Cutting-Edge Technology Production that Could Tip the Global Scales
With a team of 1,300 employees and 700,000 square feet of manufacturing and production capabilities worldwide, Redwire has grown rapidly over the last decade. Redwire’s wholly owned subsidiary, Edge Autonomy, has made great strides in the U.S. and European Union Markets, with offices across the U.S. and in Canada, Ukraine, and Latvia. Jānis Vilmanis, Production Manager at Redwire’s Edge Autonomy office in Riga, Latvia, has the unique perspective of witnessing this growth firsthand.
Latvia’s Rapid Industry Growth at a Mission-Critical Moment
“I joined Edge Autonomy and the drone industry ten years ago right after university, and it’s been rewarding to grow with the team into the thriving global company that it is today,” says Jānis. “After all these years, it’s hard to imagine working anywhere else, since the work is so dynamic and offers constant exposure to cutting-edge technologies.”
The vital role the drone industry is playing in the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion gives Jānis and his colleagues a strong sense of purpose. Latvia has already made major contributions to the international Drone Coalition, which was formed in 2024 to ensure Ukraine’s UAS supremacy and promote allied UAS capabilities. Edge Autonomy continues to support Ukraine and the efforts of the Drone Coalition, remaining a dynamic leader in drone innovation and participating in events like the 2025 Drone Summit, which featured high-level political leaders, military experts, and industry innovators.
Meeting and Exceeding Production Goals
The need for uncrewed aircraft that can deliver actionable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data in complex environments like Ukraine is only increasing.
“It’s immensely gratifying to be part of a company where we consistently achieve very ambitious—some might even say unrealistic—goals,” explains Jānis. “Meeting or surpassing these objectives becomes possible because our entire organization is working toward a common purpose and is willing to continually adapt to increase our output in significant ways.”
Flexibility, a commitment to continuous improvement, and meeting challenges that seem daunting is a bold approach that has not only resulted in crucial growth for the Riga office but also for Jānis personally in his career.
“I have had a lot of solid mentors at Edge Autonomy and also engage in knowledge exchange with other companies in order to adopt best practices,” says Jānis. “To be an effective Production Manager, I continuously gain new knowledge, pay attention to details, and build a strong, independent team around me that I can rely on.”
Charting the Future of UAS Innovation on a Global Scale
Jānis is excited about where the drone industry is headed and expects even more rapid advancements in the coming years.
“The drone industry is currently entering its next rapid phase of development, and right now, the sky is the limit,” he continues. “Even today, the world is experiencing a situation where, without our industry, much of what is being accomplished with uncrewed missions would not be possible. The technology we are creating can tip the scales on a global level.”
Jānis is confident that Edge Autonomy will continue to play a leading role in drone innovation, not only in Europe and the U.S. but globally. This is the result of the advanced technology production teams like Jānis’s, who are trailblazing in the marketplace while maintaining the solid foundation of company culture.
“It’s a very open culture, capable of quickly adapting, evolving, and introducing innovations while maintaining high quality standards. This potent combination of robust flexibility and premium quality leads to front-line customer solutions that are proving their capabilities in today’s most critical battlespaces,” says Janis.
It’s Manufacturing Week in the United State, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the men and women who proudly produce the technology at Redwire’s Edge Autonomy. Advanced manufacturing brings about the careers that fuel the technologies of today and the future. We need a skilled workforce with the passion to continue production innovations – we see a bright future manufacturing!
Read more recent news about Redwire’s Edge Autonomy team here: Redwire Announces Follow-On Delivery of Edge Autonomy’s Penguin UAS to Ukraine Armed Forces | Redwire Space
