Drone maker Skydio looks to expand its role in defense market

After being selected by the Army in February to move forward in the service's Short Range Reconnaissance program, Skydio earlier this month announced it has raised $170 million in its latest funding round.

In an interview with Inside Defense, Adam Bry, Skydio's chief executive, said both events are milestones as the company expands.

Last month, Skydio said the Army chose to continue with its Skydio X2D SRR system to "complete remaining integration and documentation requirements within the Other Transaction Agreement Prototype Phase. "

"The SRR program," the company added, "aims to equip Soldiers with a rapidly deployable small UAS solution to conduct Reconnaissance and Surveillance (R&S) activities."

Meanwhile, Skydio said the latest funding round brings its total funding raised to over $340 million.

Bry told Inside Defense the Army's requirements for the SRR program "are certainly not unique."

"This opportunity with the Army we see spreading to other branches for very similar kinds of use cases," he added.