Defend AI, the San Diego protection tech startup that builds drones and different AI-powered army techniques, has raised a $240 million spherical at a $5.3 billion valuation, it announced today.
Defend AI says its Hivemind software program already allows fighter jets and drones to fly autonomously. Now, Defend AI needs to promote Hivemind to a broader vary of consumers like robotics firms.
The spherical’s buyers embrace L3Harris, one of many U.S.’s largest protection contractors, and Hanwha Aerospace. Current buyers like Andreessen Horowitz additionally joined.
This makes Defend AI the second-largest protection tech startup within the U.S. by valuation, after Anduril which is elevating at a $28 billion valuation.
Autonomy is a sizzling area in protection, with autonomous warship startup Saronic quadrupling its valuation to $4 billion in a $600 million spherical final month.
Defend AI didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.