Palladyne AI subsidiary GuideTech has secured a $2.3-million contract to supply its BRAIN flight computer and FLEX flight software for a defense contractor’s low-cost counter-drone interceptor program.
The contract covers the deployment of GuideTech’s avionics hardware and software for the development, testing, and eventual fielding of a kinetic counter-unmanned aircraft system.
BRAIN is designed as a modular flight computer for autonomous aircraft and other unmanned systems, while FLEX provides the flight software framework that supports navigation, control, and mission execution.
Palladyne AI said the interceptor system has already completed flight testing, demonstrating the maturity of the platform before potential production. The BRAIN, FLEX, and Reveal flight analytics platforms were also used early in the customer’s development process to speed system design, integration, and flight testing.
“Product wins like this generate revenue today while expanding the pipeline of opportunities as customers progress toward production,” Palladyne AI CEO Ben Wolff said.
GuideTech Expands Portfolio
The latest award adds to a series of defense contracts secured by GuideTech since joining Palladyne AI.
In May, the company was among 14 firms invited to the US Air Force Research Laboratory’s Relentless Wolfpack Industry Day, an invite-only event focused on accelerating collaborative autonomous weapon systems.
Earlier, in March, the US Navy selected GuideTech to develop a low-cost, long-range missile capable of delivering near-hypersonic strike performance.
In January, Portal Space Systems also chose the company to support production of next-generation maneuverable spacecraft platforms.
