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Capital · Drones

Alpha Unmanned Systems closes €4 million financing for Madrid production expansion

The unmanned helicopter maker plans to expand capacity at a new plant. Spain’s export credit agency backs the financing, with Santander, Bankinter and BBVA participating.

Alpha Unmanned Systems has closed €4 million in financing to support a planned increase in production capacity at a new Madrid plant. The Spanish manufacturer announced the deal in a November 3, 2026, release.1

Funds will be used to increase production capacity

Alpha Unmanned Systems

financing deal€4 millionactual

has closed a financing deal totalling €4 million

production capacitynew plant in Madridplanned

The funds will be used to increase production capacity at a new plant in Madrid

Alpha Unmanned Systems press release, published by Vertical

Sources
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Alpha plans to use the funds to expand its team and accelerate development of its unmanned platforms alongside the production expansion. Cesce, Spain’s export credit agency, backs the deal, with Banco Santander, Bankinter and BBVA participating. The release does not identify the financing instrument or its terms, and gives no capacity figure or opening date for the Madrid plant.1

Alpha reports customers in 14 countries, including the U.S. Department of War, the Hellenic Navy and the Bulgarian Border Police. It says its platforms are in service in Spain with the Guardia Civil, the Military Emergencies Unit and, more recently, the Spanish Navy.1

Alpha plans to use the financing to step up its expansion into new markets, mainly in Europe, the United States, Latin America and Asia.1

Sources (1)
  1. Alpha Unmanned Systems press release, November 3, 2026, as published by Vertical verticalmag.com
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Capital

CesiumAstro closes $730 million round to support its own planned satellite constellation

The space communications supplier plans a 737-satellite constellation that would take it into operating its own infrastructure. Janus Henderson led the equity round.

CesiumAstro announced Nov. 5 that it closed $730 million in Series D financing. The round valued the company at more than $4.5 billion.1

CesiumAstro raises capital to support its planned satellite constellation

Series D financing and Synchronicity plans, announced Nov. 5, 2026

$730MClosed Series D financing
737 satellitesPlanned Synchronicity constellation

CesiumAstro says the capital will support Synchronicity deployment alongside technologies, manufacturing expansion, spacecraft development and international growth.

Source: CesiumAstro, Nov. 5, 2026. As of Nov. 6, 2026.

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Synchronicity would extend CesiumAstro's business from supplying space technologies and complete spacecraft to developing and operating its own space infrastructure. The planned 737-satellite constellation is intended for commercial, sovereign and defense missions.1

Janus Henderson led the equity round, with participants including Insight Partners, Sands Capital and Magnetar. The announcement also lists $100 million in debt financing through the Export-Import Bank of the United States and JPMorgan, without specifying whether that amount is included in the $730 million.1

CesiumAstro acquired Jariet Technologies, 1Aardvark and Vidrovr in the past 12 months, bringing together semiconductor, mission software and artificial intelligence capabilities.1

The company says the capital will support Synchronicity deployment alongside advanced technologies, U.S. manufacturing expansion, spacecraft development and international growth. It also announced a $500 million investment over five years to expand its Austin headquarters, including advanced manufacturing space.1

Sources (1)
  1. CesiumAstro, "CesiumAstro Secures $730 Million in Janus Henderson-Led Series D at a Valuation Above $4.5 Billion; Unveils Synchronicity Satellite Constellation Following Fully Successful Element-1 Mission," Nov. 5, 2026 cesiumastro.com
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Capital · Drones

Axon targets larger Skydio stake with $1.2 billion investment

Axon will also become the drone maker’s exclusive public safety distributor in the U.S. and Canada.

Axon announced a roughly $1.2 billion minority investment in Skydio on Nov. 5, 2026. It expects its ownership to reach about 37% on a fully diluted basis.1

Axon announced an incremental minority investment of about $1.2 billion in Skydio

Nov. 5, 2026

minority investmentabout $1.2 billionplanned

expected to raise its fully diluted ownership from about 15% (as of Sept. 30, 2026) to about 37%

public safetyU.S. and Canadaplanned

Axon will also become Skydio's exclusive distributor for public safety in the U.S. and Canada.

Axon expects the remaining transactions to close in Q4 2026 and Q1 2027, subject to customary closing conditions

Source: Axon Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1, Nov. 5, 2026. Data as of Nov. 6, 2026.

Sources
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The investment would pair a larger minority stake with an exclusive public safety sales channel in the U.S. and Canada.1–2 The deal builds on a partnership already bringing Skydio drones to public safety agencies across the U.S. Axon describes it as an expansion of its Drone as First Responder program.2

The initial purchase closed on Nov. 5. Axon expects the remaining transactions to close during the fourth quarter of 2026 and first quarter of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions.1

The investment combines capital for Skydio with purchases from existing shareholders.2 The initial purchase of about $254.9 million in non-voting Series G preferred shares was made directly with Skydio.1 Part of the cash consideration is intended to fund innovation and product expansion at Skydio, Axon says.2

Sources (2)
  1. Axon Form 8-K, Nov. 5, 2026 www.sec.gov
  2. Exhibit 99.1, Axon press release, Nov. 5, 2026 www.sec.gov
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