Performance Drone Works
Performance Drone Works is a U.S. defense and public-safety drone manufacturer (founded 2018, Huntsville, AL) that designs NDAA-compliant, Blue-UAS-certified C100 and AM-FPV small unmanned aircraft, PDW CORE mission-planning software, and PDW SIM training, serving every branch of the U.S. Military, the U.K. MoD, and international public safety customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersHuntsville, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Performance Drone Works does
Performance Drone Works (PDW) is a U.S.-based defense and public-safety small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) manufacturer founded in 2018 and headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with a second engineering site in Rochester, New York. The company designs and builds modular, NDAA-compliant, Blue-UAS-certified airframes—most prominently the C100 multi-mission quadcopter and the AM/AM-FPV attritable FPV strike drone—paired with a vertically integrated technology stack that includes the PDW CORE ground control station, the PDW SIM training simulator, the PDW Vision Payload (PVP) for GPS-denied vision-based navigation, an FPGA-based RF/SDR communications architecture, and a family of Multi-Mission Payloads integrating third-party sensors from Silvus, Trillium, NextVision, Leonardo DRS, and CACI FireBeast. Manufacturing runs out of the 90,000-square-foot Drone Factory 01 facility, which is stated to support up to 350 C100s and 5,000 AM-FPVs per month, equivalent to 100,000 NDAA-compliant systems per year.
PDW's business model is primarily a hardware-led defense sale to the U.S. Military (every branch), the U.K. Ministry of Defence, and international public safety entities, delivered through direct enterprise field sales and a partner channel anchored by defense integrators such as Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Mastodon/CACI. Revenue streams include hardware sales (C100 and AM-FPV systems, e.g., a $20.9M U.S. Army award and $36.2M in cumulative C100 deals in 2024-2025), professional services (C100 New Equipment Training, Train the Trainer, MMP, FPV, and CORE/SIM training), recurring/embedded software (PDW CORE, PDW SIM), and a potential Pentagon Office of Strategic Capital investment under the $1.1B Drone Dominance Program. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the company targets a Pentagon unit cost of approximately $5,000 per attack drone.
Since its 2020 Series A led by RSE Ventures, PDW has scaled through a Regulation D offering (~$8.57M, March 2024), a $16.4M round led by Squadra Ventures (March 2025), a $35M strategic investment from Ondas (November 2025), a $110M+ Series B led by Ondas (March 2026), and the announced acquisition of Vanteon Corporation (June 2026) to internalize advanced RF/SDR engineering. Leadership includes CEO James Slider (promoted February 2026), Executive Chairman and co-founder Matt Higgins, Chairman Gen. (Ret.) Tony Thomas (former USSOCOM/JSOC commander), co-founder and CIO Ryan Gury, and CTO Dylan Hamm, with a recently strengthened board chaired by Audit Committee chair Samantha Greenberg (CFO of AlphaSense) and Compensation Committee chair Bill Welch.
Performance Drone Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Performance Drone Works
- Legal name
- Performance Drone Works, LLC
- Website
- https://pdw.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Performance Drone Works is a U.S. defense and public-safety drone manufacturer (founded 2018, Huntsville, AL) that designs NDAA-compliant, Blue-UAS-certified C100 and AM-FPV small unmanned aircraft, PDW CORE mission-planning software, and PDW SIM training, serving every branch of the U.S. Military, the U.K. MoD, and international public safety customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Performance Drone Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) for Defense and Public Safety
- NAICS
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA)
Keywords
Where Performance Drone Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Huntsville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Performance Drone Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales (Drone Systems): Direct sale of C100 and AM-FPV drone systems to U.S. Military and international public safety entities; multiple U.S. Army contracts (including a $20.9M award for C100 and Multi-Mission Payloads) and $36.2M in C100 deals in 2024–2025.
- Defense Government Contracts: Multi-branch U.S. Military contracts including Army TIC initiative, U.S. Air Force, Special Forces, DoW/DOD; selected for Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program and the Gauntlet; supports every branch of the U.S. Military.
- Training Services: Professional services including C100 New Equipment Training, Train the Trainer, Multi-Mission Payload Training, FPV Training, and PDW CORE/SIM training delivered by certified master trainers.
- Software & Simulation (PDW CORE / PDW SIM): Recurring/embedded software and simulation products that pair with hardware systems, including mission planning, ground control, and hyper-realistic simulation environments.
- Strategic Capital / Government Funding (pending): Potential Pentagon Office of Strategic Capital funding via $1.1B Drone Dominance Program, including debt and equity stakes; part of broader push for federal investment in domestic drone manufacturing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based / contract pricing for defense and public safety customers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Performance Drone Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Performance Drone Works designs, manufactures, and supports a vertically integrated family of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for U.S. and allied defense and public safety customers. Its core platform is the C100 multi-mission quadcopter, paired with the AM-FPV attritable strike drone, the PDW CORE ground control software, the PDW SIM flight simulator, and a modular family of Multi-Mission Payloads (MMPs) for ISR, laser target designation, MANET communications, spectrum awareness, and kinetic effects. Production is anchored at the 90,000 sq. ft. Drone Factory 01 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Product overview
Performance Drone Works (PDW) operates a platform-plus-modules product architecture centered on its flagship C100 multi-mission quadcopter, offered in two variants — C100 Defense (NDAA compliant, Blue UAS certified) and C100 Public Safety (MIL-STD-810G/1472H, IP54). The C100 airframe is paired with a modular family of Multi-Mission Payloads (MMPs) that include both PDW-developed systems (PDW Vision Payload for vision-based navigation, MRD, Anti-jam radio) and integrated third-party hardware (Silvus StreamCaster MANET, CACI FireBeast SIGINT, Trillium and NextVision cameras, Leonardo DRS Stag5 targeting). Operators run the aircraft through PDW CORE, PDW's in-house ATAK-compatible ground control station, and train via the PDW SIM simulator. The AM / AM-FPV (Attritable Multirotor) sits alongside the C100 as PDW's expendable strike platform, with all aircraft produced at the in-house Drone Factory 01 facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- C100: Multi-mission quadcopter / tactical drone system with modular payloads; flagship PDW platform for both defense and public safety markets.
- AM (Attritable Multirotor / AM-FPV)
- PDW CORE
- PDW SIM
- Drone Factory 01 (DF01)
Products and services
- C100 Defense Multi-mission Group 1-2 quadcopter UAS for U.S. and allied military missions; NDAA compliant, Blue UAS certified, IP54 rated, built to MIL-STD-810G, with 74-minute flight time, 40 mph max speed, 10 lb payload capacity, and modular Multi-Mission Payload integration for ISR, laser target designation, MANET relay, spectrum awareness, and kinetic strike in GPS-denied and EW-contested environments.
- C100 Public Safety C100 platform configured for public safety, first responder, and emergency management missions; IP54-rated and built to MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-1472H standards for field durability, sharing the modular Multi-Mission Payload architecture of the defense variant.
- AM / AM-FPV (Attritable Multirotor) Low-cost, attritable FPV strike multirotor with swappable 5-inch, 7-inch, and 10-inch arm configurations and a universal payload interface; NDAA-compliant, designed for mass manufacture, with 10+ km point-to-point BVLOS range and 20+ km range via C100 relay; analog and digital video configured for video quality and EW resilience.
- PDW CORE (Mission Planning & Ground Control Station) In-house ground control station and advanced mission planner for operating PDW aircraft; ATAK-compatible with Cursor-on-Target integration, native training environment, hot-swappable battery support, and frequency-agile mesh communications via Doodle Labs Sense.
- PDW SIM (Flight Simulator) Hyper-realistic flight simulator with identical physics to the C100, dynamic 3D maps, customizable training environments, and harsh-environment scenarios; cuts simulator-based training time by 50% and costs by 88%.
- Multi-Mission Payloads (MMPs) Modular payload family that snaps onto the C100 airframe, including PDW-developed systems (PDW Vision Payload for vision-based navigation, MRD, Anti-jam radio) and integrated third-party hardware (Silvus StreamCaster MANET, CACI FireBeast spectrum awareness, Trillium HD40-LVV gimbal, NextVision X80/Raptor LP/DragonEye2 cameras, Leonardo DRS Stag5 LLD targeting).
- Drone Factory 01 PDW's dedicated small-UAS manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama; 90,000 sq. ft. vertically integrated plant with multi-line redundancy and a U.S.-based NDAA-compliant supply chain, anchoring the company's at-scale production model.
- Training and Certification Services Professional training services delivered by certified master trainers, including C100 New Equipment Training, Train the Trainer, Multi-Mission Payload training, FPV training, and PDW CORE/SIM training, for military and public safety operators.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cuts simulator-based training time by 50% and costs by 88%
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Performance Drone Works
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Performance Drone Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability8 records
Feature11 records
Performance Drone Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- LeidosflagshipFortune 500 defense integrator and technology partner with 47,000 employees; provides ISR, autonomy, and mission systems expertise. Core map downloads integrated into PDW Vision Payload (PVP) via PDW CORE 1.4.
- Silvus TechnologiescoreLeading developer of advanced MIMO communication systems for tactical applications; $56M in government contracts. StreamCaster MANET comms payload integrated into C100 Multi-Mission Payloads. Based in Los Angeles, California.
- Trillium EngineeringcoreLeading provider of gimbal innovations and advanced ISR optics for precision targeting in contested environments. Trillium HD40-LVV payload integrated with the C100 platform. Based in Hood River, Oregon.
- NextVisioncoreProvider of field-proven stabilized cameras and accessories (X80 and Raptor LP payloads) integrated with the C100 for commercial, industrial, and security applications. Based in Kfar Saba, Israel.
- UXV TechnologiescoreSpecialists in modular ground control systems for tactical superiority. Partner for SROC ground control station integrated with PDW platforms. Based in Ishoj, Denmark.
- Doodle LabscoreDesigner and manufacturer of hardened wireless connectivity solutions for the battle space; Doodle Labs Sense provides frequency-agile communications, frequency hopping in contested environments, and mesh networking integrated into C100 (validated during 9-Mile Test Series with AM-FPV 10+ km BVLOS). Based in Marina del Rey, California.
- Mastodon (CACI)coreTier 1 DoD supplier with electronic warfare, cyber operations, and SIGINT expertise; FireBeast signals intelligence payload integrated into PDW Multi-Mission Payloads. Based in Rochester, New York.
- Vanteon CorporationflagshipDefinitive agreement to acquire Rochester, NY-based Vanteon Corporation, an engineering firm with 40+ years of experience in advanced communications, RF systems, and software-defined radio; brings approximately 40 engineers with expertise in RF design, mission-critical software, and hardware. Acquisition expands PDW's vertical integration and FPGA-based RF development capabilities. Transaction expected to close following customary closing conditions.
- U.S. Department of Defense / Pentagon (Office of Strategic Capital)flagshipU.S. government funding negotiations underway through the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital, potentially including debt and equity stakes as part of the $1.1B Drone Dominance Program and $75B drone budget request. Performance Drone Works identified as one of three companies in negotiations, with a contract to supply the U.S. Army with reconnaissance drones already secured.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Performance Drone Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Skydio: Skydio is a leading small-UAS manufacturer with strong autonomy and a growing defense/public safety business (Skydio X10), making it a direct peer to PDW's C100 across commercial, federal, and military ISR and public safety use cases.
- Shield AI: Shield AI develops AI pilot autonomy (Hivemind) and the V-BAT VTOL UAS for DoD, placing it in direct competition with PDW's vision-based GPS-denied autonomy and multi-mission sUAS offerings across U.S. Military and SOCOM programs.
- Anduril Industries: Anduril builds autonomous defense systems (Lattice, Roadrunner, Bolt) and is a direct competitor in attritable Group 1-2 UAS, EW-resilient comms, and AI-enabled mission software for the U.S. Military — overlapping heavily with PDW's C100/AM-FPV roadmap and Drone Dominance Program ambitions.
- AeroVironment: AeroVironment is the established leader in tactical sUAS and the maker of Switchblade loitering munitions — the closest direct analog to PDW's AM-FPV attritable strike drone and a major competitor for Army TIC, SOCOM, and Marine Corps orders.
- Teal Drones (Red Cat Holdings): Red Cat's Teal Drones produces the Teal 2 and Black Widow small UAS for DoD and allies; it is a direct competitor in the U.S. Military sUAS market and was also selected into the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program alongside PDW.
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos designs and manufactures target drones and attritable UAS (XQ-58 Valkyrie, BQM-167, etc.) for the U.S. Military, overlapping with PDW's mass-manufactured, low-cost attritable multirotor strategy and Pentagon Drone Dominance Program positioning.
Others
- Palantir Technologies: Palantir provides defense data/AI software (Gotham, Maven Smart System) for DoD and SOCOM; while not a hardware competitor, it is an adjacent enabling platform that PDW platforms integrate with via ATAK/Cursor-on-Target and through board-level relationships (David Spirk).
- Ondas Holdings: Ondas Holdings (NASDAQ:ONDS) is PDW's lead Series B investor and strategic partner for AI-enabled autonomous systems in defense and homeland security; an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but materially relevant to PDW's capital and roadmap.
Emerging players
- Aevex Aerospace: Aevex Aerospace provides ISR, mission data analytics, and specialized UAS for U.S. and allied special operations — overlapping with PDW's C100 ISR, targeting, and SOCOM use cases while pursuing a slightly different platform portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: General Atomics is a long-established defense manufacturer of MQ-9 Reaper and other large UAS; while focused on higher-altitude/longer-endurance platforms, it competes for the same DoD budget pool and partnered ecosystem that PDW is pursuing with attritable small UAS.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Performance Drone Works social profiles
Digital presencePerformance Drone Works compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Performance Drone Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Performance Drone Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Performance Drone Works subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Performance Drone Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Performance Drone Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Performance Drone Works
What does Performance Drone Works do?
Performance Drone Works designs, manufactures, and supports a vertically integrated family of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for U.S. and allied defense and public safety customers. Its core platform is the C100 multi-mission quadcopter, paired with the AM-FPV attritable strike drone, the PDW CORE ground control software, the PDW SIM flight simulator, and a modular family of Multi-Mission Payloads (MMPs) for ISR, laser target designation, MANET communications, spectrum awareness, and kinetic effects. Production is anchored at the 90,000 sq. ft. Drone Factory 01 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Is Performance Drone Works a public or private company?
Performance Drone Works is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Performance Drone Works founded?
Performance Drone Works was founded in 2018. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Performance Drone Works based?
Performance Drone Works is headquartered in Huntsville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Performance Drone Works make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales (Drone Systems) is the primary driver. The others are defense Government Contracts, training Services, software & Simulation (PDW CORE / PDW SIM) and strategic Capital / Government Funding (pending).
Who are Performance Drone Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Skydio, Shield AI, Anduril Industries, AeroVironment, Teal Drones (Red Cat Holdings) and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Others are Palantir Technologies and Ondas Holdings. Aevex Aerospace is listed as an emerging player. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Performance Drone Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Performance Drone Works.
What industry is Performance Drone Works in?
Performance Drone Works's product category is Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) for Defense and Public Safety. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAA, Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones. Its NAICS code is 33641 and its SIC code is 3812.