Drone Funding

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Sep 24

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FCC Chairman Brendan Carr speaking into a microphone during a moderated Q&A on stage at the SBA Defense Industrial Base Drone Summit, with a row of American flags behind him

Drone Funding · FCC Filing

FCC Says $5B Flowed Into US Drones. Its Own Filing Counts Pledges

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr touts $5 billion in new US drone investment. The agency's own footnotes mix funding rounds, a valuation and five-year pledges.

Haye KestelooSep 244 min read

Zipline

Zipline Seeks $20 Billion Valuation With Part 108 Still Unsigned

Zipline is in talks to raise $1 billion at a $20 billion valuation, nearly triple its January price. The FAA rule its US plan needs is still unpublished.

Haye KestelooSep 17

Four Swarmer engineers in black company shirts assemble quadcopter drones on a crowded workbench in a small blue-walled workshop

Ukraine

Erik Prince's Swarmer Buys Ukraine's Ratel Robotics for Up to $224M

Nasdaq-listed Swarmer, chaired by Blackwater founder Erik Prince, is buying Ukraine's Ratel Robotics for up to $224 million, mostly in stock.

Haye KestelooSep 10

Pilot Institute host presenting the week 380 drone news update in a pink and blue studio, with headlines listed beside him

DJI

Washington Jacks Up Commercial Drone Fees 10x, DJI Still Dominates at 97%, FCC Tightens Lab Screening, and SiFly Raises $20 Million

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you this week. Washington state jacks up the commercial drone fees, an industry survey shows DJI still dominates, the FCC tells certification labs to tighten their screening, and SiFly raises $20 million. So let's get to it.

Greg ReverdiauAug 28

SiFly Q12 drone with a yellow fuselage and long slender arms against a black backdrop

Industry

SiFly Raises $20M to Build 1,000 US Drones With Chinese Motors

SiFly raised a $20 million Series A to start Q12 production. Its motors still come from China, and its CEO says full reshoring is not physically possible.

Haye KestelooAug 27

A white jet-powered unmanned aircraft with red accents and Kratos and NCSIST co-branded logos on its fuselage, displayed on an exhibition stand in Taipei

Industry

Taiwan Approves $7.6 Billion Drone Buildup, Rejects Lai's Own Plan

Taiwan's legislature passed a NT$240 billion (US$7.56 billion) drone act 60-50 and killed President Lai's special budget. The military says it falls short.

Haye KestelooAug 27

Underwater drone

Navy Buys Attack Drone Subs Built in a Philly Marble Showroom

A 20-month-old Philadelphia startup is building 425-pound Ghostfin attack drone submarines for the U.S. Navy and Taiwan inside a former marble showroom.

Haye KestelooAug 27

Neros Archer Strike FPV drone, the platform behind the company's $250 million Series C

DEFENSE FUNDING

Neros Raises $250M At $2.5B As The Army Bets On A Million Drones

Neros closed a $250 million Series C at a $2.5 billion valuation. It builds 1,200 drones a week and has promised a million a year by 2028.

Haye KestelooAug 18

Drone Funding

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