Axon Invests in Dedrone, leading a $30.5 Million Series C Round to Protect Airspace Against Unauthorized Drones

Leading counter drone solution company Dedrone announced a Series C financing round led by Axon, the global leader in connected public safety technologies.

The counter drone space has had a banner year: Dedrone says that they have sold more than 1,000 sensors and have expanded their capabilities to be able to cover more than 200 different drone types.

“Drone detection and tracking is highly complex and we are seeing more and more instances of drones being used for nefarious purposes, including the first known drone-based terrorist attack on U.S. soil last year,” said Aaditya Devarakonda, CEO of Dedrone. “This investment demonstrates clear validation of Dedrone’s technology and team. Axon is a tremendous strategic partner for delivering airspace security to the public safety sector.”

Dedrone’s solution is used by the governments of four G-7 nations, nine U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, and internationally by more than 65 critical infrastructure sites, 20 airports, 50 correctional facilities and 10 Fortune 500 companies.

“The drone economy is flourishing and Dedrone is very much at the heart of it, providing critical protection to organizations around the world and keeping communities safe,” said Rick Smith, founder and CEO of Axon. “Axon is proud to support Dedrone’s solution as it offers unmatched technology in airspace security.”

Counter drone solutions have steadily grown in importance and sophistication as the commercial drone industry expands.  The December 2018 interference with air traffic at Gatwick airport, which cost the U.K. government millions and stranded holiday travelers, brought home the need for reliable solutions to detect, identify and mitigate unauthorized drones.

Dedrone’s solution includes software, comprehensive AI/ML-based sensor fusion and detection, identification and tracking capabilities, mitigation functionality and advanced data analytics.

Axon is a leader in public safety systems, including smart weapons and body cameras.  Axon “launched its end-to-end drone solution, Axon Air, in 2018, which delivers secure wireless live streaming, integrated evidence management, and program management to improve operational efficiency and outcomes for public safety agencies and the communities they serve,” says the press release.

“At Axon, we are dedicated to leveraging technology to improve safety. Our existing Axon Air program is a great example of putting the latest in drone technology to work for good in the hands of responsible agencies,” said Aydin Ghajar, General Manager of Axon Air. “We chose to invest in Dedrone because of our shared commitment to deliver reliable, robust airspace security that ensures public safety.”

Read more about Dedrone: Investment, acquisition of the Drone Defender, DroneTracker, and partnerships.