Drone AI company NearLab has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with American drone company Red Cat Holdings (hereinafter referred to as Red Cat), establishing a bridgehead for entering the U.S. defense industry market.
Through this agreement, NearLab will officially participate in the 'RFI (Red Cat Futures Initiative)' led by Red Cat. Launched in May 2024, RFI is an independent consortium led by Red Cat, a pre-technology initiative in which companies in the robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) sector participate to jointly develop next-generation unmanned aircraft systems. The goal is to create synergy by developing joint technologies and marketing strategies in the defense market, which is difficult for individual companies to enter on their own. Through this, participating companies will establish a foundation to quickly and flexibly respond to the diverse defense needs of the US and allied forces.
Red Cat is a drone technology company listed on the NASDAQ in the United States, and has the technology capability to integrate defense, public, and industrial drone airframes and software. Recently, it has attracted attention by winning a contract for the US Army's Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program, and plans to supply 5,880 drones over the next five years. As an extension of this military business, RFI is contributing to the acceleration of technological innovation in the 'Replicator' program being promoted by the US Department of Defense. The Replicator business is the US's next-generation military strategy to respond to drone threats by mass-deploying expendable weapon systems such as AI drones.
Through this MOA, NearLab plans to secure opportunities for technology exchange with RFI member companies, including Red Cat, and establish a foundation for full-scale conquest of the U.S. defense market.
Choi Jae-hyeok, CEO of NearLab, said, “Through the MOU with REDCAT, whose technological prowess has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense, we have secured a strong ally in our entry into the U.S. defense market,” and added, “We will work to ensure that, beyond technological collaboration, NearLab’s technology can make a practical contribution to the security strategies of the U.S. and its allies.”
“NearSlabs has an impressive track record in AI-based autonomous flight technology,” said Jason Gunter, VP of Technology Innovation at Red Cat. “Our partnership with NEARSlabs represents a major expansion of Red Cat’s global network and provides new opportunities to deliver more powerful and flexible drone solutions to the industry.”
- See more related articles
You must be logged in to post a comment.