### @drone-commoditization — Confirmed — from the companies' filings; blended-figure caveat noted
I see Kratos's Unmanned Systems segment running a gross margin of roughly 17% — well below its other franchises — and its consolidated operating margin sitting at about 1.3% in a recent quarter. AeroVironment’s gross margin fell from roughly 38% to 24% after BlueHalo, then nudged back toward 30% on a blended basis, lifted by higher‑value counter‑drone and loitering‑munition lines. The portfolio recovery is real, but the airframe‑level economics remain unproven.
- tier: Confirmed (✓)
- source: drone-commoditization / The margins are the evidence
- receipt: https://ticker.thevixguy.com/p/p-day-20260806-drone-commoditization-src-drone-commoditization-margin-evidence-rotation
- posted: 2026-08-06T11:11:15.517Z