PAL Aerospace has finalized its acquisition of the UK’s Airtask Group, marking a major development in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sector and strengthening capabilities for both United Kingdom and global markets. This combination pairs PAL Aerospace’s vast international expertise with Airtask’s four decades of operational excellence, boosting sovereign UK ISR capacity, innovation, and export-ready mission solutions across security, infrastructure, and environmental domains.
Headquartered in Milton Keynes, Airtask Group has been a fixture in British aviation since 1983, renowned for its integrated solutions in maritime surveillance, fisheries enforcement, atmospheric research, and lifeline passenger services for remote islands. Now operating as a UK-led subsidiary under PAL Aerospace, Airtask Group will retain full sovereign control of its operations, promising continuity of service to both government and commercial customers. The new partnership promises rapid acceleration in aerospace R&D and advanced sensor integration, combining PAL Aerospace’s record of over 350,000 special mission flight hours with Airtask’s regulatory and technical expertise.
In a statement to stakeholders, Calvin Ash, President of PAL Aerospace, affirmed, “This acquisition reflects our long-term commitment to our UK customers, stakeholders, and aerospace sector. By combining our global special mission experience with Airtask Group’s recognized operational excellence, we are investing in UK jobs, infrastructure, and innovation. Together, we will strengthen in-country ISR capacity, expand export opportunities, and ensure continuity of service for customers who rely on these essential missions every day.”
Julie Simper, Managing Director of Airtask Group, echoed these sentiments: “From the outset, our priority was to work with like-minded people who put the mission and the people behind it first. As impressive as the technology is, you can’t deliver these missions without skilled pilots, operators, and ground teams. This partnership brings the resources and reach to grow our capabilities while keeping that mission-first culture intact. I look forward to continuing to lead Airtask Group alongside PAL Aerospace while ensuring we remain a trusted partner for our customers.”
Airtask Group’s legacy of low-level maritime surveillance, advanced sensor integration, and regulatory excellence is seen as a strong complement to PAL Aerospace’s international reach. The integration aims to deliver rapid advancements in aerospace R&D, field cutting-edge mission technologies, and grow exports with export-ready, scalable solutions. Expanding personnel and infrastructure in the UK, PAL and Airtask are well-positioned to help address modern safety, environmental, economic, and security threats, keeping the customer’s mission always at the forefront.
The acquisition is widely seen by industry figures as a strategic move set to reshape the British and international ISR market, securing jobs, advancing technology, and safeguarding essential mission delivery for years to come. Both PAL Aerospace and Airtask Group reaffirm their dedication to a mission-first culture and operational excellence, promising greater value to customers in the UK and around the globe.
