Airbility, a deep-tech aerospace and defense company developing high-speed electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, has closed a USD 4.7 million Series A funding round led by Silicon Valley based Sazze Partners. The investment, equivalent to KRW 6.5 billion, brings the company's total funding to USD 7.6 million. Existing investor Stonebridge Ventures participated with a follow-on commitment, while Industrial Bank of Korea joined as a new shareholder.
Scaling an Integrated Counter-UAS Portfolio
Airbility will use the proceeds to accelerate an end-to-end counter-unmanned aircraft system designed to physically defeat hostile drones in flight, while simultaneously building the production infrastructure required for scaled manufacturing. The architecture combines high-speed eVTOL platforms, onboard autonomy, and external sensing assets such as radar, electro-optical, and infrared sensors. This integrated approach is intended to support detection, interception, and post-engagement assessment as one coordinated system.
A Three Interceptor Lineup
The portfolio includes the net-gun-equipped AB-U10, which is designed for speeds of approximately 180 kilometers per hour, and the AB-U60 mothership platform. Airbility is also developing the AB-U2 compact kinetic interceptor and the AB-U4L fixed-wing interceptor, with the latter targeting speeds around 300 kilometers per hour. The company plans to commercialize the AB-U10 by the end of 2026 and the AB-U2 and AB-U4L in the first half of 2027, creating a three-interceptor lineup.
Autonomous Operations and In-House Manufacturing
Airbility will enhance the onboard artificial intelligence that powers its interceptors to enable independent mission execution in communications-limited environments. The aircraft will connect with external detection assets, including radar, electro-optical, and infrared sensors, so that detection, interception, and post-engagement assessment operate as one coordinated system. Manufacturing capabilities in 3D printing, composite airframes, battery packs, and flight-control software will be strengthened in parallel.
Aerospace Experience and Flight Validation
Airbility was co-founded in November 2023 by researchers who helped develop Korea's KT-1, T-50, and KF-21 aircraft at the Agency for Defense Development. The team also includes professionals from Hyundai Motor, the MIT Media Lab, LG Electronics, and Genesis Design, with three senior technical leaders each spending over 25 years at the agency. In December 2025, the company completed transition-flight demonstrations across three prototypes, validating its high-speed eVTOL design and flight-control logic.
Cost Advantage and Global Demand
Airbility is positioning its counter-UAS system to address a widening cost asymmetry in drone defense. A Shahed-type one-way attack drone is often cited at approximately USD 35,000, while a Patriot interceptor can cost about USD 4 million. The company estimates that its air-to-air approach can reduce engagement costs to roughly USD 50 to USD 3,000 depending on configuration.
International Pipeline and Domestic Momentum
Airbility is currently in commercial discussions with counterparties in more than nine countries across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Four memoranda of understanding and two joint-venture initiatives are in progress, alongside domestic projects with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The company also secured USD 2.2 million in research and development support through the Korea AeroSpace Administration's 2026 Scale-Up TIPS program.
Investor Confidence and Growth Targets
Kiha Lee, Partner at Sazze Partners, said the firm was impressed by the team's experience leading indigenous aircraft programs in Korea and by its speed from development to flight validation. The round marks Sazze Partners' first investment in the defense sector. Jinmo Lee, co-CEO of Airbility, said the company will commercialize its first counter-UAS aircraft this year, establish a three-interceptor portfolio in early 2027, and target KRW 50 billion in cumulative revenue by 2028.
The Series A funding positions Airbility to move more quickly from flight validation to commercial production at a time of rising global demand for cost-effective counter-drone systems. With a technically experienced team, demonstrated flight milestones, and an expanding international pipeline, the company is building the foundation for integrated system sales rather than standalone aircraft transactions. Its progress will be closely watched as defense buyers seek faster and more affordable responses to unmanned aerial threats.