ARLINGTON, VA, Dec 4, 2025 – AeroVironment (AV) has announced the next phase of its AV_Halo software platform with the release of AV_Halo CORTEX and AV_Halo MENTOR.
AV_Halo is a hardware-agnostic platform that combines command and control (C2), AI-supported intelligence, synthetic training and autonomous targeting within an open-standards architecture. The addition of CORTEX and MENTOR expands this system by bringing intelligence fusion, improved situational awareness and operator-training tools.
“In today’s rapidly evolving operational environment, the advantage goes to those who can understand faster and prepare smarter,” said Wahid Nawabi, AV chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “CORTEX and MENTOR extend AV_Halo’s role as the connective tissue across missions – fusing global information, AI-powered analytics, and immersive training into a single ecosystem that helps warfighters outpace threats, reduce risk, and make better decisions at mission speed.”
The addition of CORTEX and MENTOR advances the AV_Halo roadmap by adding two capability sets that support quicker analysis, extended training and coordinated operations across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains.
AV_Halo MENTOR
AV_Halo MENTOR uses the Virtual Systems Trainer (VST) to deliver VR and AR weapons training for systems such as Stinger, Javelin and Igla. It generates a 360-degree environment built from electro-optical data and Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) to support individual and team training. Instructors can create scenarios, run engagement rehearsals and conduct after-action reviews through AV’s simulation architecture. MENTOR is available as a fixed setup or a portable kit for training at home stations or in forward environments.
AV_Halo CORTEX
AV_Halo CORTEX uses Scraawl technology to combine open-source intelligence, multi-source data and automated analysis into a single operational view. It searches global data points, including publicly available information from news, social media, imagery, video and sensor feeds, and supports analytics across text, imagery, video, geospatial layers and network relationships. The GeoPoint engine provides visual-based geolocation without metadata. CORTEX also detects drone threats using publicly available information. Insight Agents allow analysts to query datasets in natural language and share intelligence across AV_Halo and compatible systems.
“CORTEX can detect and characterize emerging drone patterns around critical infrastructure in minutes, a task that once took analysts hours. MENTOR enables air-defense teams to immediately rehearse engagements against those same threats inside a fully immersive environment,” said Scott Bowman, AV chief technology officer & vice president of global engineering. “Together, these products point to the future of mission software – tightly linked, increasingly autonomous intelligence and training that anticipate threats before they emerge.”
AV plans to expand AV_Halo with mission agents, simulation tools, airspace deconfliction features and additional intelligence and C2 services. These additions will support coordinated operations and flexible mission planning across multi-domain battlespace.
AV_Halo follows the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), a U.S. Department of Defense requirement that supports interoperability and sustainment in defense systems. The platform scales to meet changing mission needs and lets operators field only the capabilities required for each task and reduce cost. It integrates with military and commercial systems to support coordinated operations across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains.
Source: AeroVironment
About AeroVironment
AeroVironment, founded in 1971 by engineer Paul B. MacCready Jr., is a defense technology company that provides integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. Headquartered in Arlington, VA, the company develops and supports unmanned aircraft systems, loitering munitions, counter-drone technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare tools. Its portfolio includes the Raven, Puma and Switchblade platforms, which are used for surveillance, reconnaissance and precision strike missions. AeroVironment serves defense, government and commercial customers in the United States and abroad, with a national manufacturing footprint and a pipeline of new technologies aimed at future conflicts. In fiscal 2025, the company reported revenue of about $820M, expanding international sales.