Teal Drones
Teal Drones, a Red Cat Holdings subsidiary, manufactures Blue UAS-certified small unmanned aerial systems for U.S. military and allied defense customers, with the Black Widow designated as the U.S. Army's Short Range Reconnaissance Program of Record.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Teal Drones does
Teal Drones, Inc., founded in 2015 by George Matus in Utah and acquired by Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) in 2021, is a Salt Lake City-based manufacturer of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) serving primarily U.S. military and federal government customers. The company's product portfolio centers on the Black Widow ISR platform (designated the U.S. Army's Short Range Reconnaissance Program of Record in November 2024), the Teal 2 night-optimized sUAS, the FANG FPV precision strike drone (the first Blue UAS-certified FPV drone), the Edge 130 Blue VTOL tricopter acquired from FlightWave, and the dual-use Hellcat platform launched in 2026. Teal's systems are Blue UAS certified, NDAA Section 848 compliant, AS9100 certified, and integrated with third-party AI/ML capabilities including Palantir VNav for GPS-denied navigation, Teledyne FLIR PRISM AI for real-time object detection, Tomahawk Robotics Kinesis for multi-vehicle control, and Doodle Labs Helix Mesh Rider radios for electronic warfare resistance validated in Ukraine operations.
The company generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of sUAS platforms and bundles, supplemented by training services, spare parts, and accessories, with contract values ranging from $2.49M firm-fixed-price awards (Air Force) to program-of-record commitments. Go-to-market is government procurement-led, leveraging formal contracting vehicles including GSA Advantage, Blanket Purchase Agreements, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency catalogue, and direct DoD contracts across the U.S. Army, Air Force, Customs and Border Protection, and allied nations. Manufacturing has scaled to 254,000 sq. ft. of production capacity to meet defense demand, with the Red Cat Futures Initiative consortium providing ecosystem partnerships for AI/ML, swarming, command-and-control, and payload capabilities.
Teal Drones firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Teal Drones
- Legal name
- Teal Drones, Inc.
- Website
- https://tealdrones.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Teal Drones, a Red Cat Holdings subsidiary, manufactures Blue UAS-certified small unmanned aerial systems for U.S. military and allied defense customers, with the Black Widow designated as the U.S. Army's Short Range Reconnaissance Program of Record.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Teal Drones industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Military Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS)
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)
Keywords
Where Teal Drones is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Teal Drones business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Drone Hardware Sales: Sale of sUAS platforms including Black Widow, Teal 2, FANG FPV, and Edge 130 to military, government, and commercial customers
- Training and Support Services: Train-the-trainer sessions, operator training, and ongoing support services bundled with hardware sales
- Accessories and Spare Parts: Battery packs, chargers, propellers, gimbal-mounted cameras, and carrying cases
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Government contract pricing for Black Widow systems |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Mass-produced attack drones at low cost point |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Teal Drones product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Teal Drones designs, manufactures, and sells military-grade small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The portfolio includes the Black Widow (U.S. Army SRR Program of Record), Teal 2, Hellcat, FANG FPV, and Edge 130 Blue VTOL tricopter, sold to defense, federal, and allied nation customers with bundled training, support, and accessories. System architecture emphasizes modularity, Blue UAS certification, GPS-denied navigation, and electronic warfare resistance.
Product overview
Teal Drones is a defense and security-focused drone manufacturer offering a Family of Systems built around modular, interoperable small UAS platforms. The core portfolio includes Black Widow (flagship ISR system and Army SRR Program of Record), Teal 2 (night-optimized military-grade sUAS), Hellcat (Black Widow-based dual-use configuration), FANG FPV (Blue UAS certified precision strike drone), and Edge 130 Blue (VTOL tricopter from FlightWave acquisition). These aircraft share common Ground Control System integration (including ATAK compatibility), modular payload/propulsion systems, and shared accessories like Teal Controllers. The portfolio is designed for rapid deployment, field repairability, and integration with an ecosystem of AI/ML, swarming, and command-and-control partners through the Red Cat Futures Initiative.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Black Widow: Flagship small unmanned ISR system awarded the U.S. Army's Short Range Reconnaissance Program of Record contract. Blue UAS certified.
- Hellcat
- Teal 2
- FANG FPV
- Edge 130 Blue
Products and services
- Black Widow Flagship small unmanned ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) system and U.S. Army Short Range Reconnaissance Program of Record. Designed for rapid deployment, field repairability, and recoverability with real-time data capabilities. Blue UAS certified.
- Teal 2 Military-grade sUAS designed to Dominate the Night with best-in-class night vision, multi-vehicle control, and fully modular design. Blue UAS certified and FAA Remote ID approved.
- Hellcat Dual-use small UAS configuration built on the proven Black Widow platform, designed for rapidly evolving operational environments with feedback from warfighters in Ukraine.
- FANG FPV NDAA-compliant First-Person View (FPV) drone optimized for military operations with precision strike capabilities. First line of Blue UAS certified FPV drones for defense industry.
- Edge 130 Blue Blue UAS approved military-grade VTOL tricopter with industry-leading 2+ hour flight endurance. Can be assembled and hand-launched in one minute by single user for long-range mapping, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
- Teal Controllers Controllers specifically designed for seamless integration with Teal aircraft, featuring swappable batteries compatible with aircraft for continuous power and minimized downtime.
Quantifiable outcome
- 849% year-over-year revenue growth in Q1 2026 to $15.5 million
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Teal Drones
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Teal Drones technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
AI capability7 records
Feature6 records
Teal Drones partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Arastelle Drone SolutionssupportingJoined Red Cat Futures Initiative integrating modular tethered UAS technology with Black Widow and Teal 2 platforms for persistent ISR and communications relay.
- SpiderOaksupportingCybersecurity partnership for Black Widow platform vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, and FOCI evaluations for Blue UAS Cleared List certification.
- LantronixsupportingEdge AI solutions collaboration supporting U.S. Army SRR Program with compute solutions for robotics and UAVs.
- Hoverfly TechnologiessupportingIntegration of Black Widow sUAS into NEXUS ecosystem extending operational range and BVLOS capability through tethered UAS relay.
- Palantir TechnologiescoreStrategic partnership to integrate Palantir's Visual Navigation software (VNav) into Black Widow drones for GPS-denied navigation, and deploy Warp Speed manufacturing OS for production optimization. VNav enables drones to navigate using onboard satellite imagery entirely independent of GPS.
- FlightWave Aerospace SystemscoreLetter of Intent for acquisition of FlightWave bringing Edge 130 Blue VTOL tricopter to product family. Edge 130 offers 2+ hour flight time and hand-launch capability.
- Red Cat Futures Initiative (Founding Members)coreIndustry consortium including Ocean Power Technologies, Sentien Robotics, Primordial Labs, Athena AI, Unusual Machines, Reach Power, and MMS Products dedicated to advancing UAS technology and advocating for warfighter needs.
- Sentien RoboticssupportingPartnership for Hive UAS management platforms enabling automated fleet deployment for land, air, and sea drone swarming operations.
- Ocean Power TechnologiessupportingIntegration of Teal 2 drones with OPT's PowerBuoy and WAM-V maritime platforms for extended ocean surveillance and maritime domain awareness.
- Primordial LabssupportingIntegration of Anura AI-driven voice control interface enabling operators to command and control drones using natural language for autonomous actions and swarm operations.
- Teledyne FLIRcoreIntegration of Teledyne FLIR's Prism AI platform providing classification, object detection, and autonomous tracking in real-time. Teal 2 equipped with Hadron 640R sensor providing highest resolution thermal imaging.
- ESAerosupportingDevelopment partnership for fast-tracked, customer-specific projects. First product was a multi-battery charger for Teal 2 enabling battery charging during flight operations.
- Tough Stump TechnologiessupportingDesignated DoD training provider for customers including U.S. Department of Defense, providing situational awareness training systems.
- Doodle LabscoreIntegration of Helix Mesh Rider radio for electronic warfare resistance. Successfully passed EW testing in Ukraine demonstrating anti-jamming capabilities. Radio provides automatic band switching and frequency hopping.
- Athena AIsupportingComputer vision partner for Teal 2 providing machine learning and AI for high-speed object tracking and rapid decision-making support.
- Tomahawk RoboticscoreKinesis AI-enabled common control system providing seamless integration for Teal's 4-ship multi-vehicle system with Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) compatibility.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Teal Drones competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Anduril Industries: U.S. defense-tech prime building autonomous aerial systems (Lattice, Bolt, Ghost) for the DoD. Anduril directly competes with Teal across military sUAS and autonomy software, and is a rival in defense procurement competitions including the Pentagon Drone Dominance Program.
- Skydio: U.S.-made autonomous drone manufacturer with strong DoD and public-safety footprint. Skydio competes directly with Teal in the tactical sUAS category and is a frequent rival in Blue UAS-listed commercial and defense procurements.
- Shield AI: Defense-tech company building autonomous UAVs (V-BAT, Nova) for ISR and strike missions. Shield AI is a direct competitor in GPS-denied autonomous military drones and competes with Teal in DoD program of record competitions.
Broad incumbents
- AeroVironment: Incumbent American defense drone manufacturer of Raven, Puma, and Switchblade. AeroVironment is the legacy leader in military sUAS and competes with Teal across U.S. Army SRR, NATO, and allied procurement deals.
- Teledyne FLIR: Major defense and commercial sensor and drone manufacturer (Black Hornet, SkyRanger). Teledyne FLIR is both a technology partner to Teal (Prism AI) and a competitor in integrated sUAS offerings for defense and security.
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Defense prime producing tactical drones (MQM-178 Firejet, Attritable platforms) and electronic warfare systems. Kratos competes with Teal in attritable/low-cost military drones and is a notable participant in the Pentagon Drone Dominance Program.
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: Manufacturer of MQ-9 Reaper and other large military UAS. While not a direct sUAS competitor, GA is a major DoD drone prime that competes for the same procurement dollars and autonomy stack partnerships as Teal.
Emerging players
- Quantum Systems: German defense-tech manufacturer of Vector and Scorpion sUAS with strong NATO traction. Quantum Systems competes with Teal in the European military sUAS market and is a fellow NDAA-compliant Blue UAS alternative for allied nations.
- Firestorm Modular UAS: American developer of 3D-printed modular unmanned aerial systems. Backed by a Red Cat financial investment, Firestorm is an emerging competitor in attritable mass-produced military drones with potential Pentagon Drone Dominance overlap.
- Unusual Machines: Drone components manufacturer focused on NDAA-compliant U.S.-sourced motors and electronics. A Red Cat Futures Initiative partner and competing supplier to U.S. defense drone programs alongside Teal.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Teal Drones social profiles
Digital presenceTeal Drones compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Teal Drones financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Teal Drones leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Teal Drones funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Teal Drones M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Teal Drones
What does Teal Drones do?
Teal Drones designs, manufactures, and sells military-grade small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The portfolio includes the Black Widow (U.S. Army SRR Program of Record), Teal 2, Hellcat, FANG FPV, and Edge 130 Blue VTOL tricopter, sold to defense, federal, and allied nation customers with bundled training, support, and accessories. System architecture emphasizes modularity, Blue UAS certification, GPS-denied navigation, and electronic warfare resistance.
Is Teal Drones a public or private company?
Teal Drones is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Teal Drones founded?
Teal Drones was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Teal Drones based?
Teal Drones is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Teal Drones make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Drone Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are training and Support Services and accessories and Spare Parts.
Who are Teal Drones's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Anduril Industries, Skydio and Shield AI. Broad incumbents are AeroVironment, Teledyne FLIR, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Emerging players are Quantum Systems, Firestorm Modular UAS and Unusual Machines.
Does Teal Drones have an API?
No public API is recorded for Teal Drones.
What industry is Teal Drones in?
Teal Drones's product category is Military Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAA, Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones, with a secondary code of IMABAMAC, Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.