Red Cat Holdings, Inc., a U.S.-based provider of advanced drone and robotic solutions for defence and national security, has acquired Apium Swarm Robotics, a California developer of distributed control systems for autonomous swarming drones and unmanned surface vessels.
Apium will operate independently within Red Cat, continuing to scale its multi-agent autonomy architecture across Red Cat’s Family of Systems. The deal strengthens Red Cat’s ability to deliver intelligent unmanned systems capable of coordinated operations in contested and communication-degraded environments.
“Autonomous drone swarming is becoming essential for mission success on the modern battlefield,” said Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson. “Near-peer adversaries are advancing rapidly in decentralized systems, and Apium’s scalable swarm technology helps keep us at the forefront.”
Apium’s autonomy stack enables multiple robotic platforms to coordinate dynamically, adapt to changing missions, and operate with minimal human input. This decentralized approach improves resilience, reduces operator workload, and enhances performance in complex scenarios, including GPS- and communications-denied environments.
“Red Cat is building a foundation for integrated, multi-domain autonomy,” said Apium CEO Josh Ziska. “Intelligent swarms of aerial and maritime systems will redefine tactical operations, and with Red Cat’s support, we’re ready to deliver at scale.”
The companies first partnered in 2025 through Red Cat’s Futures Initiative. Apium demonstrated multi-agent missions using Red Cat drones at U.S. Army and company innovation events.
Integrating Apium’s technology will enhance Red Cat’s systems, including the Black Widow ISR drone, enabling swarming capabilities that improve coordination, survivability, and operational flexibility.
Source: Red Cat