Cubcrafters announced on Wednesday that the company's certified CC19 XCub was selected by the USDA for a new government aircraft fleet modernization contract. CubCrafters has supplied aircraft for various U.S. government agencies to complete missions in remote or extreme environments.
Cubcrafters aircraft have been used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the USDA, the U.S. Air Force Flight Academy and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. Under this new contract, the XCubs in fleet service of the U.S. government will be used for natural resources management. The first two aircraft will be delivered to USDA Wildlife Services in the late summer of 2023.
"Our long relationship with the U.S. government is a strong testament to our ability to design and manufacture exceptionally rugged utility aircraft for backcountry missions," CubCrafter's President and CEO Patrick Horgan said. "This contract is not only important for us as a supplier for the US Government but also for investors participating in our ongoing public offering. This sale demonstrates that our newest generation of fully certified modern utility aircraft can replace the aging fleet of legacy aircraft now in service. It shows that there is a very bright future for our fleet sales program."RELATED STORY: CubCrafters gets SEC approval for public stock offering
Recently, CubCrafters qualified to make a $50 million public stock offering under Regulation A+. This public offering allowed investors to purchase stock in the company for the first time. It was a privately held company for forty years before opening up to the public for investors. Opening up to the public under this SEC regulation allows CubCrafters to raise more money for the company from investors worldwide.
CubCrafters aircraft are often used for forward-deployed patrol, search and rescue, natural resource management, surveillance and aerial survey missions. The U.S. Air Force uses CubCrafters aircraft for glider towing and flight-testing various sensors. Using one of these backcountry aircraft enables a lower-cost alternative to helicopters and other more costly fixed-wing aircraft.
"CubCrafters aircraft are built tough and durable for use where few other aircraft can go," CubCrafters' VP Brad Damm said. "They are reliable, easy to operate, and require very little maintenance. We appreciate that the Federal Government trusts the lives of its employees with our aircraft, and no one takes that trust more seriously than we do."
"We are proud of this win and the continuing relationship that we have with multiple government agencies to provide the most safe, most reliable, and mission-capable fixed-wing aircraft in the backcountry," Damm said. "We will continue to keep our focus on improving our product quality and performance, along with optimizing service and support for our customers."