Darkhive Inc.

What Darkhive Inc. does

Darkhive Inc. is a San Antonio, Texas-based defense technology company founded in 2021 by U.S. Special Operations veterans. It designs and builds NDAA-compliant uncrewed aerial systems — including the Obelisk multi-rotor platform and Yellowjacket reconnaissance drone — alongside autonomy software and an edge device management platform called Fleetforge that integrates natively with TAK/ATAK for situational awareness and command-and-control. Product capabilities include multi-agent autonomous mission execution, autonomous drone swarming technologies, and a voice-enabled C2 interface, indicating a stack that combines hardware, autonomy, and software infrastructure rather than point drones alone.

The company sells primarily to the U.S. Department of Defense and adjacent public-safety agencies, generating revenue through government contracting mechanisms that include SBIR/STTR awards, APFIT, OTAs, and IDIQ vehicles. Notable programs include the largest single award in APFIT program history ($49.7M), a $100M-ceiling Phase III SBIR IDIQ with AFWERX Autonomy Prime, multiple Phase II and Phase III SBIR awards across USAF, SOCOM, DIU, and AFRL, and a partnership-funded award from OUSD R&E. It also runs an STTR Phase II program with the University of Alaska focused on extreme/cold-weather autonomy.

The business model is contract-revenue driven: equity capital (cumulative $55M+ across Seed, a $21M Series A led by Ten Eleven Ventures, and a $30M Series B led by RTX Ventures) funds product development and manufacturing scale, while government awards and IDIQ ceilings provide multi-year revenue visibility. Roughly 20%+ of the workforce is composed of U.S. military veterans, which the company positions as both a talent and credibility asset for accessing classified and operational defense programs. Customer expansion into U.S. public-safety agencies is identified as a secondary growth vector alongside continued DoD penetration.

Name

Darkhive Inc.

Legal name

Darkhive Inc.

Website

https://darkhive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Darkhive Inc. is a San Antonio-based defense technology company founded in 2021 by U.S. Special Operations veterans that builds NDAA-compliant uncrewed aerial systems, autonomy software, and the Fleetforge edge device management platform with TAK/ATAK integration for U.S. Department of Defense and public safety customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)

Keywords

• Defense uncrewed systems
• Tactical drone manufacturing
• Autonomy software
• Edge device management
• Military command and control

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Defense Contracts: Revenue from U.S. Department of Defense contracts including SBIR Phase III IDIQ with AFWERX Autonomy Prime ($100M ceiling), Phase II SBIR/STTR awards, STTR Phase II with University of Alaska, RDT&E contracts with OUSD R&E, and OTA contracts with Defense Innovation Unit National Security Innovation Capital
2. APFIT Program Award: $49.7 million APFIT contract representing the largest single contract in APFIT program history for delivering advanced compute and connectivity capabilities to U.S. forces

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Darkhive designs, manufactures, and delivers NDAA-compliant uncrewed aerial systems and autonomy software for U.S. military and public safety missions. Its offerings include tactical drone platforms (Obelisk multi-rotor UAV and Yellowjacket reconnaissance drone), the Broodbox command-and-control application integrated into the Team Awareness Kit (TAK), and the Fleetforge edge device management and software continuous delivery platform. The company combines open architecture hardware/software with flexible U.S.-based manufacturing and a resilient global supplier network.

Product overview

Darkhive Inc. is a defense technology firm that delivers an integrated family of software-defined uncrewed systems and autonomous solutions. The product portfolio centers on hardware platforms (Obelisk multi-rotor vehicle and Yellowjacket reconnaissance drone) complemented by software products including Broodbox command and control mobile application and Fleetforge edge device management platform. The company provides NDAA-compliant, US-manufactured uncrewed systems with open hardware and software interfaces, connected through Team Awareness Kit (TAK) integration for military operations. Solutions span uncrewed systems delivery at scale, integrated applications for human-machine interfacing, edge device management, and manufacturing and supply chain services designed for flexible deployment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Obelisk NDAA-compliant, cost-effective, scalably manufactured multi-rotor uncrewed aerial vehicle for reconnaissance and modular mission payload support, intended for U.S. defense and military customers.
• Yellowjacket Lightweight, short- and mid-range reconnaissance drone with open hardware and software interfaces, built for tactical situational awareness in defense operations.
• Broodbox Command and Control System Command and control mobile application providing human-machine interfacing for managing uncrewed systems in the field, integrated directly into the Team Awareness Kit (TAK/ATAK) for military users.
• Fleetforge Edge Device Management Platform Accredited integration and software continuous delivery platform for edge devices, enabling secure adaptation of uncrewed systems based on changing battlefield conditions anywhere in the world in hours rather than months.

Quantifiable outcome

• Systems can be securely adapted based on changing battlefield conditions anywhere in the world in hours not months
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of AlaskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTTR Phase II partnership for autonomous drone technologies, specifically addressing voice-enabled command and control systems for defense applications.
• AFWERXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple SBIR Phase II, Direct-to-Phase II, and STTR Phase II contracts for resilient, low-cost autonomous drone swarming technologies. AFWERX is an Air Force Research Laboratory Directorate connecting innovators across government, industry and academia.
• Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered through SBIR/STTR programs for small unmanned aerial systems, voice-enabled command and control, and advanced autonomy software development. AFRL is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force.
• Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$1M RDT&E contract to enhance capabilities of small autonomous drones in support of Department of Defense strategic initiatives. Partnership with OUSD Innovation and Modernization team.
• Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) / National Security Innovation CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOTA contract with DIU National Security Innovation Capital for developing affordable, US-manufactured uncrewed systems with open hardware and software interfaces.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense prime with a portfolio spanning tactical communications, UAS, autonomy, and electronic systems. It competes with Darkhive for autonomy, C2, and tactical UAS program dollars and represents the kind of strategic acquirer/partner relevant to Darkhive's trajectory.
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: General Atomics produces large UAS platforms (MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-20 Avenger) and autonomy/C2 stacks for the U.S. Air Force. While its platforms are much larger than Darkhive's, it competes in adjacent autonomy and ground-control-station markets relevant to Fleetforge and Broodbox.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos designs and produces tactical unmanned systems (XQ-58 Valkyrie, MQM-178 Firejet) and targets/autonomy software for DoD customers. It is a broader incumbent that competes with Darkhive in low-cost, attritable UAS and autonomous mission systems for the U.S. military.
• AeroVironment: AeroVironment is an established tactical UAS prime (Puma, Switchblade, JUMP) supplying DoD at scale. It competes with Darkhive in small tactical reconnaissance and loitering munition categories but operates as a much larger public incumbent with broader portfolio and program-of-record positions.

Direct peers

• Shield AI: Shield AI develops AI-piloted autonomous aircraft (Nova quadcopter, V-BAT VTOL) and Hivemind autonomy software for DoD and allied militaries. It is a direct competitor in defense small-UAS autonomy and pursues similar SBIR/AFWERX/DIU procurement pathways as Darkhive.
• Red Cat Holdings: Red Cat (parent of Teal Drones) builds small NDAA-compliant tactical UAS (Teal 2, Black Widow) for U.S. military and allied markets, directly overlapping Darkhive's Obelisk and Yellowjacket products. It is a closely comparable peer pursuing similar DoD small-UAS procurement contracts.
• Anduril Industries: Anduril builds autonomous systems and UAS (Ghost, Bolt, Roadrunner) for defense customers alongside Lattice, a C2/mission-management software platform. It directly overlaps Darkhive's UAS-plus-software stack (Obelisk/Yellowjacket + Broodbox/Fleetforge) and competes for similar AFWERX, DIU, and OUSD R&E program dollars.
• Skydio: Skydio produces autonomous drones (X10, RQ-series) with a heavy defense and public-safety vertical, including NDAA-compliant small UAS. Like Darkhive, Skydio targets U.S. military and first-responder customers with autonomous, US-manufactured platforms and competes for similar tactical reconnaissance programs.
• Performance Drone Works: Performance Drone Works (PDW) builds small tactical quadcopters (C100) for U.S. special operations and infantry, with a focus on modular payloads and ruggedized designs. It directly competes with Darkhive in the small tactical reconnaissance and SOF-focused drone segment.

Others

• Palantir Technologies: Palantir provides defense and intelligence software platforms (Gotham, Foundry) and is expanding into edge/autonomy mission software via Maven Smart System and related DoD programs. It is thematically adjacent to Darkhive's software stack but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/darkhive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Darkhive Inc.