Performance Drone Works
Huntsville, US Β· Founded 2018 Β· 393 employees on LinkedIn Β· 13 known investors
PDW is an American drone company that designs, engineers, and manufactures unmanned aerial systems and related software for defense and public safety customers, including the U.S. military and federal, local, and international public safety entities. Its offerings provide surveillance, electronic warfare, and strike capabilities through modular military drones.
Also known as PDW
Founders & leadership
Performance Drone Works was founded in 2018 by Ryan Gury and Matt Higgins.
Investors Β· 13
Also in the syndicate Β· 6
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements- Undisclosed amountSeries BMar 2026 Β· 2 sources
Ondas (lead), Booz Allen Hamilton, Cedar Pine, Hanwha Asset Management's venture fund, Hood River
Source β
Source: company announcements and press reports β follow each round's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Performance Drone Works (PDW) designs and manufactures unmanned aerial systems and related software for defense and public safety users. Its product line includes the C100 multi-mission quadcopter, an attritable strike drone, the PDW SIM simulator and PDW CORE software, with capabilities spanning mission planning, ATAK integration and simulation at the tactical edge.
The company describes itself as delivering full-stack drone solutions for large-scale combat and crisis response, built for "troops in contact," and supports these systems with training programs led by instructors that include former Drone Racing League and law enforcement pilots. Manufacturing is positioned as agile and supported by a U.S.-based, compliant supply chain.
Business model
PDW builds and sells drone hardware, edge and mission-planning software, and accompanying operator training and operational support to defense and public safety customers, with in-house U.S.-based manufacturing.
Traction
The company cites 50,000 combined flight hours of testing, entry of its attritable strike drone into production, and shipboard operations validation for the C100 with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Latest developments
In 2026 PDW raised over $110M in Series B financing, announced and completed the acquisition of Vanteon, added Samantha Greenberg and William Welch to its board, received a conditional $820M loan commitment from the U.S. Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital, and validated shipboard C100 operations with the U.S. Coast Guard.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Positions itself around veteran and engineer staffing, battlefield-derived design insight, rapid iteration to match adversary adaptation, and domestic agile manufacturing with a compliant U.S. supply chain.
Technology
High-performance multirotor vehicles including the C100 multi-mission quadcopter and an attritable strike drone; software including PDW CORE, PDW SIM simulation, mission planning and ATAK integration; communications capabilities expanded through the acquisition of Vanteon.
Go-to-market
Direct engagement with government and military customers, including U.S. Department of War programs and validation activity with the U.S. Coast Guard, complemented by operator training offerings.
Front-line military forces and defense organizations, plus public safety agencies; engagements referenced include the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of War.
Geography
Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with a U.S.-based supply chain and field activity referenced in Ukraine.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 7
launches, deals, and filingsPDW received a conditional $820 million loan commitment from the U.S. Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital to expand domestic manufacturing of drone, robotics and mission-capable systems.
$820M source β
Agreement announced to acquire Vanteon, expanding communications expertise and engineering capacity.
PDW announced a Series B financing of more than $110 million to expand product offerings.
$110M source β
PDW announced its attritable strike drone entered production and is ready to build at scale.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
Neros Raises $250M At $2.5B As The Army Bets On A Million Dronesdronexl.co Β· Aug 2026βΈResearch sources Β· 1
primary sources listed
- Performance Drone Workspdw.ai Β· web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Performance Drone Works do?
- Huntsville-based maker of military drone systems, edge software and operator training for front-line forces.
- Who founded Performance Drone Works?
- Performance Drone Works was founded by Ryan Gury, Matt Higgins in 2018.
- Who are Performance Drone Works's investors?
- Performance Drone Works's investors include RSE Ventures, Hanwha Asset Management, Booz Allen Ventures, CRESCENT COVE CAPITAL, Lux Capital, Stage 1 Ventures, SQUADRA VENTURES.
- Where is Performance Drone Works headquartered?
- Performance Drone Works is headquartered in Huntsville, US.