
The investment accelerates AI‑driven autonomy for Ukraine’s defence while positioning Axon in the fast‑growing military‑drone market, with spill‑over potential for logistics and construction sectors.
The war in Ukraine has turned drones into a cornerstone of modern battlefield tactics, prompting a surge in autonomous technology development. Companies like The Fourth Law have emerged to fill the gap, offering AI‑driven flight control that reduces reliance on human pilots and mitigates the risks of signal jamming. Axon’s recent investment reflects a broader trend of Western tech firms channeling capital into defence‑grade AI, recognizing both the immediate strategic value for Ukraine and the long‑term commercial upside of autonomous systems.
TFL’s platform distinguishes itself by operating independently of satellite navigation, a critical capability in contested airspace where GPS signals are often spoofed or denied. Its edge‑AI modules process sensor data on‑board, enabling rapid detection of hostile Shahed and Geran drones and allowing interceptor UAVs to engage threats faster than manual observation. The modular software stack—comprising simulation tools, fleet management, and cross‑platform APIs—facilitates integration with a wide array of airframes, from small quadcopters to larger fixed‑wing platforms, and even ground or maritime drones. This flexibility opens doors to non‑military sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, and construction, where autonomous navigation in GPS‑challenged environments can boost efficiency.
From a business perspective, Axon’s backing signals confidence in the commercial viability of defense‑origin AI beyond the conflict zone. The funding will enable TFL to scale its anti‑Shahed solutions, expand its OEM partnerships, and accelerate R&D on next‑generation autonomy features. As governments worldwide prioritize resilient, AI‑enabled unmanned systems, TFL is positioned to capture a growing share of a market projected to exceed $30 billion by 2030, while also driving innovation that could reshape civilian drone applications.
Kyiv-based defence tech firm The Fourth Law announced a new funding round backed by US public safety technology group Axon. The undisclosed investment will support R&D of AI-driven autonomy solutions for drones to protect Ukrainian cities from Shahed attacks. The deal underscores growing corporate interest in defence AI.
Source: Tech.eu
The Fourth Law (TFL), a Kyiv-based defence technology company, has secured a new funding round backed by Axon, a US public safety technology group.
TFL develops AI and robotics solutions for defence and public safety, with a focus on autonomy technologies. The company builds an autonomy-focused software stack that includes simulation and analytical tools, autonomous applications, and fleet management systems.
Designed to operate across multiple platforms, the technology can be integrated into quadcopters, fixed-wing UAVs, missiles, and ground or maritime drones. The system functions independently of satellite navigation (GNSS), allowing operation in GPS-denied environments, and may also have applications beyond defence, including logistics, manufacturing, and construction.
TFL’s flagship products include the Lupynis-10-TFL-1 UAV and the TFL-1 autonomy module, which are used by more than 50 Ukrainian military units across multiple frontline areas. According to the company, its first-level autonomy technology increases FPV drone mission success rates by two to four times while adding around 10 per cent to unit costs. The company’s latest product, TFL-AntiShahed, is a module for interceptor drones that uses on-edge AI to detect and identify strike drones such as the Shahed and Geran more quickly than manual observation.
TFL’s autonomy technology is designed for integration across platforms. In addition to its own Lupynis-10 UAV, the company’s AI modules have been integrated with dozens of third-party UAV manufacturers. The modules can be installed on external airframes, used with different ground stations, and operate across various connectivity architectures.
As stated by Yaroslav Azhnyuk, founder and chief executive of The Fourth Law, the funding will support research and development of new autonomy capabilities intended to help protect cities and critical infrastructure from Shahed-type attacks.
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