BlueSky Innovations is a U.S. defense manufacturer headquartered in Largo, Florida, with additional manufacturing operations in Lexington, North Carolina. Founded in 2002, the service-disabled veteran-owned business manufactures equipment for military communications, surveillance, electronic warfare and tactical operations. The company operates three business units: BlueSky Mast, BlueSky Mobile Power and BlueSky Robotics. Their products include deployable mast systems, vehicle-mounted power generators and tracked unmanned ground vehicles. BlueSky reports more than 45,000 systems fielded worldwide and commercial relationships with all branches of the U.S. military and 20 of the 25 largest U.S. defense integrators. Customers also include hundreds of smaller defense contractors and government agencies.
BlueSky Mast manufactures portable tripod-based and vehicle-mounted masts that raise antennas, cameras, communications equipment and surveillance sensors above ground level. Military applications include command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and counter-drone operations. The masts use aerospace-grade aluminum alloy and interlocking sections, while a tool-free mounting system lets operators attach equipment without specialized tools. Tripod-based units can operate independently of a vehicle, trailer or shelter, allowing personnel to position communications and surveillance equipment where required. The mast sections fit into a wheeled carrying case measuring 54 by 14 by 14 inches, simplifying transport and storage alongside other field equipment.
Hybrid Power for Combat Vehicles
BlueSky Mobile Power manufactures diesel engines and hybrid electrical-generation systems for military vehicles and field operations. Its Hybrid Auxiliary Power Unit, or H-APU, generates electricity for communications equipment, sensors, computing hardware and other onboard electrical loads. The system uses BlueSky’s BMP-478 diesel engine, an axial-flux electric motor and power electronics. Vehicle-mounted installation allows the unit to generate electricity without a separate generator trailer. The engine runs on JP-8 and F-24 military fuels, allowing operators to use fuel already carried by military formations. The H-APU can also work with existing vehicle batteries rather than requiring a dedicated battery pack.
The standard H-APU generates 5 kilowatts of electrical power, with a maximum output of 6.5 kW at 28 volts DC. Variable-speed operation adjusts engine output to electrical demand, reducing fuel consumption at partial loads compared with fixed-speed generator operation. BlueSky lists more than 11 Army exercises and field events involving the system since mid-2024, including tests in cold-weather and desert settings. Military work has involved Army DEVCOM C5ISR, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, the 10th Mountain Division, the 25th Infantry Division and Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems. BlueSky is also developing power-management equipment for tactical electrical networks, including a gateway designed to comply with the Tactical Microgrid Standard.
Robotics for Ground Missions
BlueSky Robotics manufactures jEKYLL, a tracked unmanned ground vehicle designed to transport equipment and perform tasks without an operator riding inside. The standard configuration measures 63 inches long, 31 inches wide and 27 inches high, excluding its payload, and weighs approximately 1,102 pounds without cargo. Rated payload capacity is 1,764 pounds. The vehicle reaches speeds of up to 7.5 mph and has a listed range of approximately 14 miles. Its tracked undercarriage, shock absorbers and anti-roll system are designed for uneven terrain. The vehicle can climb slopes of up to 45 degrees, depending on payload and terrain, and carries an IP66 rating for protection against dust and powerful water jets. The 31-inch-wide vehicle can pass through a standard 32-inch doorway.
The jEKYLL uses a 51.2-volt, 160-amp-hour lithium-ion battery that can be replaced in the field. Charging takes approximately 4.5 hours, depending on the charger. Operators can control the vehicle through tethered connections, Wi-Fi, radio or satellite communications. An optional navigation module enables waypoint navigation, obstacle avoidance and follow-me functions. The modular platform can be reconfigured without tools for reconnaissance, casualty evacuation and equipment transport. At Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, BlueSky demonstrated jEKYLL with French partner ANGATEC, including a live field demonstration by the French Army. The vehicle also appeared at displays associated with the Romanian pavilion and France’s Ministry of the Interior. Other demonstrations have included casualty extraction through a confined trench network and movement through a collapsed structure during an industrial-fire response. These events demonstrate the vehicle’s intended uses but do not establish a military procurement award or widespread operational deployment.
U.S. Manufacturing and Production
BlueSky operates two principal U.S. manufacturing sites. The Largo, Florida, operation occupies approximately 80,000 square feet on 7.5 acres and houses computer numerical control machining, additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping. The Lexington, North Carolina, site covers approximately 70,000 square feet and handles diesel-engine manufacturing, fabrication and assembly. BlueSky also designs and manufactures axial-flux motors in-house. These capabilities allow the company to produce precision-machined parts, engine assemblies and specialized defense equipment within its domestic manufacturing network. The Lexington site occupies a building previously used by the motorsports industry to manufacture race cars, drawing on the region’s engine-engineering workforce.
BlueSky has been relocating production of the BMP-478 engine to Lexington after acquiring the engine’s intellectual property and manufacturing assets. The engine family powers its hybrid electrical-generation systems, while turbocharged versions are in development for higher-output applications. Published specifications list a 10-kWe H-APU variant, capable of up to 12 kW in maximum-output mode, as under development. A 15-kWe version remains on the product roadmap. Relocating production gives BlueSky domestic control over engine manufacturing, tooling, technical documentation and parts availability. Across its three business units, the company manufactures equipment for raising antennas and sensors, generating electricity for vehicle electronics and transporting cargo or performing remote tasks. Future sales will depend on military procurement decisions, product qualification, production capacity and the company’s ability to meet delivery schedules.
ABOUT | CHRISTIAN OLIVER
Christian Oliver is the chief executive officer of BlueSky Innovations, a defense technology manufacturer headquartered in Largo, Florida. He has more than 25 years of experience in the defense technology sector and leads a business producing deployable mast systems, hybrid power-generation equipment and unmanned ground vehicles for military and emergency-response applications. Under his leadership, BlueSky has expanded its product portfolio across tactical elevation, mobile power and robotics, including the jEKYLL tracked unmanned ground vehicle. Oliver has also highlighted the company’s work with international technology partners, including French robotics company ANGATEC, whose joint demonstrations have included military casualty evacuation and emergency-response operations.
