U.S. Firms Test Venom Autonomous Strike Aircraft

Why It Matters

The project proves that digital manufacturing and modular design can dramatically accelerate defense hardware acquisition, aligning with the U.S. push for affordable, mass‑produced autonomous munitions. It signals a shift toward faster, lower‑cost strike capabilities for the warfighter.

Key Takeaways

• Prototype built in 71 days using digital manufacturing
• Modular open‑systems architecture cut development cycles
• Additive manufacturing reduced part count, sped production
• Demonstrates rapid acquisition for U.S. drone strategy
• Scalable to thousands of airframes annually

Pulse Analysis

The Venom prototype illustrates how the defense sector is embracing software‑centric engineering to slash development timelines. By integrating Mach Industries' open‑systems avionics with Divergent's Adaptive Production System, the two firms eliminated the traditional multi‑stage design‑to‑manufacture handoff. Additive manufacturing produced wings, fuselage and control surfaces as single‑piece assemblies, cutting part counts and simplifying supply chains. This digital‑first methodology mirrors trends in commercial aerospace, where manufacturers are turning to 3D‑printing and model‑based systems engineering to stay competitive.

Beyond the technical feat, Venom aligns with the Pentagon’s “Drone Dominance” vision, which prioritizes low‑cost, high‑volume autonomous strike platforms. Rapid prototyping reduces the risk of cost overruns and enables iterative testing, allowing the warfighter to field capabilities that evolve with emerging threats. The 71‑day timeline demonstrates that acquisition reforms—such as parallel hardware‑software development and modular open‑systems—can deliver operationally relevant prototypes far faster than legacy programs, potentially reshaping how the Department of Defense funds and fields future aircraft.

If the scaling ambitions materialize, the production model could support thousands of airframes annually, creating a new class of affordable strike assets. This could pressure traditional aerospace contractors to adopt similar digital workflows or risk losing market share in defense contracts. Moreover, the success of Venom may encourage further public‑private collaborations, accelerating the diffusion of additive manufacturing and AI‑driven flight control across the broader defense ecosystem, ultimately enhancing the United States’ strategic edge in autonomous warfare.

U.S. firms test Venom autonomous strike aircraft

By Dylan Malyasov · Feb 18, 2026

Divergent and Mach Industries Launch Venom

Key Points

• Divergent Technologies and Mach Industries launched the Venom autonomous strike aircraft prototype, developed from concept to flight readiness in 71 days.

• The project demonstrates rapid aircraft development using digital manufacturing and modular systems aligned with U.S. missile and drone acquisition efforts.

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Divergent and Mach Industries announced on Feb. 17, 2026, in Los Angeles that they have jointly launched Venom, an autonomous strike aircraft prototype developed and brought to flight readiness in 71 days, demonstrating rapid hardware development enabled by digital manufacturing and modular system design.

According to a joint announcement from the companies, the Venom aircraft serves as a flight‑demonstration platform designed to show how defense hardware can move from concept to operational prototype using software‑driven engineering and production methods. The project combines Mach Industries’ system architecture and avionics integration with Divergent’s digital manufacturing technology.

The prototype was developed using a modular open‑systems architecture established by Mach Industries, which leveraged avionics and simulation tools derived from existing flight‑proven technology stacks. Divergent executed the digital design and additive manufacturing of the aircraft’s primary structure, including wings, fuselage, skins, and control surfaces, producing them as monolithic assemblies rather than traditional multi‑part aerospace constructions.

“This partnership between Mach Industries and Divergent demonstrates a pivotal capability for the nation. By combining Mach’s innovative systems with Divergent’s revolutionary digital manufacturing platform, we’ve moved from concept to a flight‑ready prototype in 71 days,” said Alex Lovett, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Mission Capabilities in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. “This isn’t just an impressive metric—it’s a direct enabler of our strategy to achieve affordable mass and support the SECWAR’s ‘Drone Dominance’ vision. ODASW(P&E) is committed to sponsoring collaborations like this that accelerate rapid acquisition and deliver urgent, low‑cost munitions to the warfighter.”

The companies said Venom was enabled by Divergent’s Adaptive Production System (DAPS), a manufacturing approach that replaces complex multi‑hundred‑part assemblies with unified additively manufactured structures. This process reduces overall part counts while accelerating production timelines and simplifying manufacturing workflows.

“Going from inception to flight in 71 days is a clear demonstration of what’s possible when Divergent’s Adaptive Production System is utilized from day one. This is what production at the speed of relevance looks like,” said Lukas Czinger, co‑founder and chief executive officer of Divergent. “Most importantly, Divergent will drive the rapid scale‑up of this system, producing thousands of airframes annually. Partnering with Mach has been an immediate win and reflects two mission‑aligned, innovative companies executing at maximum pace.”

Mach Industries established baseline system requirements and conducted iterative testing using a shared simulation and control framework that allowed hardware and software development to proceed simultaneously. The companies said this parallel engineering model enabled accelerated validation cycles and reduced the timeline between initial design and first flight.

“Over the last 18 months Mach has taken four products from concept to flight test through rapid iteration, and Divergent’s adaptive tech stack has been instrumental in accelerating that iteration,” said Ethan Thornton, founder and chief executive officer of Mach Industries. “Mach’s selection for a production contract is the first of many opportunities to show not only speed to prototype, but speed to scaled manufacturing.”

Venom represents a prototype autonomous strike aircraft intended to demonstrate rapid‑acquisition concepts rather than an announced operational deployment. The platform integrates autonomous flight capability with scalable manufacturing techniques aimed at producing airframes more quickly than traditional aerospace programs.