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.
During the two-hour visit, RapidFlight showcased its methodology for developing unmanned systems, which prioritizes mission requirements and tailors airframes accordingly. The company’s manufacturing facility, which employs dozens of local workers, was toured, highlighting its ability to produce at scale. RapidFlight also presented its Mobile Production System (MPS), introduced earlier this year, which enables manufacturing at the tactical edge.
Congressman Wittman emphasized the need for innovative, mass-produced, and quickly customizable solutions to meet the evolving challenges faced by the U.S. Armed Forces and its allies in a complex global environment.
“We get so wrapped up in doing science project after science project, but you have to be able to scale it and have an operational effect,” Wittman remarked on the state of Pentagon technology development.
Mike Uffelman, RapidFlight’s Director of Growth, highlighted the importance of congressional engagement with companies like RapidFlight in enhancing national defense capabilities.
“Congressman Wittman can help facilitate innovative solutions from emerging manufacturers aimed at bolstering our national defense strategy,” Uffelman stated. “We are excited to work with our elected officials on Capitol Hill to provide our service members with the tools they need to accomplish the mission.”
RapidFlight sits in the old Georator Corporation Building on Center Street in Downtown Manassas. Last summer, Gov. Glenn Youngkin held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the company’s expansion and new offices.
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