Valkyrie Dynamics raises €1 million for a 100-gram radar seeker that lets interceptor drones fly in bad weather

Valkyrie Dynamics raised €1 million in a pre-seed round from Paris-based venture studio Hexa, with participation from defence technology angel investors, according to Tech.eu. The Ukrainian-Lithuanian defence hardware company will use the funds to manufacture the first version of its Heimdall radar seeker, continue product work and expand its team.

Heimdall is a terminal guidance radar seeker that sits in the nose cone of FPV interceptor drones. It gives operators a radar view during the final 100 to 500 metres of an interception, when rain, fog, smoke, snow or cloud cover can limit optical and thermal cameras. The device weighs about 100 grams and has a target price below €300 per unit at volume.

Valkyrie runs a research and development lab in Kyiv and is integrating Heimdall with guidance module and interceptor manufacturers. It recently conducted flight tests with Korven Systems, a Ukrainian-Estonian developer of autonomy systems for interceptor drones. Heimdall can support piloted navigation or autonomous flight when paired with a partner's guidance module.