Teal Drones Receives $2.6M Air Force Order

Red Cat’s subsidiary, Teal Drones has received a $2.6 million order for its Teal 2 small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) from the U.S. Air Force Security Forces. Under the order, Teal will provide 172 units of its Teal 2 drone, designed for short-range reconnaissance missions and equipped with thermal imaging for enhanced night-vision capabilities.The system also offers multi-vehicle control and AI capabilities.

“It’s an honor to supply the United States Air Force with the Teal 2 sUAS,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat’s CEO. “The Teal 2’s industry-leading night-vision capabilities will be a strong asset in helping the Air Force to secure airfields and bases after dark.”  

The order was requested by the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, whose role is to defend Air Force bases and installations.  

The Teal 2 drone was officially launched in April at the AAAA Summit in Nashville, heralded by Teal as the new leading drone for nighttime operations.

“Most military operations take place at night, and the Teal 2 is exactly the sUAS that warfighters have been asking for,” said Thompson. “Teal 2 is designed to ‘Dominate the Night’ and arrives as the world’s leading small unmanned aircraft system for nighttime operations. The system also offers the latest intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technology, delivering time-critical information and enabling operators to make faster, smarter decisions.”

Related:U.S. Border Patrol Makes $1M Drone Purchase

The recent purchase is just the latest in a series of orders from the U.S. military for Teal’s drones. 

The company received an order in July for its Golden Eagle drones from the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance Program, with plans to design a small-scale, portable sUAS for surveillance and reconnaissance tasks by Army platoons.

Teal’s drones have also been deployed by the U.S. Border Patrol under a $1 million contract.