DOD Solution, a defence technology venture spanning Estonia and Ukraine, has announced a $2.1 million pre-seed funding round to expand its AURA AI autonomy platform for unmanned aircraft. The investment syndicate comprises Angel One Fund, Better Angle, Defence Builder Fund, Network VC, Newfund, UAID Fund, WildField Ventures and 4C-Next Holding AG, joined by multiple angel backers and Canadian drone maker Draganfly in a strategic capacity. The AURA AI system pairs an onboard computer with autonomy software that handles navigation, object detection, target identification, tracking and guidance when GPS signals or radio links are compromised or absent. Already deployed in active combat zones across Ukraine, the technology is now moving toward broader commercial deployment.
Platform architecture and capabilities
At its core, AURA AI integrates the AURA SBC onboard processor with AURA OS, the company's proprietary autonomy software layer. This combination enables drones to operate independently when satellite positioning or wireless communication fails. The platform supports integration into multiple unmanned aircraft variants, ranging from first-person-view racing drones to interceptor designs and conventional fixed-wing models. Combat deployment in Ukraine has already validated the system's operational readiness.
Capital allocation and expansion strategy
The fresh capital will fund three primary initiatives: transitioning the next-generation AURA SBC into mass production, enhancing AURA OS and its embedded artificial intelligence functions, and deepening partnerships with unmanned platform manufacturers across Ukraine, Europe and North America.
Development of the forthcoming AURA SBC generation emphasizes production scalability, supported by resilient component sourcing and alignment with U.S. National Defence Authorization Act compliance standards. This roadmap positions DOD Solution to penetrate European and North American defence markets.
Vision and partnerships
Autonomy needs to work across different unmanned systems and operational environments, rather than remain a capability tied to a single platform. Our focus now is to make AURA AI easier to integrate, faster to scale and capable of supporting increasingly demanding onboard applications. This round gives us the resources and the right partners to accelerate that transition.
Roman Hapachylo, CEO of DOD Solution
The company has assembled a technology ecosystem around this vision, partnering with Lantronix for onboard computing, Axelera AI for AI acceleration, and Defsecintel Solutions for counter-drone integration. These collaborations enable DOD Solution to distribute its autonomy stack across heterogeneous unmanned platforms at scale.
Source: ArcticStartup
