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Teenage Champs Land $500M Army Drone Deal
21 Jul
Summary
- Startup founded by ex-teen drone racers wins $500M Army contract.
- Pentagon's largest small-drone contract aims for one million drones annually.
- Neros' Archer drone is Chinese-component-free, a key military advantage.
A startup founded by former teenage drone-racing champions has been awarded a US Army contract valued at up to $500 million. Neros Technologies, established in 2023, will supply its Archer FPV attack drones under an agreement extending through June 2031.
This contract marks the Pentagon's largest commitment to small drones and is significant as the US grapples with relying on Chinese-built components. Neros' Archer drone is entirely free of Chinese parts, a rarity that has placed it on the Pentagon's approved list and earned it sanctions.
The Archer drone has already seen extensive use, with tens of thousands delivered to Ukraine. The US Army's initiative aims to boost domestic drone production significantly, with plans to increase annual purchases from around 50,000 to at least one million within approximately two years.
Neros is positioned to capture a substantial portion of this expansion, moving from a small operation to aiming for one million drones annually by 2028. This would represent a tenfold increase in current US drone manufacturing capacity.
