Redwire (RDW) Stock Surges Over 90% in May on Drone Deals and Lunar Tech Milestone

TLDR

• Redwire stock has gained over 90% in May, hitting close to its best month ever
• The U.S. Army placed a $15 million follow-on order for Redwire’s Stalker drone systems — the third order from the same unit in eight months, totaling ~$24.8 million
• Redwire completed testing and delivery of the MANUS robotic lunar arm prototype for the European Space Agency
• A NATO ally signed a multi-year deal in the “high eight figures” for the Penguin Mk3 drone platform
• SpaceX’s expected public debut next month is drawing investor attention toward space infrastructure companies like Redwire

Redwire surged more than 15% in Tuesday’s premarket trading, building on a 24%-plus gain last week. The stock has now climbed over 90% in May alone, pushing the company’s market cap to nearly $3.5 billion.

Redwire Corporation, RDW

The rally is being driven by a string of defense and space contracts that landed in quick succession.

The U.S. Army’s 1st Aviation Brigade placed a $15 million follow-on order for Redwire’s Stalker unmanned aerial systems. It’s the third order from the same unit in eight months, bringing the total to roughly $24.8 million.

The Stalker drones will head to Fort Huachuca in Arizona, where they’ll support training for Army drone operators and maintenance specialists — the 15-series Military Occupational Specialty.

Steve Adlich, President of Redwire Defense Tech, said the Stalker was built to support multiple mission types and help the Army detect, identify, and track threats across different operational environments.

The Stalker platform uses a Modular Open Systems Approach, which allows for fast payload swaps and upgrades while keeping lifecycle costs down. Redwire says its training programs draw on lessons from hundreds of thousands of flight hours across six continents.

Beyond the Army deal, a NATO ally signed a separate multi-year contract in the “high eight figures” for Redwire’s Penguin Mk3 drone platform. The company did not name the country.

Lunar Arm Delivered to ESA

On the space side, Redwire completed testing and delivery of the MANUS robotic lunar arm prototype to the European Space Agency. The arm was developed with Added Value Solutions and ESA support.

MANUS is designed for ESA’s Argonaut lunar lander program, which is built to carry cargo, scientific equipment, and infrastructure to the Moon’s surface.

The system is expected to help both astronauts and robotic systems load and unload cargo during lunar missions.

Space Infrastructure in Focus

Redwire also makes Roll-Out Solar Arrays — ROSA systems — which are already used on NASA projects and the International Space Station.

Growing demand for satellite infrastructure and space-based computing could increase the need for efficient power systems in orbit, which is where ROSA fits in.

The anticipated public debut of SpaceX next month has also pointed investor attention toward companies in the space supply chain. Redwire is seen as one of those infrastructure players.

At SOF Week, Redwire highlighted a partnership with KEF Robotics for low-cost visual navigation systems that work in GPS-denied environments. The company also showcased its collaboration with Hood Tech, whose imaging and targeting tech supports the Stalker drone platform.

Redwire employs around 1,400 people across North America and Europe.

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