ARC Aerospace Announces Groundbreaking Partnership with SiMa.ai to Develop Next Generation of Advanced Flight Computers

Low-Cost Drones and Counter-Drones Missiles Will Be Designed and Produced in Texas

EL PASO, Texas (April 30, 2026) – ARC Aerospace and Defense Systems, LLC, today announced a partnership with SiMa.ai to support ARC’s domestic production of next-generation advanced flight computers for attritable autonomous systems and low-cost counter-drone missiles. 

“Our mission through this partnership is to build a much-needed domestic supply chain for defense hardware and software—designed and produced in Texas— keeping the United States at the forefront of drone technology and effectiveness,” said Ahsan Choudhuri, ARC Aerospace Co-Founder and CEO. “By strengthening this foundation at home, we can provide our nation with the capability needed to achieve drone dominance, protect U.S. security, preserve innovation, and ensure long-term technology independence.”

“Modern aerial platforms require serious AI compute in a tiny footprint. SiMa.ai delivers purpose-built, high-efficiency, physical AI compute—where computational edge translates to strategic advantage,”  said Krishna Rangasayee, CEO and Founder of SiMa.ai. “This joint effort to integrate SiMa.ai’s Modalix MLSoC into ARC Aerospace’s next-generation autonomous capabilities is directly aimed at delivering the kind of AI compute the U.S. military needs to stay ahead.”

ARC Aerospace’s Ruby FC and Ruby CEP series flight computers integrated with SiMa.ai’s MLSoC family of AI modules will provide unprecedented edge/AI computing capabilities for navigation in GPS-denied environments, enhanced sensor fusion, and real-time target acquisition, tracking, and pointing. 

“Strengthening domestic capacity to produce low-cost autonomous and counter-UAV systems is essential to building a more resilient defense industrial base,” said Randy Gilmore, Vice President of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). “ARC Aerospace’s partnership with SiMa.ai is an important advancement in the development of intelligent flight computers that will enable next-generation autonomous systems, while supporting the manufacturing innovation and supply chain resilience needed to sustain U.S. leadership and defense readiness.” 

ARC Aerospace is expected to produce thousands of advanced flight computers in its El Paso-based upcoming advanced manufacturing facility through an automated production line. ARC Aerospace will continue to create high-quality jobs for El Paso and Texas and significantly contribute to Texas’s defense manufacturing economy.

“I’m thrilled about the partnership between ARC Aerospace and SiMa.ai and what it means for our community,” said Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I’m grateful to Dr. Choudhuri for his continued commitment to El Paso, economic development and creating high-quality jobs. ARC Aerospace, under the leadership of Dr. Choudhuri, is expanding El Paso’s role in advancing our national security through strong alliances and the development of innovative technology.”

The project aligns with a recent Pentagon initiative to increase U.S. drone production and procurement, train more drone operators, develop the logistics network needed to sustain drone deployments, and expand counter-drone defenses.

About ARC Aerospace:

ARC Aerospace and Defense Systems, LLC (ARC Aerospace), based in El Paso, Texas, is a Defense Technology Innovation and Manufacturing company specializing in agile development and manufacturing scaling of Attritable Autonomous Systems and Low-Cost Advanced Missile Technology, including Tactical and Counter-Drone strike systems. A key enabling technology solution at ARC Aerospace is its secure design engineering and manufacturing metaverse, which digitally threads systems requirements into prototype and manufacturing, and distributed manufacturing of aerospace and defense components and systems. ARC Aerospace is an alliance partner of NCDMM. Learn more at arc-aerospace.us.

About SiMa.ai

SiMa.ai is a leader in Physical AI, delivering a purpose-built, software-centric platform that brings best-in-class performance, power efficiency, and ease of use to Physical AI applications. Focused on scaling Physical AI across robotics, automotive, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, smart vision, and healthcare, SiMa.ai is led by seasoned technologists and backed by top-tier investors. Headquartered in San Jose, California. Learn more at www.sima.ai.