RapidFlight Archives - Potomac Local News

Published June 16, 2025 at 7:30AM

MANASSAS, Va. – Senator Mark Warner visited the City of Manassas on Thursday, June 12, 2025, where he joined Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger, Vice Mayor Mark Wolfe, and City Council Members Ashley Hutson and Ralph Smith for a tour of RapidFlight, the city’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer. The visit highlighted RapidFlight’s role in national defense innovation and the city’s growing importance in advanced technology manufacturing.

The same day, Micron Technology, Inc. announced a major national investment plan totaling approximately $200 billion, including $150 billion in domestic memory manufacturing and $50 billion in research and development. The plan includes an expansion and modernization of Micron’s existing facility in Manassas, supported by a $275 million CHIPS Act direct funding award. Work at the Manassas site is expected to begin this year.

Manassas

Manassas Drone Company RapidFlight to Host Senator Warner

By Potomac Local News

Published June 12, 2025 at 7:30AM

Virginia Senators Tim Kaine (D) and Mark Warner (D) [Photo: Germanna Community College]

The visit, scheduled from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at RapidFlight’s headquarters, 9635 Center Street, will include a live interview with the senator and a Q&A session open to guests. The event is free and hosted in coordination with the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, city leaders, and RapidFlight executives.

Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger confirmed the visit during her June 11 virtual address to the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, where she provided a wide-ranging update on city projects, economic development, and veteran initiatives.

Business

US Air Force awards $10 million contract to Manassas-based RapidFlight

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published June 7, 2024 at 11:32AM | Updated June 7, 2024 at 1:48PM

RapidFlight will develop and produce an autonomous aircraft for the USAF.

RapidFlight has secured a contract worth up to $10 million from the U.S. Department of the Air Force’s AFWERX Autonomy Prime program to develop the SPX, a customizable autonomous fixed-wing aircraft system. This partnership aims to accelerate the integration of autonomous technologies into Air Force programs, with RapidFlight providing design, development, testing, and training over a 36-month period, highlighting their innovative AgileAviation process to reduce development time and costs.

Business

Virginia Congressman Wittman visits Manassas-Based Dronemaker RapidFlight

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 8, 2024 at 10:26PM | Updated May 9, 2024 at 11:27AM

Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA 1), Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, visited RapidFlight, a Manassas-based designer and mass manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the global defense industry, last week.

RapidFlight briefed Congressman Wittman on its capacity to disrupt the industry with cost-effective, mission-customizable drones that offer five times the range and endurance at a fraction of the cost of traditional small UAV systems. The company’s approach, AgileAviation, boasts over 20 customizable UAV designs and a proprietary software-hardware stack aimed at ensuring U.S. competitiveness against overseas production, particularly from countries like China.