Raven Industries
American industrial technology company focused on precision agriculture and formerly known for balloons, aerospace systems, engineered films, and defense products.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Raven Industries is an American industrial technology company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Founded in 1956 by James Smith, Paul (Ed) Yost, Duwayne Thon, and Joseph Kaliszewski, the company initially developed high-altitude polyethylene research balloons for the United States Navy. Its early aerospace work established capabilities in lightweight films, fabrication, aerostat design, and flight systems that later supported a much broader portfolio. During the 1960s, Raven participated in the revival of hot-air ballooning. Ed Yost’s experimental balloon flights helped demonstrate the practicality of modern hot-air ballooning, and Raven became one of the early commercial manufacturers in the field. The company expanded its Sioux Falls facilities, developed balloons for government and commercial users, and later formed Aerostar Industries to concentrate on balloon and aerospace activities. Raven’s balloon operations eventually included high-altitude scientific balloons, tethered aerostats, radar and surveillance platforms, military parachutes, uniforms, and protective equipment. It also supplied balloons and inflatable structures for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for several decades. Raven’s business broadened beyond aerospace through its Engineered Films and Applied Technology operations. Engineered Films produced plastic films and geomembranes for agricultural, industrial, environmental, and construction applications. Applied Technology developed equipment and software for precision agriculture, including guidance and steering systems, spray-control equipment, electronic displays, data-management tools, and automation technologies. This agricultural technology business became increasingly important as growers and equipment manufacturers adopted systems designed to improve application accuracy, reduce input waste, and support machine automation. From 2012 through 2021, Raven Aerostar worked with Loon LLC, an Alphabet subsidiary, on high-altitude communications balloons. Raven also participated in government and defense programs involving persistent surveillance, stratospheric navigation, and lighter-than-air platforms. These activities demonstrated the strategic value of Raven’s balloon expertise but also brought public attention to privacy and military-use questions surrounding long-duration aerial surveillance. In 2021, CNH Industrial acquired Raven Industries. The transaction followed a strategic shift in which Raven’s Applied Technology activities were integrated into CNH Industrial’s agricultural equipment and precision-farming operations. Raven’s former Engineered Films business was sold to Industrial Opportunity Partners, while the Aerostar balloon and radar business was subsequently acquired by TCOM Holdings. After the divestitures, Raven’s identity became primarily associated with precision agriculture, autonomy, farm-machine control systems, data integration, and related agricultural technology. The company has continued expanding its innovation and workforce presence in South Dakota, including investment around its Innovation Campus and support for agricultural technology education through the Raven Precision Agriculture Center at South Dakota State University.
History
Raven Industries was established in 1956 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, by James Smith, Paul (Ed) Yost, Duwayne Thon, and Joseph Kaliszewski. The founders had worked in General Mills’ aeronautical research division and created Raven to manufacture research balloons for the United States Navy. Its early products were polyethylene balloons designed to operate at altitudes of roughly 100,000 to 150,000 feet. The company initially worked from an abandoned World War II airbase and later moved into a former Manchester Biscuit Company facility after that company closed in 1961. Raven became closely associated with the revival of hot-air ballooning during the 1960s. Ed Yost’s 1960 experimental flight demonstrated the potential of modern hot-air ballooning, and Raven, Piccard Balloons, and Semco became early commercial participants in the expanding market. Raven added a 30,000-square-foot Sioux Falls facility near the airport in 1966. In 1970, the company reported launching and flying what it described as the first unmanned airship to travel through the stratosphere under powered flight. By the 1980s, Raven was producing more than 200 balloons annually. It eventually established Aerostar Industries as a dedicated balloon and aerospace subsidiary. The aerospace portfolio expanded beyond scientific and recreational balloons. Aerostar designed and manufactured high-altitude balloons, tethered aerostats, radar-related systems, military parachutes, uniforms, and protective equipment. Raven also supplied large inflatables for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1984 through 2019, producing representations of widely recognized characters. The company stopped producing hot-air balloons in 2007, citing the cost of liability insurance and a shrinking market, while retaining other aerospace and defense capabilities. Raven diversified into engineered materials and agricultural technology. Its Engineered Films segment manufactured plastic films and geomembranes for agricultural, industrial, environmental, and construction uses. Its Applied Technology segment developed precision-agriculture products, including guidance and steering systems, displays, spray-application controls, data-management tools, and equipment automation. This segment increasingly became the company’s strategic center as agriculture moved toward connected machinery, variable-rate application, autonomous operation, and centralized farm data. From 2012 to 2021, Raven Aerostar partnered with Loon LLC, an Alphabet subsidiary, on high-altitude communications balloons. Raven also supplied or tested balloon platforms for government and defense applications. In 2019, a Southern Command surveillance exercise involving 25 balloons across six Midwestern states attracted public scrutiny over privacy and the handling of collected data. The program, associated with the Pentagon’s COLD STAR initiative, reflected growing military interest in persistent stratospheric surveillance, communications, and targeting support. Raven personnel also described work with Sierra Nevada and DARPA on the Adaptable Lighter-Than-Air program, which sought more accurate balloon navigation using Doppler-laser techniques. CNH Industrial acquired Raven in 2021, taking control of the company’s Applied Technology operations and integrating its precision-agriculture capabilities with CNH’s agricultural machinery business. The transaction ended Raven’s period as a Nasdaq-listed independent company. The former Engineered Films operation was sold to Industrial Opportunity Partners, and the Aerostar balloon and radar business was later acquired by TCOM Holdings. Raven subsequently concentrated on agricultural autonomy, machine control, guidance, displays, application systems, and farm-data integration. It expanded its Innovation Campus near Baltic, South Dakota, supported a cyber-defense hub with Dakota State University, and contributed to agricultural technology education through the Raven Precision Agriculture Center at South Dakota State University.
- 2021
CNH Industrial acquires Raven Industries
[1]CNH Industrial acquired Raven, ending its status as an independent Nasdaq-listed company and taking control of its Applied Technology business.
- 2021
Raven Precision Agriculture Center opens
[1]South Dakota State University opened the Raven Precision Agriculture Center for education and research in agricultural technology.
- 2019
COLD STAR surveillance testing reported
[1]A Southern Command exercise used 25 Raven balloons across six Midwestern states, prompting questions about surveillance, privacy, and data governance.
- 2012
Raven Aerostar begins collaboration with Loon
[1]Raven Aerostar began a long-term collaboration with Alphabet subsidiary Loon on high-altitude communications balloons.
- 2007
Hot-air balloon production ends
[1]Raven discontinued hot-air balloon production because of liability-insurance costs and market contraction.
- 1984
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade production begins
[1]Raven began producing parade balloons and inflatables for Macy’s, continuing this work through 2019.
- 1970
Powered stratospheric unmanned airship launched
[1]Raven launched and flew an unmanned airship described as the first to travel in the stratosphere under powered flight.
- 1966
New Sioux Falls balloon facility added
[1]Raven opened a 30,000-square-foot facility near the Sioux Falls airport.
- 1961
Company relocates to the former Manchester Biscuit building
[1]After the Manchester Biscuit Company closed, Raven moved into its former facility in Sioux Falls.
- 1960
Ed Yost conducts an influential hot-air balloon flight
[1]Ed Yost flew an experimental 40-foot-diameter balloon approximately three miles, helping stimulate the modern revival of hot-air ballooning.
Products and positioning
Technology provider combining precision-agriculture automation, machine-control systems, and data tools for commercial farming. Historically, the brand also occupied specialized aerospace, defense, balloon, and engineered-materials niches.
Agricultural technology
Precision agriculture systems
Raven’s Applied Technology portfolio includes guidance, steering, application-control, display, and information-management systems for agricultural machinery. These products are intended to improve field positioning, input placement, machine productivity, and the collection and use of farm data. The portfolio also supports automation and integration with agricultural equipment, making it relevant to connected and increasingly autonomous farming operations.
Agricultural automation
Raven Autonomy
Raven Autonomy is a family of technologies associated with automated agricultural equipment. Its role is to help machines perform field operations with reduced direct operator input, using positioning, sensing, control, and application technologies. The offering became strategically important to CNH Industrial after the 2021 acquisition because it complemented CNH’s tractor and harvesting-equipment businesses.
Agricultural automation and logistics
Raven Cart
Raven Cart is an autonomous agricultural platform associated with the company’s effort to automate material movement and field-support tasks. It represents the broader transition in Raven’s Applied Technology business from standalone control components toward integrated machine and workflow automation. Publicly available reference material identifies Raven Cart as a flagship offering but does not provide complete specifications or a definitive launch date.
Aerospace systems
Aerostar high-altitude balloons
Aerostar developed high-altitude scientific, communications, and surveillance balloons as well as tethered aerostats. These platforms drew on Raven’s experience with lightweight polyethylene structures, long-duration flight, payload integration, and stratospheric operations. The Aerostar business was separated from Raven after the CNH acquisition and later acquired by TCOM Holdings.
Engineered materials
Engineered films and geomembranes
The former Engineered Films segment manufactured plastic films and geomembranes used in agricultural, industrial, environmental, and construction settings. The products extended Raven’s original expertise in polymer films into a materials business serving applications such as containment and agricultural production. This segment was sold to Industrial Opportunity Partners during the company’s 2021 restructuring.
Defense equipment
Military parachutes and protective equipment
Raven’s former aerospace and defense operations included military parachutes, uniforms, and protective wear. These products complemented its balloon and aerostat capabilities and served government and defense customers. The relevant business activities were part of the Aerostar operations that were separated from Raven following the CNH Industrial acquisition.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Loon high-altitude communications collaboration
Global
Raven Aerostar partnered with Alphabet subsidiary Loon to develop and operate high-altitude communications-balloon technology.
Outcome. The collaboration continued through 2021, when Raven’s businesses were reorganized following the CNH Industrial acquisition.
- 1984Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade inflatables
United States
Raven produced large balloons and inflatables for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, including designs depicting characters such as Hello Kitty, Pikachu, Spider-Man, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Outcome. The company supplied parade inflatables for approximately 35 years, through 2019.
Brand decisions
2021
CNH Industrial acquisition and portfolio restructuringM&ABackground
CNH Industrial sought Raven’s Applied Technology capabilities in precision agriculture, autonomous equipment, and agricultural information systems.
Action taken
CNH Industrial acquired Raven Industries. The Engineered Films business was sold to Industrial Opportunity Partners, and the Aerostar business was subsequently acquired by TCOM Holdings.
Aftermath
Raven became a CNH Industrial subsidiary focused primarily on precision agriculture, automation, guidance, application control, and farm-data technologies.
2021
Expand the South Dakota precision-agriculture innovation baseStrategyBackground
After the acquisition, Raven concentrated its activities on agricultural technology and sought to expand its engineering and innovation capacity.
Action taken
The company acquired 48 acres for expansion near its Innovation Campus near Baltic, South Dakota, and supported related education and cyber-defense initiatives.
Aftermath
The post-acquisition Raven organization became more closely aligned with CNH Industrial’s agricultural-equipment and precision-farming strategy.
2007
End hot-air balloon productionStrategyBackground
Raven faced a smaller hot-air balloon market and rising liability-insurance costs.
Action taken
The company discontinued production of hot-air balloons while retaining other aerospace and industrial activities.
Aftermath
Raven continued operating in high-altitude balloons, defense-related aerospace, engineered films, and precision agriculture.
Recent events
CNH Industrial completes acquisition of Raven Industries[3]
Reported:
CNH Industrial announced that it had completed its acquisition of Raven Industries, a U.S.-based precision agriculture technology company.
CNH Industrial announces acquisition of Raven Industries[4]
Reported:
CNH Industrial said it had acquired 100% of Raven Industries' capital stock for $58 per share; the sale was to be finalized by the end of 2021.
Raven Industries acquires Jaybridge Robotics intellectual property[5]
Reported:
Raven Industries acquired Jaybridge Robotics' intellectual property, including patents and information related to agricultural automation technologies. Raven said it planned to use the IP to continue developing its Driverless Ag Technology.
Raven Industries acquires Smart Ag[6]
Reported:
Raven Industries announced that it had acquired Smart Ag, a technology company developing autonomous farming solutions. Raven said the acquisition would be integrated into its Applied Technology division's business and technology portfolio.
Sources6 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/raven-industries · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled