Drones are no longer just a military tool or a hobby gadget. In America, they now inspect bridges and power lines, help police and firefighters, map farms and construction sites, deliver medicine, and carry out surveillance and strike missions for the armed forces. A small group of US companies builds a large share of the drones, autonomy software, and uncrewed aircraft used across the country.

All ten companies below are headquartered in the United States. Some are fast-growing startups backed by venture capital, some are long-established defense contractors, and some are public companies that have been building unmanned aircraft for decades.

In this article, we’ll discuss the top 10 drone companies in the United States, based on their history, ownership, and the kind of drones they make.

Quick Comparison

Rank	Company	Founded	Owner / Founders	Headquarters	Core Focus
1	Anduril Industries	2017	Founded by Palmer Luckey and others; privately held, led by Palmer Luckey	Costa Mesa, California	Autonomous Military Drones & Counter-Drone Systems
2	AeroVironment	1971	Founded by Paul MacCready; publicly listed (NASDAQ: AVAV), led by CEO Wahid Nawabi	Arlington, Virginia	Small Military Drones & Loitering Munitions
3	Skydio	2014	Founded by Adam Bry, Abraham Bachrach & Matt Donahoe; privately held, led by CEO Adam Bry	San Mateo, California	AI-Powered Enterprise & Public Safety Drones
4	General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)	1955 (parent company)	Privately held by the Blue family; GA-ASI is led by Linden Blue	Poway, California	Large Military Drones (MQ-9 Reaper)
5	Shield AI	2015	Founded by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng & Andrew Reiter; privately held	San Diego, California	AI Pilot Software & V-BAT Drones
6	Kratos Defense & Security Solutions	1994	Publicly listed (NASDAQ: KTOS), led by CEO Eric DeMarco	San Diego, California	Jet-Powered Combat & Target Drones
7	Northrop Grumman	1994 (current company)	Publicly listed (NYSE: NOC), led by Chair & CEO Kathy Warden	Falls Church, Virginia	High-Altitude Surveillance Drones
8	Red Cat Holdings	2009	Publicly listed (NASDAQ: RCAT), led by CEO Jeff Thompson	San Juan, Puerto Rico	Small Tactical & First-Responder Drones
9	Zipline	2014	Founded by Keller Rinaudo Cliffton and others; privately held	South San Francisco, California	Delivery Drones
10	Insitu (Boeing)	1994	Founded by Tad McGeer & Steve Sliwa; wholly owned by Boeing	Bingen, Washington	Long-Endurance Surveillance Drones

Anduril Industries – The Fastest-Rising Name in Autonomous Defense

Image Courtesy: Anduril Industries (Official Website)

• Founded: 2017 
• Owner: Founded by Palmer Luckey and others; privately held, led by Palmer Luckey 
• Headquarters: Costa Mesa, California

Anduril was started in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus VR, together with a small team of defense and technology veterans. It set out to build modern military hardware that runs on software and artificial intelligence, instead of the slow, expensive programs of older contractors.

Its products include the Ghost drone, the Roadrunner counter-drone interceptor, the Altius loitering munition, and the Fury combat aircraft, all tied together by its Lattice software. In March 2026, the company signed a 10-year enterprise contract with the US Army with a ceiling of $20 billion. It is also building a large factory called Arsenal-1 in Ohio to produce uncrewed aircraft at scale.

What Anduril does: Builds autonomous drones, counter-drone systems, and AI software for military and border security missions.

Services: Ghost drones, Roadrunner interceptors, Altius loitering munitions, Fury combat aircraft, and Lattice command software.

AeroVironment – The Longest-Running US Drone Maker

Image Courtesy: AeroVironment (Official Website)

• Founded: 1971 
• Owner: Founded by Paul MacCready; publicly listed (NASDAQ: AVAV), led by CEO Wahid Nawabi 
• Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia

AeroVironment was founded in 1971 by Paul MacCready, the engineer famous for human-powered and solar-powered aircraft. Over the decades, it became one of the main suppliers of small drones to the US military, starting with the hand-launched Raven.

Today, its best-known products are the Switchblade loitering munitions, the Puma and JUMP 20 drones, and the Red Dragon one-way attack drone. It expanded further by acquiring BlueHalo in 2025, which added space, laser, and counter-drone technology to its portfolio. It is publicly traded and works closely with the US Department of Defense and allied armies.

What AeroVironment does: Makes small military drones, loitering munitions, and related defense systems.

Services: Switchblade, Puma, Raven, JUMP 20, tactical missile systems, and counter-drone products.

Skydio – America’s Biggest Drone Manufacturer for Business Use

Image Courtesy: Skydio (Official Website)

• Founded: 2014 
• Owner: Founded by Adam Bry, Abraham Bachrach & Matt Donahoe; privately held, led by CEO Adam Bry 
• Headquarters: San Mateo, California

Skydio was started in 2014 by three MIT-trained engineers who wanted drones that could fly themselves and avoid obstacles without a skilled pilot. It first sold consumer drones, but later focused on police, fire departments, utilities, and the military.

Its flagship Skydio X10 offers 360-degree obstacle avoidance and thermal imaging, and the Skydio Dock lets drones launch and land on their own from remote locations. In April 2026 the company raised a $110 million Series F at a $4.4 billion valuation and announced plans for a $3.5 billion US manufacturing investment over five years. Its position has also been helped by restrictions on Chinese-made drones such as DJI in the US.

What Skydio does: Makes self-flying drones and software for public safety, inspection, security, and defense.

Services: Skydio X10, X10D, R10, and F10 drones, Skydio Dock, and 3D scanning software.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems – Maker of the MQ-9 Reaper

Image Courtesy: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (Official Website)

• Founded: 1955 (parent company General Atomics) 
• Owner: Privately held by the Blue family; GA-ASI is led by Linden Blue 
• Headquarters: Poway, California

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is the drone arm of General Atomics, which was founded in 1955. It is the company behind the Predator and its larger successor, the MQ-9 Reaper, two of the most recognized military drones in the world.

GA-ASI also builds the Gray Eagle for the US Army, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian sold to allied nations, and the YFQ-42A combat drone developed under the US Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft program. Its aircraft are far larger than small commercial drones and can stay in the air for a very long time.

What GA-ASI does: Makes large, long-endurance military drones for surveillance and strike missions.

Services: MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian, Gray Eagle, and combat drone development.

Shield AI – AI Pilots for Drones in Hostile Environments

Image Courtesy: Shield AI (Official Website)

• Founded: 2015 
• Owner: Founded by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng & Andrew Reiter; privately held 
• Headquarters: San Diego, California

Shield AI was founded in 2015 by Brandon Tseng, a former Navy SEAL, along with his brother Ryan Tseng and Andrew Reiter. The company’s idea is to give aircraft an “AI pilot” that can fly missions without GPS or a radio link, which matters in places where the enemy jams signals.

Its software is called Hivemind, and it flies the company’s V-BAT, a vertical-takeoff drone that needs no runway. The V-BAT has logged more than 130 combat sorties in Ukraine since June 2024, in heavy electronic-warfare conditions. Hivemind is also being added to other aircraft, including larger combat drones.

What Shield AI does: Builds AI flight software and drones that work in contested, jammed environments.

Services: Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT drones, and simulation and training tools.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions – Fast, Jet-Powered Drones

Image Courtesy: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (Official Website)

• Founded: 1994 
• Owner: Publicly listed (NASDAQ: KTOS), led by CEO Eric DeMarco 
• Headquarters: San Diego, California

Kratos is a defense technology company that has grown through acquisitions since the 1990s. Today, a major part of its business is unmanned aircraft, ranging from target drones used to train pilots and test missiles to jet-powered “loyal wingman” aircraft.

Its best-known drone is the XQ-58 Valkyrie, a low-cost, high-speed jet drone designed to fly alongside crewed fighter jets. Kratos also makes the BQM-177 and other aerial targets used by the US Navy and Air Force, and it works on hypersonic test systems.

What Kratos does: Makes jet-powered combat drones and target drones for the military. 

Services: XQ-58 Valkyrie, BQM-177 target drones, unmanned systems, and hypersonic test vehicles.

Northrop Grumman – Builder of High-Altitude Surveillance Drones

Image Courtesy: Northrop Grumman (Official Website)

• Founded: 1994 (current company, with roots going back much earlier) 
• Owner: Publicly listed (NYSE: NOC), led by Chair & CEO Kathy Warden 
• Headquarters: Falls Church, Virginia

Northrop Grumman is one of the largest defense companies in the country, formed in its current shape in 1994 when Northrop bought Grumman. It is best known for the RQ-4 Global Hawk, a jet-sized drone that flies at very high altitude for long periods to watch large areas.

It also builds the MQ-4C Triton, a maritime version of the Global Hawk used by the US Navy, and the MQ-8 Fire Scout helicopter drone. Drones are only one part of its business, which also includes bombers, space systems, and missiles.

What Northrop Grumman does: Makes large, high-altitude and maritime surveillance drones for the military.

Services: RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-4C Triton, MQ-8 Fire Scout, and other unmanned systems.

Red Cat Holdings – Small Drones for Soldiers and First Responders

Image Courtesy: Red Cat Holdings (Official Website)

• Founded: 2009 
• Owner: Publicly listed (NASDAQ: RCAT), led by CEO Jeff Thompson 
• Headquarters: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Red Cat Holdings is a drone company that has grown by bringing smaller drone businesses under one roof. Its most important unit is Teal Drones, which makes the Black Widow, a small quadcopter chosen for the US Army’s short-range reconnaissance program.

The group also includes FlightWave Aerospace and the Fat Shark FPV business. It focuses on American-made drones built with components that meet US defense rules, so government buyers can use them without worrying about foreign parts.

What Red Cat does: Makes small, American-built tactical drones for soldiers, police, and first responders.

Services: Black Widow, Teal drones, FlightWave Edge 130, and FPV drone products.

Zipline – Drone Delivery at Scale

Image Courtesy: Zipline (Official Website)

• Founded: 2014 
• Owner: Founded by Keller Rinaudo Cliffton and others; privately held 
• Headquarters: South San Francisco, California

Zipline started in 2014 delivering blood and medical supplies by drone in Rwanda, and later expanded to Ghana, Nigeria, and other countries. It then brought its service to the United States, working with hospitals and retailers.

Its drones fly to a customer’s location, lower a small package on a tether, and return to base. This makes Zipline one of the few drone delivery companies operating real, repeat deliveries at large scale, rather than just running tests.

What Zipline does: Runs drone delivery of medical supplies, groceries, and food.

Services: Zipline P1 and P2 delivery drones, hospital supply delivery, and retail delivery.

Insitu (Boeing) – Long-Endurance Drones for Surveillance

Image Courtesy: Insitu (Official Website)

• Founded: 1994 
• Owner: Founded by Tad McGeer & Steve Sliwa; wholly owned by Boeing 
• Headquarters: Bingen, Washington

Insitu was started in 1994 in the Columbia River Gorge town of Bingen, Washington. Boeing acquired it in 2008, and it has operated as a Boeing subsidiary since.

It is best known for the ScanEagle, a small drone launched from a catapult that can fly for many hours, and the larger Integrator. Both are used for surveillance by the US military, allied forces, and some commercial customers, including at sea and in remote areas.

What Insitu does: Makes long-endurance surveillance drones for military, maritime, and commercial use.

Services: ScanEagle, Integrator, RQ-21A Blackjack, and drone data services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is the largest drone company in the USA? 

It depends on how you measure. By valuation and recent contracts, Anduril is the biggest of the startups. By size and experience in large military drones, General Atomics and Northrop Grumman lead. Skydio is the largest US maker of drones for business and public safety.

Which US company makes the MQ-9 Reaper? 

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems builds the MQ-9 Reaper, along with the Predator and the Gray Eagle.

Which drone company is the oldest on this list? 

General Atomics traces its roots to 1955, AeroVironment started in 1971, and Insitu and Kratos both date to 1994.

Which US drone companies are publicly traded? 

AeroVironment (AVAV), Kratos (KTOS), Northrop Grumman (NOC), and Red Cat Holdings (RCAT) are all listed on US stock exchanges. Anduril, Skydio, Shield AI, and Zipline are privately held, and Insitu is owned by Boeing.

Which company is best known for AI-piloted drones? 

Shield AI is known for its Hivemind AI pilot, and Skydio is known for self-flying drones with obstacle avoidance.

Which company leads in drone delivery? 

Zipline is the best-known US drone delivery company, with large-scale operations in several countries.

Which companies make small drones for the military? 

AeroVironment, Red Cat Holdings (Teal Drones), Skydio, and Shield AI all supply small drones or related systems for military and government use.

Are drones regulated in the USA? 

Yes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates drone flights, including pilot certification, registration, and rules for flying beyond line of sight. Drones bought by the US government must also meet security rules on where their parts are made.

Why are American-made drones in demand? 

Restrictions on Chinese-made drones such as DJI have pushed police, utilities, and government agencies to look for domestic alternatives, which has helped companies like Skydio and Red Cat.

Why do these ten companies matter to everyday people? 

They build the drones that inspect infrastructure, help find missing people, deliver medicine, support emergency teams, and protect national security.

Conclusion

The drone industry in America is made up of fast-growing start-ups, established defense contractors, and publicly listed firms with decades of experience in the field. Anduril, AeroVironment, Skydio, General Atomics, Shield AI, Kratos, Northrop Grumman, Red Cat, Zipline, and Insitu are the major US drone manufacturers that offer the whole range of products from the smallest tactical quadcopters to jet-sized surveillance planes and delivery drones.

In general, the ten companies mentioned above can fulfill all the needs of the American market in various drones, from a small inspection drone hovering over one’s roof to a large plane watching over an entire ocean. For this reason, these companies will continue to play a vital role in defense, public safety, and new businesses such as drone delivery.