Estonian-Ukrainian defense technology company DOD Solution has closed a US$2.1 million Pre-Seed funding round to accelerate the development and scaling of its AURA AI onboard autonomy platform. The round brings together investors from Ukraine, the European Union, the United States, and Canada, with Canadian drone technology firm Draganfly joining as a strategic investor. The company said the new capital will support production, software advancement, and integration work across international unmanned systems markets.
Investor Base and Strategic Backing
The Pre-Seed round includes Angel One Fund, Better Angle, Defence Builder Fund, Network VC, Newfund, UAID Fund, WildField Ventures, and 4C-Next Holding AG, along with a group of angel investors. Draganfly participated as a strategic investor, strengthening the round's industry relevance in the unmanned aerial vehicle sector. The investor group spans Ukraine, EU countries, the United States, and Canada, reflecting broad international confidence in DOD Solution's autonomy technology.
AURA AI Autonomy Platform
DOD Solution developed AURA AI as an onboard autonomy platform that combines the AURA SBC onboard computer with the AURA OS autonomy software stack. The system enables autonomous navigation, perception, target recognition, tracking, and terminal guidance when GPS or communications links are degraded or unavailable. It is designed for integration into FPV drones, interceptor drones, and fixed-wing UAVs, and the platform has already been used in combat in Ukraine.
Funding Priorities and Production Scale
The new capital will support bringing the next generation of AURA SBC into production, advancing AURA OS and onboard AI capabilities, and accelerating integrations with unmanned platform manufacturers in Ukraine and international markets. The next generation AURA SBC is being developed for production at scale with a robust component supply chain and a goal of meeting NDAA-compliance requirements. This focus will support the company's expansion into European and North American markets.
Market Expansion and Compliance
DOD Solution is aligning the next generation AURA SBC with NDAA-compliance requirements to support expansion into European and North American markets. The company is building a component supply chain intended for volume production and long-term reliability. These measures are designed to meet procurement expectations among allied governments and defense contractors.
Deployment in Contested Environments
Autonomy has become a critical requirement for unmanned systems operating in contested environments where GPS and communications are often disrupted. DOD Solution's onboard approach reduces dependence on external infrastructure by performing navigation and targeting functions directly on the platform. This design is particularly relevant for defense users seeking resilient capabilities for small unmanned aerial vehicles.
Leadership Perspective
Roman Hapachylo, CEO of DOD Solution, said autonomy needs to work across different unmanned systems and operational environments instead of remaining limited to a single platform. He added that the company is focused on making AURA AI easier to integrate, faster to scale, and capable of supporting increasingly demanding onboard applications. According to Hapachylo, the funding provides both resources and the right partners to accelerate that transition.
DOD Solution's US$2.1 million Pre-Seed round provides a foundation for the company to advance onboard autonomy technology that is already being used in real operational conditions. With a new investor syndicate, strategic industry support from Draganfly, and production-focused development plans, the company is moving to scale its platform across allied markets. The funding marks a significant step in its effort to make autonomous capabilities more portable, resilient, and accessible for unmanned systems.