DroneZone News - Vol 22 - Defense dominates with major SRR award, $4.1b acquisition & $241m in funding

We're back with the 22nd edition of #DroneZone New, presented by Airbotics Talent, the newsletter dedicated to all things drones!

We’ll bring you the latest developments, trends, and insights in the world of drones and UAS. We cover a multitude of applications including:

?? Delivery & Logistics ?? Medical ?? Disaster Relief and Search & Rescue ??Agriculture ?? Surveying & Mapping ?? Inspection ?? Photography & Videography ?? Defense

Company of the Week

San Juan (PR) headquartered Red Cat Holdings are Volume 22’s Company of the Week, following the news of their recent SRR contract win.

The Black Widow by Teal Drones, a subsidiary of Red Cat's, were this week awarded a significant contract to supply the U.S. Army. The award is something of a coup for the group considering many felt that the contract could land with competitors Skydio , but underlines just how impressive Red Cat's offering has become in the defense space. Conversely for Skydio, the news comes as a major blow, with part of their recent valuation underpinned on the assumption of winning the contract.

Check out the video below for an awesome video covering this:

George Matus, CTO of Red Cat and Founder of Teal, lauded the moment as a significant milestone for the business

“This is a powerful moment in time, coming after five years of blood, sweat, and tears put into SRR by our incredible team. We were selected based on soldier feedback, technical performance, volume manufacturability, and system cost. Our top priority now is to start ramping production of the next generation system, recently announced as the Black Widow and WEB, and give warfighters the tools they need to be successful on the modern battlefield”.

This was later echoed by Founder and CEO of Red Cat, Jeff Thompson

“Warfare has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two years, with a significant shift towards drone technology. We believe this advanced technology will enable the Army to shape the battlefield, save soldiers’ lives, and serve as a powerful tool in their arsenal”.

Red Cat’s recent SRR contract secures its role in modernizing battlefield operations, enabling continued enhancements to the Black Widow system and scaling production. Board member and retired Army General Paul Edward Funk II emphasized the critical nature of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), stating, “Operational success hinges on seamless data movement across the battlefield.” He highlighted drones' essential role in intelligence gathering and precise, real-time tactical strikes.

The contract aligns with Red Cat’s strategic trajectory, following its acquisition of FlightWave Aerospace and the introduction of the ARACHNID system. The company is preparing to fulfil the U.S. Army’s target of 5,880 units over five years, with additional demand anticipated from other DoD branches, federal agencies, and allied forces. These efforts position Red Cat as a cornerstone in advancing global defense technology, ensuring operators and warfighters remain equipped for modern challenges.

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The Latest in UAV News

?? AeroVironment to Acquire BlueHalo

AeroVironment has signed an agreement to acquire BlueHalo in an all-stock transaction worth $4.1 billion. The merger aims to create a leader in all-domain defense technologies, combining AeroVironment's UAV expertise with BlueHalo's advanced defense systems. The move strengthens their ability to tackle modern security challenges on a global scale.

Jonathan Moneymaker , CEO of BlueHalo, emphasized

“BlueHalo was founded to address the most pressing challenges confronting the defense and national security community, from unconventional threats to near-peer adversaries. We have pioneered solutions for drone warfare, distributed autonomy, and the need for more robust and assured access to space in an increasingly contested, crowded and competitive domain. By uniting with AV, we are building an organization equipped to meet emerging defense priorities and deliver purpose-driven, state-of-the-art solutions with unmatched speed. Together, we remain committed to protecting those who defend us while driving the next generation of transformational advancements in defense technology.”

?? Skydio raises $170 million in Series D funding

San Mateo (CA) headquartered Skydio , one of the US' major drone platform providers, announced this week it had raised $170m in Series D funding lead by Linse Capital . This news follows their Series C financing of $100m back in July of 2023. With a focus on a number of verticals, including DoD, public safety / blue light and energy monitoring and asset inspection, Skydio have been a major player in the UAS world since CEO Adam Bry founded the business back in 2014, having previously spent the last two years working on Project Wing for 谷歌 .

?? Anduril Secures Major Defense Contracts

Anduril Industries continues its winning streak with two major U.S. defense contracts. A $200 million deal will see the development of advanced CUAS capabilities for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), enhancing counter-drone operations. Separately, a $34 million agreement with the Space Systems Center bolsters Anduril's role in orbital surveillance, reflecting their expanding defense portfolio.

Christian Brose Anduril's Chief Strategy Officer stated

“By leveraging advanced AI and autonomy, Anduril’s CES will provide the Marines with a robust and scalable solution to counter evolving drone threats, ensuring greater protection and operational effectiveness on the battlefield”.

?? Swift Engineering's HALE Success

Swift Engineering 's High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) UAV, the SULE, achieved a milestone by reaching the stratosphere at 56,000 feet during a continuous 24-hour flight. This marks a significant advance in high-altitude UAV capabilities, paving the way for applications in persistent surveillance and climate research.

Hamed Khalkhali, Ph.D., MBA , President of Swift Engineering, said,

“As a HAPS solution, the solar-powered SULE is designed to stay airborne for multiple weeks at a time. Its wide range of applications includes communications relay, internet/comms in underserved or remote areas, ISR needs, forest fire monitoring, traffic management, disaster relief, agriculture, change detection and many others".

?? WingXpand and Raytheon Collaborate on VTOL Tech

WingXpand has partnered with Raytheon to enhance its VTOL UAV capabilities for both defense and civil missions. The integration focuses on delivering versatile solutions for reconnaissance, surveillance, and logistics. This collaboration marks a step forward in adaptable UAV technology. WingXpand are lead by CEO James Barbieri , who previously spent 9 years at Boeing prior to Co-Founding the St. Louis headquartered scaleup.

?? Apian's NHS Collaboration with Wing

Google's drone delivery company Wing has joined forces with Apian to carry blood samples across two London based hospitals, with the project officially kicking off last week. The project aims to revolutionize healthcare logistics by leveraging Wing’s expertise in efficient drone operations.

Alexander Trewby , CEO and Co-Founder of Apian commented

“Drones have been overestimated in the short term, but underestimated in the long term. Cities like London face a unique challenge: built vertically but relying on 2D roads, they’re choked by polluting congestion. Apian’s ambition is to create an autonomous delivery network operating at NHS scale, moving physical items as productively as the internet moves information.”

?? Airbound Secures $1.7M for Drone Deliveries

Airbound has raised $1.7 million in seed funding, led by venture capital firm Lightspeed , to expand its economical drone delivery services, focusing on last-mile logistics for underserved areas. The funding will fuel technological advancements and operational scaling. With a carbon fibre airframe weighing just 400 grams, Airbounds Founder & CEO Naman Pushp claimed

“Our goal isn’t just to build a great drone—we want to create a world where delivery is essentially free”.

?? TEKEVER Lands $70M Funding Boost

Portuguese UAV manufacturer TEKEVER has secured $70 million in new funding to expand its BVLOS maritime surveillance operations. The capital will enable fleet expansion and support growing demand for real-time data services.

TEKEVER’s CEO, Ricardo Mendes, said

"For our Series B, more than investment, we wanted to find partners that shared these beliefs and could help us execute on?our vision. We’re thrilled to have Baillie Gifford as a lead investor?– an incredible?organization with extremely long–term views, and an extensive track record of backing companies that?have profoundly transformed our society.?NIF,?NSSIF?and Crescent Cove bring profound knowledge and?experience on?the Global Security and Defense market to the table, both from a European and a US?perspective, which will be important in helping us, and our customers, navigate the challenges ahead”.

That's all for this week's edition #DroneZone! We hope you enjoyed reading about the latest trends, news, and insights from the world of drones. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter via LinkedIn or Email and follow the hashtag #DroneZone to receive all the latest updates ??

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