Silicon Valley startups aim to curb the rising threat of cheap combat drones

Defense-tech firm Allen Control Systems raised $200 million to mass-produce its bullet-firing Bullfrog anti-drone system, which could give the U.S. a cheaper way to counter inexpensive hostile drones.

Recent drone-related security lapses, from an FBI-thwarted White House plot to a U.S. Army exercise loss against Ukrainian drones, have highlighted the need for affordable counter-measures. Allen Control Systems announced a $200 million funding round, headed by Smash Capital, to expand production of its Bullfrog anti-drone system, which can shoot down hostile UAVs within seconds and can be mounted on a Toyota Tacoma. The company is currently building ten units weekly and plans new factories in Texas and Alabama to reach thousands per month.

Bullfrog units are already deployed in the Middle East, where Iranian forces have used cheap Chinese drones against U.S. personnel and equipment. The shift in Department of War procurement, including the Army UAS marketplace partnered with Amazon’s AWS and a separate C-UAS marketplace, lets commanders purchase and test counter-drone gear from vetted vendors, opening the door for firms like ACS. Retired Brigadier General Houston Cantwell, a fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, says the Pentagon’s “Drone Dominance Program” is unrealistic and that expanding defensive capabilities is a more viable path. While revenue is projected to climb into the low nine figures by 2026, investors are cautioned about a possible defense-tech bubble.