Ken Karklin, CEO of Pivotal, spoke with Shephard during SOF Week in Tampa, Florida, where a live demonstration of the BlackFly aircraft played out mid-interview - highlighting the platform’s agility and low acoustic footprint as it performed precision manoeuvres behind him.
Originally designed for recreational use, the BlackFly is the world’s first commercially available light eVTOL and has now been flight-tested across a wide range of environments.
Karklin explained that the aircraft’s simplicity of operation, quiet flight profile and low maintenance needs have prompted Pivotal to explore defence sector roles including ISR, personnel mobility, resupply, and autonomous operations in austere environments.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin also urged caution over a “drone-tastic” way of thinking when it comes to their use alongside traditional air and underwater domain platforms.
In July 2025 Teal Drones was awarded Tranche 2 of the US Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) programme for a small uncrewed aerial system (sUAS).
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said the decision to discontinue discussions on the fighter training detachment was mutually agreed with the US.
With US tariffs and stalled defence talks slowing imports, India has cleared a $3.4 billion plan for 87 tri‑service MALE UAVs with 60% indigenous content – accelerating self‑reliance as operational lessons from May’s four‑day conflict drive urgency.
In its Q2 earnings call, the company said it has internal targets set for similar double-digit growth for 2026, as it welcomed a 21% boost in 2025 profits so far compared to 2024.
The Mid-Life Upgrade agreement comes as Poland makes significant increases in its defence spend as its plans to increase it to 5% of GDP by 2026.
Connect with us on socials
