Darkhive raises $30M Series B for military micro-drones

What's the deal? Darkhive, a defence technology startup building autonomous micro-drones for military and national security missions, has closed a $30M Series B funding round led by RTXDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → Ventures , the venture arm of aerospace and defence giant RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies).

The company develops small, AI-powered uncrewed aerial systems designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. Darkhive's platform aims to give warfighters affordable, expendable drone capabilities that can operate in contested environments.

Why now? Military demand for small autonomous drones has surged as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated the battlefield dominance of cheap, mass-produced uncrewed systems. Western defence establishments are racing to field similar capabilities, creating a wave of venture investment into dual-use drone startups.

RTX Ventures leading the round signals that major defence primes see small autonomous drones not as a niche curiosity but as a core capability worth backing — and potentially integrating into their own programmes.

What could go wrong? Defence startups face notoriously long procurement cycles, and converting prototype contracts into sustained production revenue remains a challenge. Darkhive will also compete against a growing cohort of well-funded rivals, from Shield AI to Skydio, all vying for the same Pentagon budgets.

Regulatory and ethical scrutiny around autonomous weapons systems could also slow adoption, particularly for drones designed to operate with minimal human oversight.

The signal: RTX Ventures leading this round underscores how defence primes are increasingly using their investment arms not just to scout innovation but to secure supply-chain access to next-generation battlefield technology. With both RTX and Darkhive still classified as early-growth companies on Dealroom, the partnership suggests that even the largest aerospace incumbents view autonomous micro-drones as a market still in its formative stages — one where strategic capital now could lock in integration advantages later.

Read more: cincinnati.com