The accelerator Y Combinator has supported a defense startup for the first time, including the British company Seeing Systems, which specializes in drones for the military. This comes amid the growing demand for drones in Europe due to geopolitical changes and increased focus on defense on the continent.
Seeing Systems, founded by brothers Alexander and Matthew Le Metry, has already become the first Y Combinator graduate openly testing its drones in Ukraine. Their flagship product is the Banshee strike drone, which combines a modular architecture and an AI-based agent control system. According to company representatives, this drone can perform missions in electronic warfare conditions thanks to fiber-optic control, which allows it to avoid interference.
The company has garnered significant investor interest but focuses on technological development, without being distracted by the financial aspect. According to Alex, their technology is a response to the “one pilot problem,” allowing one operator to control multiple drones, ensuring efficiency and coordination.
Other drones in Seeing Systems’ lineup, such as Bandit, are geared towards training missions and budget operations. The system features a modular design, making it easy to update components, keeping them relevant in the future. Such innovations align with the rapid growth in demand for unmanned systems in Europe, especially amid the rethinking of the continent’s defense autonomy.
The application of drones in military forces, as well as government interest in developing defense technologies, underscores structural changes in approaches to security. Alex Le Metry believes that the demand for new technologies that enhance military capabilities is not a trend but a deeply grounded strategic development direction.
| Drone | Flight Range | Payload | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandit | 35 km | 1.5 kg | 115 km/h |
| Banshee | 40 km | N/A | 100 km/h |
