Arondite, an AI-defence tech startup founded by a former British Army officer, has raised $12m (£9m).
The company is building an AI system to connect the various hardware systems from disparate manufacturers deployed by militaries.
Described by the startup as a “connective tissue” for various defence and security systems, the software platform helps operators control multiple autonomous devices at once.
An early use case of the platform is minefield clearance. Arondite said its platform allows multiple autonomous machines to be used together to coordinate the disarming and clearance of hazards.
Arondite was founded by Will Blyth, who spent more than a decade as an officer in the British Army before entering a tech career that saw him lead the UK defence strategy at Palantir, where he spent around two years.
“During my military career, having the right information at the right time was often a matter of life or death,” said Blyth.
“Defence organisations, governments and industry are increasingly relying on blends of autonomous systems. But current approaches to leveraging these complex webs of hardware and data aren’t keeping pace.
Blyth’s co-founder Rob Underhill was previously a lead engineer at BAE Systems, the UK’s largest defence firm.
The seed investment was led by Revolut investor Index Ventures and follows a previously undisclosed $2.25m pre-seed round from Concept Ventures and Creator Fund.
“We are thrilled to support Will and Rob on their journey to enable true human-machine teaming in the autonomous age,” said Index Ventures’ partner Hannah Seal.
“With their rare combination of real-world experience, technical expertise and startup acumen, they are uniquely equipped to change how people interact with robots while ensuring they safely retain control over critical decisions.”
The funding round comes as the British government aims to bolster the domestic defence sector with increased investment as global conflicts highlight the need for security.
In her Spring Statement speech in March, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £2.2bn budget increase for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a requirement to spend a minimum of 10% on “novel technology” such as AI and drones.
Read more: MoD tech spending could be just what British AI needs
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