New Mexico firm AIRO Group is expanding its footprint in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) arena with a new drone designed for extended mission coverage.
Called the RQ-70 Dainn, the system offers an operational range of more than 62 miles (100 kilometers) and up to 8 hours of endurance, enabling persistent surveillance over wide areas.
Based on the RQ-35 platform, it features a modular payload architecture that can be configured for multiple mission roles, allowing rapid adaptation to different operational needs.
The drone is designed to operate in GPS-denied or GPS-jammed environments while maintaining connectivity for integration into digital battlefield networks.
It also supports vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and can be deployed by a single operator for fully autonomous mission execution and recovery.
An AI-enabled architecture connects the aircraft, sensors, software, and user interface into a single integrated system designed for real-time operational use.
“The RQ-70 represents a natural evolution of what we’ve learned operating in demanding and contested environments,” said Joe Burns, chief executive officer of AIRO.
“We anticipate that it will enable us to support more complex and distributed missions, extending the duration and reach of persistent surveillance, and providing warfighters with clearer, more actionable insights across the battlespace.”
Scaling to Modern Warfare Needs
Modern warfare is evolving faster than some traditional defense systems can adapt, creating a gap between new battlefield requirements and existing capabilities.
Many current systems were also developed for slower operational tempos, shaped by long development cycles, large platform requirements, and design environments that are often removed from real-world field conditions.
The RQ-70 is intended to address this gap with a system reportedly designed to operate immediately, adapt continuously, and keep pace with the speed of modern missions.
Production will be supported across AIRO facilities in Denmark and the United States using a parallel manufacturing approach.
The drone is scheduled to be showcased at Eurosatory in Paris in June, with full-scale production planned for January 2027 and deliveries expected later that year.
