Axon is putting $1.2 billion into drone maker Skydio and will sell its drones to police and fire departments, which could change how 911 calls get answered.
Axon is investing $1.2 billion in Skydio, a US maker of self-flying drones. Axon will also become the only company selling Skydio drones to police and fire departments in the US and Canada. If you live in either country, drones that reach an emergency before officers do may soon be a normal part of local response.
The deal values Skydio at $5.2 billion before the investment. Axon gets a minority stake with no voting rights, so Skydio stays independent. The payment is a mix of cash and Axon shares. It is expected to close in stages during the last three months of 2026 and the first three months of 2027.
Skydio will also be the only drone maker supplying Axon in those two countries. Skydio's CEO, Adam Bry, said both companies seriously considered a full acquisition. They decided they could do more good as separate companies.
Bry said Skydio did not need to raise more money. Most of the investment is meant to give existing shareholders and employees a chance to cash out some of their holdings. The deal includes some new money for Skydio as well as purchases of existing shares.
The idea is called Drone as First Responder. An emergency service sends an autonomous drone to a scene before officers can get there on the ground. The drones launch from docks placed around a community.
The exclusive deal covers only public safety. Skydio can still grow its other work. The California company supplies every branch of the US military and the armed forces of 32 allied nations. Bry said the investment will also support its push into energy, construction and transportation. Skydio expects about $1 billion in total bookings, meaning orders, in its current financial year.
The reporting does not say which towns will add drones because of this deal, or what rules will govern how they are used. It also does not say what the exclusive arrangement means for prices. Those details will likely matter most to local officials and residents.
Axon's $1.2 billion Skydio deal makes one partnership the main source of police and fire drones in the US and Canada.
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