Neros Technologies raises $250M to deploy its defense drones by the end of 2026

Neros Archer is a FPV drone built for modular payloads and resilient communications. | Source: Neros

Neros Inc. this week announced it raised $250 million in a Series C round. This brought the drone defense contractor to a $2.5 billion valuation.

“This newest round of funding accelerates Neros into a multi-capability drone manufacturer,” stated Soren Monroe-Anderson, co-founder and CEO of Neros. “Our mission to produce 1 million drones per year hasn’t changed, but the span of drones and mission sets we can support are multiplying. Our core business has seen explosive growth since our last financing round in November, and this added capital gets our systems into war-fighter hands faster, and at the scale needed for decisive outcomes on the battlefield.”

Founded in 2023, Neros has major contracts with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, as well as contracts with every component of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and half a dozen allied countries. The El Segundo, Calif.-based company is partnering with allies across Europe via its U.K. subsidiary, as well as other allied nations across Asia and the Middle East in support of their own defense and sovereign manufacturing needs.

Neros plans for deployments by the end of 2026

Neros Technologies said it plans to use the funds to accelerate the development and production ramps for new drone programs including Archer AI and Bandit. Archer AI is a first-person view (FPV) platform augmented with autonomy features including Terminal Guidance and GPS-denied Position Hold.

Bandit is a c-UAS interceptor drone intended to counter Class 2 and 3 drone threats including Shahed-style systems.

Neros is developing both platforms with the hardware and compute required for multi-asset control, often termed “swarming.” The company plans to deploy Archer AI and Bandit in combat theaters by the end of 2026.

Investors support vertical stack

Sequoia Capital and American Strategic Technology Fund (ASTF) co-led the round. Interlagos, Valor Equity Partners, Allen & Co., Thiel Capital, Spark Capital, and Dylan Field also participated in the round.

Neros previously raised $75 million in Series B funding in November 2025.

Through owning the core technology, vertically integrating its component stack, and using its pre-existing domestic production capacity, Neros said it is positioned to deliver credible deterrence by building millions of aerial drones per year for America and its allies.

By 2028, Neros claimed that it will produce 1 million drones per year across a range of capabilities including long range strike, close-quarters combat, and interceptors.

Funding for defense drones heats up

With ongoing wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, funding for defense drones has increased. Earlier this week, Cambridge Aerospace raised $300 million in Series C funding, bringing its valuation to $3.4 billion. The defense drone developer said it plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities to deliver on existing and new contracts.

Last month, Quantum Systems raised $1.2 billion. The company develops, designs, and produces fully autonomous drones for frontline forces.

In June, Mach Industries, a manufacturer of uncrewed defense systems, raised $300 million. In May, HavocAI, a provider of autonomous defense systems, raised $100 million.

In additino, Ondas Inc. last month acquired DZYNE Technologies LLC, an Irvine, Calif.-based defense technology company, for $875.8 million.