French drone company Tonner Drones has signed an agreement to acquire autonomous surveillance specialist Azur Drones, securing the Skeyetech system portfolio.
The transaction grants Tonner Drones access to Azur Drones’ technology, assets, and key personnel through a structure managed via liquidation proceedings, pending court approval. Azur Drones has previously invested over 50 million euros, equivalent to 58 million dollars, in research and development for the Skeyetech technology, which provides autonomous aerial surveillance for sensitive infrastructure and military facilities, according to the Tonner Drones press release.
Tonner Drones CEO Diede van den Ouden stated that the deal provides entry into the defense and drone sectors while minimizing financial risk. Under a partnership with firm Drone Volt, Azur Drones will maintain service for European customers and concentrate on defense and government markets.
The Skeyetech system is an autonomous drone-in-a-box platform designed for continuous surveillance and inspection without requiring an on-site pilot. The technology integrates with security video management systems and has completed more than 62,000 autonomous beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights across 11 countries, with previous deployments throughout Europe and the Middle East.
