New joint venture to produce UAVs ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Two U.S. companies have formed a joint venture to produce short- and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. Advance Defense Technologies Inc. of California and North Carolina's Halberd Corp. signed an agreement for the effort last week and said the next-generation UAVs will be for both military and commercial markets. "The joint venture allows ADTI to move forward quickly and produce mission specific drones in a cost-effective and timely manner," said R.S. Tahim, president and chief executive officer of Advanced Defense Technologies Inc. We have already set up a team comprised of members of both companies and we are currently strengthening the team with other leading scientists and technology partners. We feel confident this collaborative approach will expand the capabilities of the system and also expedite our ability to close revenue generating contracts. Aircraft to be produced will use Halberd's UAV technology with composite materials for light-weight aircraft. Payloads will utilize ADTI's microwave/millimeter-wave circuits, sub-systems and system designs.