Reliable Robotics announced it has raised $160 million in new funding to accelerate deployment and scale production of its Reliable Autonomy System, the first Federal Aviation Administration certifiable system designed to enable fully automated aircraft operations. The financing round was led by Nimble Partners, with continued backing from Eclipse, Lightspeed, Coatue, and Pathbreaker Ventures. New investors include Island Green Capital, Socium Ventures, AE Ventures, RTX Ventures, Presidio Ventures, UP.Partners, KAS Venture Partners, What If Ventures, Calm Ventures, Gaingels, and Mana Ventures.
The raise follows commitments for more than 200 systems from commercial and military customers, along with the company’s selection for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program.
Reliable Robotics is developing autonomous aircraft technology aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency across both commercial and defense aviation. Its system is designed to integrate with existing aircraft and infrastructure without requiring changes to the National Airspace System.
The company has also secured a contract with the United States Air Force to provide automated air cargo operations and is working with the City of Albuquerque as part of a federal pilot program to accelerate autonomous regional cargo deployment. Both initiatives are expected to begin operations this year.
Reliable continues to advance certification efforts with the Federal Aviation Administration, which has accepted key certification plans and compliance approaches. The company is now progressing through required materials to meet regulatory standards.
Since its previous funding round, Reliable Robotics has nearly tripled its workforce. The new capital will support continued hiring and expansion of its production facilities as it moves toward commercial deployment.
KEY QUOTES:
“Automation eases constraints, enabling us to realize greater levels of throughput at even higher levels of safety.”
“Aviation is vital to our economy and national security, but to meet demand it needs to be able to scale safely.”
Robert Rose, CEO and Co-Founder, Reliable Robotics
“Autonomy is the inevitable requirement for maximum safety and performance.”
John Burbank, Nimble Partners
“Reliable’s dual-use approach to aircraft autonomy, grounded in leading FAA certification progress, is delivering operational capability today.”
General Richard D. Clarke (ret.), Former Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command
“The FAA is building the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world. Advances in autonomous technologies can only be made when they are certified and in alignment with the agency’s safety objectives.”
Lirio Liu, Former Executive Director, FAA Aircraft Certification Service
