American defense startup Neros has received $75 million from investors to increase the production of its Archer and Archer Strike FPV drones and announced the expansion of the team in Ukraine.
American defense startup Neros has received $75 million from investors to increase the production of its Archer and Archer Strike FPV drones and announced the expansion of the team in Ukraine.
The company said the money will go towards scaling up production of drones and ground control stations, as well as creating a sustainable supply chain without dependence on China. The round was led by Sequoia Capital, with Vy Capital US and Interlagos also investing. In total, Neros has already raised more than $120 million.
The company explains: the funds will allow it to insourcing more critical assembly stages, invest in suppliers from allied countries and accelerate the development of the next generation of autonomous systems, in particular with better resistance to electronic warfare. In parallel, Neros is developing an international presence: in addition to Los Angeles (HQ), the team works in Kyiv, London and Washington and opens new vacancies in all locations. In Kyiv, the company says, proximity to the front provides quick feedback and helps to transfer combat experience into serial products faster.
Neros already has major orders from the US: the press release mentions a purchase by the Marine Corps and the company’s selection as a major FPV supplier for the US Army’s Expendable Battle Aircraft System (PBAS) program. The company also supplies systems to the UK Ministry of Defence.
CEO Soren Monroe-Anderson says the goal is to build a long-term drone manufacturing base in the West so that allies can get mass-produced, reliable, and competitive FPV solutions without critical dependence on Asian components.
For Ukraine, the emergence of the Neros office in Kyiv and the increase in serial production means potentially faster deliveries, more stable service and a wider choice of configurations for real missions. For the industry, this is a sign of a shift in the center of gravity in drone production to the US and partner countries with an emphasis on full transparency of supply chains.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how, thanks to funding from a private fund, the Ardlat startup appeared in Latvia, which manufactures fiber-optic controlled drones, which are used, in particular, by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
