Red Cat Successfully Completes Flight Testing of Palantir’s VNav Software on Black Widow™ Drone

Rhea-AI Summary

Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) completed flight testing of Palantir Visual Navigation (VNav) on its Black Widow™ drone on Oct. 27, 2025, demonstrating visual navigation in GPS-denied conditions for a U.S. Army Short Range Reconnaissance program aircraft.

Tests validated full integration with the Black Widow flight controller, reliable operation down to 150 ft AGL and 16 mph, successful ISR mission completion without GPS or human input, and a reported mean positional error of ~7 meters over 2.7 km. No additional hardware was required.

Positive

• Full VNav integration with Black Widow flight controller validated
• Navigation functional in GPS-denied environments
• No extra hardware required; runs on existing onboard sensors
• Operational envelope validated to 150 ft AGL and 16 mph

Negative

• Mean positional error ~7 m over a 2.7-km route may limit precision
• Capability is preliminary; awaiting formal Army demonstration and productization

Insights

Defense-technology integration analyst

Successful VNav flights on an Army program drone validate visual navigation integration and suggest near-term operational and commercial upside.

The test shows Palantir VNav integrated with the Black Widow™ flight controller and navigated a full ISR profile without GPS, using only onboard sensors; reported metrics include a mean positional error of ~7 meters over a 2.7-kilometer route, reliable operation down to 150 feet AGL, and sustained performance at speeds up to 16 mph. Those concrete measured outcomes demonstrate a functioning software-only navigation capability on a platform already in the U.S. Army Short Range Reconnaissance program.

Caveats and dependencies include the need for a formal Army demonstration and productization to move from test article to fielded capability, and the reported performance numbers define only a preliminary envelope rather than sustained operational metrics across all terrains and threat conditions. Watch for completion of the formal Army demonstration and any documented acceptance criteria, plus commercial deployment plans and timelines toward 2026 revenue expectations; these items will determine whether the capability becomes a program-wide fielded option.

Validation marks first known demonstration of visual navigation software on a U.S. Army program of record drone

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) ("Red Cat'' or the "Company"), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, today announced the successful flight testing of its Black Widow™ drone equipped with Palantir Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: PLTR) Visual Navigation (VNav) Software.

The test demonstrated that the Black Widow™ drone, currently part of the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program of record, can navigate in GPS-denied conditions using Palantir’s visual-based navigation software. This marks the first known commercial demonstration of visual navigation software on a drone already accepted into a U.S. Army program.

“This is a breakthrough moment not just for Red Cat, but for the tactical needs of the Department of War,” said Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat. “Every battlefield is a GPS-denied environment, and this successful test shows that Red Cat and Palantir are delivering a software-driven solution the Army can rely on. It requires no new hardware, is ready to deploy today, and gives warfighters the edge in contested environments. It also signals our evolution into a full-stack defense technology platform, with expected margin expansion and strong revenue potential in 2026.”

VNav uses edge-based sensor fusion to generate real-time position estimates from visual cues and inertial data, enabling navigation in denied or degraded environments. Over a multi-day series of tests, Red Cat and Palantir engineers evaluated VNav across nominal and GPS-denied conditions, including high-speed and low-altitude flights.

The testing sequence validated:

• Full integration of VNav with the Black Widow™ flight controller, including compatibility with GPS-assisted operation
  
• Accurate navigation in simulated GPS-denied environments
  
• Reliable operation at altitudes as low as 150 feet AGL and speeds up to 16 mph
  
• Robust performance in twilight and extremely low-light conditions
  
• A simulated reconnaissance mission with dynamic flight parameters, completed successfully without GPS or human input
  
  

These results helped define a preliminary performance envelope for VNav on the Black Widow system. The final mission demonstrated VNav’s ability to navigate a complete ISR mission profile, including cruising to a target, descending for surveillance, flying local waypoints, and returning, all without GPS and with continuous positional awareness.

Palantir engineers reported that VNav achieved a mean positional error of approximately 7 meters over a 2.7-kilometer route. No additional hardware was required for any of the flights, as VNav runs entirely on the Black Widow’s existing onboard sensors.

“Palantir Visual Navigation performed well in real-world conditions,” said Akash Jain, President and CTO, Palantir USG. “This demonstrates our approach to visual navigation in disrupted environments –– delivering intelligent software that adapts, scales across platforms like Black Widow, and supports the Army’s integrated operating systems.”

Red Cat and Palantir are working toward a formal Army demonstration and full productized VNav capability for all fielded Black Widow systems.

About Red Cat Holdings, Inc.
Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, Red Cat develops American-made hardware and software that support military, government, and public safety operations across air, land, and sea. Its Family of Systems, led by Black Widow™, delivers unmatched tactical capabilities in small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). Expanding into the maritime domain through Blue Ops, Inc., Red Cat is also innovating in uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), delivering integrated platforms designed to enhance safety and multi-domain mission effectiveness. Learn more at www.redcat.red.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Red Cat Holdings, Inc.'s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Form 10-KT filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2025. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Media Contact:
Peter Moran
Indicate Media
peter@indicatemedia.com
(347) 880-2895

Investor Contact:
Investors@redcat.red

FAQ

What did Red Cat announce about Palantir VNav on Black Widow (RCAT) on Oct. 27, 2025?

Red Cat announced successful flight testing showing Palantir VNav can navigate the Black Widow in GPS-denied conditions and complete ISR missions without additional hardware.

How accurate was VNav during Red Cat's Black Widow tests (RCAT)?

Palantir engineers reported a mean positional error of ~7 meters over a 2.7-kilometer route.

What flight conditions did VNav prove on Black Widow in the RCAT test?

Tested across nominal and GPS-denied conditions, including high-speed and low-altitude flights, twilight and very low-light conditions.

Does VNav require additional hardware to run on Black Widow (RCAT)?

No; VNav ran entirely on the Black Widow's existing onboard sensors during all flights.

What operational limits were validated for VNav on Black Widow (RCAT)?

Testing validated reliable operation down to 150 ft AGL and speeds up to 16 mph.

What are the next steps after Red Cat's VNav flight tests on Black Widow (RCAT)?

Red Cat and Palantir are working toward a formal Army demonstration and productizing VNav for fielded Black Widow systems.