US-based solar-powered aircraft technology developer Skydweller Aero has added $8m to a series A round co-led by aerospace, defence and security technology producer Leonardo that now totals $40m.
Leonardo co-led the round alongside investment and advisory firm Marlinspike Capital and merchant bank Advection Growth Capital, with additional investment from data and analytics technology provider Palantir.
Skydweller is working on unmanned solar-powered aircraft that it claims are capable of achieving perpetual flight. It has also entered a partnership with Palantir through which it will use Palantir’s software-defined data integration platform.
Leonardo had provided an undisclosed amount of investment for Skydweller in November 2019 that is likely related to an initial close of the series A round that occurred that year.
The company will use the series A funding to accelerate the development of its autonomous systems technology. It also plans to design and build aircraft for the purpose of providing information and intelligence collection services.