Skydio, the largest U.S.-based drone manufacturer, today announced plans to invest $3.5 billion in the United States over the next five years to expand its domestic manufacturing, accelerate R&D and strengthen American supply chains.
The investment is expected to create more than 2,000 new Skydio jobs, support the creation of more than 3,000 additional roles within the U.S. supply chain and direct more than $1 billion to domestic suppliers.
Skydio said it already manufactures more dual-use drones than any company outside of China. The company has shipped more than 60,000 flying robots to more than 3,800 customers, including more than 1,200 public safety agencies throughout the country, every branch of the U.S. military, and 29 allied nations, as well as more than 450 utility and energy companies.
A key component of the investment is SkyForge, a new company program designed to ensure the future of flight is built in America. In addition to the billion-dollar investment in U.S. suppliers, Skydio plans to open a new U.S. manufacturing facility five times larger than its current space. The company has outgrown four American manufacturing facilities in eight years; this will be its fifth expansion to meet demand.
In the span of little more than a decade, drones evolved from toys to tools to critical infrastructure for the industries that form the backbone of this country. Skydio leads this new era of drones as infrastructure on the strength of its AI and autonomy innovation: In public safety, for example, our Skydio DFR gives agencies aerial awareness that allows drones to arrive on scene first 71% of the time, resolving nearly a quarter1 of calls without sending a patrol unit. When lives and livelihoods are on the line, Skydio's systems are in the field, every day, protecting both.
With this commitment, Skydio is making clear that the United States will lead in flying robotics, autonomy, manufacturing, and scale. The investment will reinforce domestic electronics and component manufacturing and strengthen secure supply chains vital to national resilience. At the same time, Skydio will continue to scale domestic production capacity to meet the growing demand across public safety, national security, and utilities.
