The Ukrainian defense company «The Fourth Law» of entrepreneur Yaroslav Azhnyuk has attracted a new round of investment from the American technology group Axon and introduced a new module for interceptor drones.
The Ukrainian defense company «The Fourth Law» of entrepreneur Yaroslav Azhnyuk has attracted a new round of investment from the American technology group Axon and introduced a new module for interceptor drones.
The Fourth Law is known for its Lupinis-10-TFL-1 drones and TFL-1 autonomy module, which are used by over 50 Ukrainian military units. TFL’s first-level autonomy increases the success rate of FPV drone missions by two to four times, while increasing their cost by only 10%.
The company’s latest product, TFL-Antishahed, is a drone interceptor module that uses on-the-edge AI to detect and highlight strike drones, such as the Russian-Iranian Shahed and Geran, much faster than the human eye can. The system autonomously detects the drone in a thermal image by analyzing the object’s motion, thermal signature, and other parameters using AI.
TFL autonomy technology is designed for integration across platforms. Modules can be installed on vehicles from other manufacturers, used with various ground stations, and operate in a variety of communication systems.
«We are proud to announce additional support, including from Axon. This is an important milestone in our mission to strengthen the defense capabilities of Ukraine and the Free World. Axon is probably the most prominent investor to support a Ukrainian defense technology company to date. The funding will be directed towards R&D of new autonomy capabilities needed to protect cities and critical infrastructure from attacks by Shahed drones,» said Yaroslav Azhnyuk, founder and CEO of Fourth Law.
According to Rick Smith, founder and CEO of Axon, Ukraine is developing drone technology at a pace that is «unattainable for most countries in the world.»
«Teams like Fourth Law are developing autonomy in real-world combat environments, where systems are built, tested, and improved in real time. We are investing because the world can learn from how drones are developed and deployed in Ukraine, and we believe that through the work of companies like Fourth Law, even more world-class solutions will emerge,» he said.
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who met Rick Smith and introduced him to Yaroslav Azhnyuk through the Ukrainian BRAVE1 cluster, said that the cooperation between Axon and The Fourth Law is an example of how Ukrainian defense tech companies are becoming global players.
Led by its founder since 1993, Axon began with a mission to redefine conflict in law enforcement and has grown into a global company serving all those responsible for public, corporate, and national security.
Axon’s product ecosystem combines TASER devices, intelligent sensors, and cameras — from wearable and airborne to stationary systems, drones, and robotics.
