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X-Bow Providing Rocket Assisted Takeoff Kit For AEVEX Long-Range Loitering Munition

By Cal Biesecker

Tuesday, April 7th, 2026

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X-Bow Providing Rocket Assisted Takeoff Kit For AEVEX Long-Range Loitering Munition

AEVEX's Disruptor loitering munition launching with a rocket-assisted takeoff kit supplied by X-Bow Systems. Photo: X-Bow Systems

X-Bow Systems has entered a new end market with a new tool in its quiver, receiving a $12.2 million contract from AEVEX to produce rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO) kits to launch the company’s Disruptor long-range loitering munition. The contract covers more than 1,000 production kits, which enable some unmanned systems to takeoff from unprepared surfaces and relatively tight areas to provide users more flexibility. X-Bow said its RATO kit could potentially expand the payload capacity and range of drones. Deliveries began…

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