquisitions. It purchased Pulse Aerospace, which makes the Vapor small unmanned helicopter, in mid-2019. Nawabi said in June 2020 that his company was “actively looking” at more acquisition opportunities.