Airbility has raised $4.7 million (KRW 6.5 billion) in Series A funding led by Sazze Partners, bringing the South Korean aerospace and defense company’s total funding to $7.6 million (KRW 10.5 billion).
Existing investor Stonebridge Ventures participated with a follow-on investment, while Industrial Bank of Korea joined as a new shareholder. Airbility’s existing investors also include Samho Green Investment, Mashup Ventures, BASS Ventures and 500 Global. The investment represents Sazze Partners’ first deal in the defense sector.
Airbility plans to use the financing to commercialize and scale an integrated counter-UAS platform built around high-speed electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Its portfolio includes the AB-U10, a net-gun-equipped interceptor designed for speeds of approximately 180 kilometers per hour, along with the AB-U60 mothership. The company is also developing the AB-U2 compact kinetic interceptor and AB-U4L fixed-wing interceptor, which is designed to reach approximately 300 kilometers per hour.
Airbility plans to commercialize the AB-U10 by the end of 2026, followed by the AB-U2 and AB-U4L during the first half of 2027. The AB-U60 mothership is targeted for launch in 2027.
The company is also investing in onboard AI intended to support independent mission execution in communications-limited environments and connect its aircraft with radar, electro-optical and infrared sensing systems. Airbility is simultaneously expanding manufacturing capabilities across 3D printing, composite airframes, battery packs and flight-control software.
Airbility was founded in November 2023 by a team that includes researchers involved in Korea’s KT-1, T-50 and KF-21 aircraft programs, along with professionals from Hyundai Motor, the MIT Media Lab, LG Electronics and Genesis Design. Approximately 80% of its 26 employees work in research and development.
The company is currently in commercial discussions with counterparties in more than nine countries across the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America, with four memoranda of understanding and two joint-venture initiatives in progress. It has also received $2.2 million (KRW 3 billion) in R&D support through Korea’s 2026 Scale-Up TIPS program.
Airbility is targeting KRW 50 billion in cumulative revenue by 2028 as it expands from individual aircraft sales toward integrated counter-UAS systems.
KEY QUOTES:
“Airbility is tackling the cost asymmetry in counter-drone defense with a system that combines a high-speed eVTOL mothership with small interceptors. We were impressed by the team’s experience leading indigenous aircraft programs in Korea and by the speed with which it has moved from development to flight validation. If Airbility converts today’s rapidly growing global demand into contracts, we believe it can become a defining Korean defense technology company.”
Kiha Lee, Partner at Sazze Partners
“This investment gives us the resources to move faster. We will build on our validated high-speed eVTOL platform, commercialize our first counter-UAS aircraft this year, and establish a three-interceptor portfolio in the first half of next year. From there, we intend to expand from aircraft sales to integrated system sales, convert our overseas pipeline into contracts, and target KRW 50 billion in cumulative revenue by 2028.”
Jinmo Lee, Co-CEO of Airbility
