Dillon Aero, Inc.

Dillon Aero, Inc., a Phoenix, Arizona-based defense manufacturer, supplies machine guns, weapon components, ordnance accessories, and specialized aircraft parts to the Department of Defense as a prime contractor (99% of awards) competing full-and-open against all vendors, with recent activity showing steep decline from 117 awards in 2022 to 4 in 2026. The company is a for-profit Subchapter S Corporation that owns a subsidiary, Charon Industries, LLC, a self-certified small disadvantaged business and veteran-owned entity.

Dillon Aero's core capability footprint centers on minigun systems—particularly the M134 and M134D variants—machine gun housings, weapon adapter rails, drive gear assemblies, springs, bolts, and related ordnance accessories classified under NAICS 332994 (Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing). Representative recent prime work includes a $3.2 million definitive contract with TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (March 2026) for National Stock Numbered housing and safing sector assembly components; a $2.08 million definitive contract with the Department of the Army (December 2025) for M134D-H systems and spare parts; a $6.25 million definitive contract with TACOM (August 2024) for bolt assembly manufacturing; a $3.36 million delivery order modification with US Special Operations Command (December 2024) for M134 miniguns and spare parts supporting a Foreign Military Sales customer; and a $1.38 million definitive contract with the Air Force (February 2024) for GAU-2 DC conversion kits for combat rescue helicopters across six bases. Dillon Aero also performs aerospace support subcontracts to Boeing on AH-6 and CH-47F aircraft programs (Thailand and Germany FMS cases) and to Defense Systems and Solutions on UH-60M delivery for Australia.

Customer concentration is heavily skewed toward DLA and Army platforms. The top five funding agencies by award count account for 79% of recent awards: Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime (1,005 awards, $30.4 million combined potential value) dominates volume but carries modest dollar value; United States Special Operations Command (126 awards, $91.9 million) anchors the largest dollar share; Department of the Army Materiel Command TACOM (122 awards, $62.5 million) places substantial definitive contracts; Defense Logistics Agency Aviation (126 awards, $5.9 million); and DLA Troop Support Hardware (97 awards, $419 thousand). By potential value, the split inverts sharply: Army Detroit Arsenal (28 awards, $97.8 million) leads dollars despite fewer awards, USSOCOM follows, TACOM contributes $62.5 million on larger definitive awards, and Naval Sea Systems Command (41 awards, $57.8 million) supplies rotary-wing platforms. This split reflects Dillon Aero's dual role as high-volume supplier of small components to DLA and prime contractor on major systems to Army and SOCOM.

Dillon Aero holds five named parent contract vehicles. The largest is Indefinite Delivery Contract DAAE2002D0066 (144 task orders, $51.5 million combined potential value), which appears to be a long-standing DLA or Army IDC for component replenishment. Indefinite Delivery Contracts SP074003D9753 (88 task orders) and SPM74003D9753 (71 task orders, $405 thousand) round out DLA work. IDC N0016408DJN32 (43 task orders, $16.6 million) with Naval Sea Systems Command places delivery orders for minigun systems and conversion kits. IDC H9224106A0001 (37 task orders, $4 million) serves an unnamed customer. Additionally, the source documents a newly established Basic Ordering Agreement Sustainment Track (BOAST) Program BOA awarded by PEO CSCSS on April 1, 2026, carrying a zero dollar ceiling but establishing framework terms for Class IX supplies procurement through April 1, 2031.

Activity has contracted sharply. The vendor received 117 awards in 2022, 158 in 2023, then collapsed to 47 in 2024, 22 in 2025, and 4 in the first quarter of 2026. Only five awards face ultimate completion inside the next twenty-four months (combined potential value $9.9 million), presenting minimal recompete exposure and suggesting a significant workflow cliff. This trajectory signals either market loss, production ramp-down, or shift to larger, fewer contracts—the latter consistent with the 2024–2026 shift toward multi-million-dollar definitive procurements from Army and SOCOM.

Dillon Aero serves as a subcontractor to Boeing on rotary-wing aerospace programs, providing long-lead items and machinegun equipment for AH-6 and CH-47F aircraft destined for Thailand, Germany, and allied nations. Sub-award activity is minimal (1% of total) and recent, concentrated in 2025–2026, suggesting selective use of prime relationships rather than a subcontracting-dependent model.

The company competes exclusively full-and-open; no set-asides appear in its award footprint. This posture, combined with its specialization in miniguns and component manufacturing, positions Dillon Aero as an incumbent supplier to DLA and DoD for critical ordnance items but vulnerable to larger prime integrators and foreign military sales shifts.

Manufacturer of the M134D/M134D-H 7.62MM Gatling Gun system and associated mounts, spares, & services.

Since its establishment, Dillon Aero has fielded and supported more than 6,000 weapons systems in more than 30 countries. Our products are superior in their cutting-edge design, as evidenced by their reliability and ease of use. With decades of history and proven performance behind us, Dillon remains committed to building and maintaining the best. Our name is our reputation.