Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to IndustriesTransportation

AIRO Engages Stephens to Represent the UAM and Drone Ecosystem Group for an Optimally Aligned SPAC Merger

CHICAGO, March 4, 2021 (Newswire.com) – The AIRO Group (AIRO), a global end-to-end Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and drone ecosystem company, today announced that it has engaged Stephens Inc. to assist in exploring a business combination agreement with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) which would result in a public listing on a US Stock Exchange….

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Transportation teams put it to work with Partner & Channel Enablement.

Share

Get featured

Want MarketScale to feature Transportation?

Book a 15-minute demo and we'll map your Transportation expertise to the content buyers are searching for.

Book a demo

CHICAGO, March 4, 2021 (Newswire.com) – The AIRO Group (AIRO), a global end-to-end Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and drone ecosystem company, today announced that it has engaged Stephens Inc. to assist in exploring a business combination agreement with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) which would result in a public listing on a US Stock Exchange.

AIRO is led by Aerospace industry veterans with senior leadership experience at market-leading firms like Honeywell and major global airlines. “AIRO will bring to the public market a consolidated, mid-market, enterprise with historically solid growth, differentiated intellectual property significant to the future of air travel and connectivity, and a recognized leadership team with a proven track record and public company experience,” commented Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, Executive Chairman of AIRO.

AIRO comprises a global portfolio of aerospace technology companies and airframe manufacturers, described by the organization’s CEO Captain Joe Burns, as “an unparalleled ecosystem and full-spectrum offering of Urban Air Mobility infrastructure, certifiable avionics, manned and unmanned operational experience, and advanced AI and edge-processing for decision-making capabilities in flight.” He continued, “AIRO is operational today.

We have already done the difficult work of consolidating key solutions and technologies, and aligning our growth trajectory with the next significant global transformation of end-to-end drone solutions. Through our internal synergies and external partnerships, we are poised for the long-term operation of a drone ecosystem that will serve as a backbone for moving freight and people with clean energy and pedigreed safety, for centuries to come.

We’re at a compelling inflection point and this is a truly unique opportunity for a strategic partner.”

“AIRO leverages decades of expertise across the space, drone services, commercial and military aviation, and avionics markets. AIRO offers a sector-leading enterprise providing best-in-class aerospace, urban air mobility, and autonomy technologies and services uniquely capable of addressing profitable global aerospace opportunities. AIRO looks forward to collaborating with like-minded growth-oriented partners to capitalize on its distinct offering to create a sustainable sector leadership position as a preeminent mid-cap drone technologies and services enterprise. We are excited to work with AIRO management and its partners to help realize the potential of this unique market opportunity,” said Chris Gidden, Managing Director and Global Head of Aerospace & Defense (A&D) for Stephens.

About the AIRO Group

The AIRO Group brings together decades of industry-leading technology to provide best-in-class products and services uniquely capable of addressing a wide spectrum of aerospace markets. The AIRO Group leverages technologies that span data systems, resupply package delivery, military aerospace training, military, and commercial manned/unmanned aircraft systems and avionics. The AIRO Group seeks to transform the aerospace industry as the first mid-tier, full-spectrum aerospace company offering end-to-end autonomy and UAS solutions. The AIRO Group includes the following international aerospace companies: AgileDefense LLC, Airgility, AIRO Drone LLC, Aspen Avionics, Coastal Defense, Sky-Watch A/S, and VRCO Ltd.

Additional information about the AIRO Group can be found on its website at www.theAIROgroup.com

All inquiries, please contact (AIRO) at media@airo.aero or the Stephens Aerospace & Defense investment banking team at Chris.Gidden@Stephens.com

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Transportation starts with a company putting its fleet managers, logistics engineers, and safety leads on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Fleet and logistics buyers compare quietly, and your operators become the evidence that settles it.

Get your team featuredSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.

Follow Transportation Insights

Get new expert content in your inbox.

Transportation: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Transportation buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. See how AI describes your company today, and where competitors show up instead.

Free workspace

You just read one Transportation expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your fleet managers, logistics engineers, and safety leads into the articles, video, and social content Transportation buyers are searching for. Create a free workspace and see it with your own people. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Transportation Insights

FAA certification of the 737 MAX-7 clears Boeing to expand its narrowbody fleet offering for the first time in nearly a decade

FAA certification of the 737 MAX-7 clears Boeing to expand its narrowbody fleet offering for the first time in nearly a decade

The FAA has certified Boeing's 737 MAX-7, marking the end of a lengthy regulatory review. This certification allows Boeing to provide a new narrowbody aircraft option in its updated MAX family.

  • 01The FAA's certification of the 737 MAX-7 ends a protracted regulatory process.
  • 02Boeing can now expand its narrowbody fleet offerings for the first time in almost ten years.
  • 03The 737 MAX-7 is a part of Boeing's updated MAX aircraft family.

Aug 12, 2026

UPS has structurally reset its network by cutting roughly half of its Amazon volume

UPS has structurally reset its network by cutting roughly half of its Amazon volume

UPS has strategically reduced its volume of Amazon parcels by half, allowing it to cut costs significantly. This restructuring is part of a multiyear effort that has ultimately improved UPS's full-year financial outlook. The move is expected to strip billions in costs by focusing on higher-margin packages.

  • 01UPS has cut its Amazon parcel volume by 50%, aiming to reduce costs.
  • 02The restructuring strategy has led UPS to lift its full-year financial outlook.
  • 03Focusing on higher-margin packages allows UPS to enhance profitability.

Aug 11, 2026

India's logistics infrastructure is accelerating on every front, from rail to air to cross-border trade

India's logistics infrastructure is accelerating on every front, from rail to air to cross-border trade

India is rapidly expanding its logistics infrastructure through improvements in rail, road, air, and digital platforms to achieve a unified, multimodal logistics network by 2026. This development aims to bolster both domestic markets and enhance cross-border trade efficiency. The comprehensive strategy highlights India's commitment to becoming a global logistics hub.

  • 01India aims to establish a unified, multimodal logistics network by 2026.
  • 02Improvements in railways, roads, air, and digital platforms are central to India's logistics expansion.
  • 03The logistics overhaul is expected to enhance India's domestic market connectivity and cross-border trade.

Aug 11, 2026

Explore More Transportation Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Transportation.

Browse Transportation Hub

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Transportation and beyond.

Book a 15-minute demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512