Huntsville, Ala.—Aerobotix, a leading robotics integrator for the aerospace and defense industries, announced today the deployment of its 16th robotic system designed specifically for missile coating. The new turnkey solution will support various missile defense systems, including but not limited to cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and hypersonic missile programs, while reducing costs and improving quality.

Aerobotix’s robotic paint systems efficiently spray performance and custom materials onto complex missile surfaces. The robots apply coatings to contoured inner and outer surfaces with incredibly accurate tolerances. This precision exceeds what human operators can achieve consistently and at a faster rate. The technology significantly improves both manufacturing throughput and product quality. Additionally, human painters now operate safely from climate-controlled control stations instead of being exposed to hazardous paint fumes and munitions. As the implementation of automated robotics in missile programs continues to increase, company leadership hopes that more defense contractors are aware of this technology.

“Installing system number sixteen is an incredible feat, and we are excited to be in this position,” said Keith Pfeifer, Aerobotix president. “At the end of the day, however, there are a lot more missile programs that are doing things the traditional way [manual painters]. What happens when the DOD comes asking for more? This is where Aerobotix can come in to help answer the call.”

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018, but updated in 2025 to include a rendering and reflect the continued relevance of industrial automation in the defense industry.