Rift Alpha
Hand-, tube- or box-launched autonomous, computer-vision-guided hit-to-kill interceptor for Group 1-2 drones; about 2 km range.
Limited fielding
Startup · United States
Askari Defense
HQ AtlantaFounded 20241-10 employees
Atlanta-based developer of hand-launched, computer-vision-guided kinetic drone interceptors (Rift Alpha, Rift Bravo) for dismounted operators. Founded by Georgia Tech alumni; customers include special operations units and DHS.
Jun 26, 2026NewsAskari Defence secures additional USD 9M in funding for drone interceptorUnmanned AirspaceJun 25, 2026News (high significance)Hand-Launched Interceptor Startup Askari Raises $9M SeedTectonicMay 2, 2026NewsU.S. Army tests Askari's hand-launched drone interceptorThe Defence BlogApr 2, 2026NewsThe Atlanta Startup Racing to Build Defenses Against the Next Terror Threat: Robotic WarfareHypepotamus
- Jun 26, 2026NewsUnmanned AirspaceAskari Defence secures additional USD 9M in funding for drone interceptor
- Jun 25, 2026News (high significance)TectonicHand-Launched Interceptor Startup Askari Raises $9M Seed
- May 2, 2026NewsThe Defence BlogU.S. Army tests Askari's hand-launched drone interceptor
- Apr 2, 2026NewsHypepotamusThe Atlanta Startup Racing to Build Defenses Against the Next Terror Threat: Robotic Warfare
Funding3 rounds · $10.9M
- Equity raised
- $10.9M
- Latest
- $9.0MSeed · Jun 25, 2026
Sep 9, 2024Jun 25, 2026
| Announced | Stage | Amount | Valuation | Lead investors | Other investors | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2026 | Seed | $9.0M | — | Builders VC | Rule 1 Ventures, Sovereign's Capital, Swell VC, WaterStone Impact Fund | Reported |
| Sep 9, 2024 | Undisclosed | $220K | — | — | — | Confirmed |
| 2025 | Pre-Seed | $1.7M | — | — | Blackwing Ventures, Brickyard, Georgia Tech Foundation, Knoll Ventures, Overline, Teamworthy Ventures | Reported |
- $9.0MJun 25, 2026
- UndisclosedConfirmed$220KSep 9, 2024
- Pre-Seed$1.7M2025
Raised counts equity rounds; debt, secondary sales and grants are totaled separately. Amounts in other currencies are converted at the announcement month's average rate. A ~ marks an estimated or converted amount.
Programs1 program
Programs1
| Program | Role | Program status | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| xTech Adaptive Strike | Competing bidder | Competition | Reported |
- Competing bidder · Competition
Systems2
Rift Bravo
Smaller foldable hand-launched interceptor for Group 1 drones (about 1 km range), in development under R&D contracts.
Development
Newest unveiled first. Open a system for its milestone timeline, components and sources.
Capabilities1
| Technology | Role | Maturity | TRL | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinetic counter-UAS interceptors | Developer | Limited fielding | — | — | Reported |
Maturity and TRL describe this organization's work; the field-wide maturity is on each technology's page.
Supply Chain2 customers · 1 facility
Customers2
| Customer | Supplies | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Department of Homeland Security | — | DHS was Askari's first paying customer. | Reported |
| U.S. Special Operations Command | Rift Alpha | Over $2M in procurement contracts, predominantly special operations customers. | Reported |
- DHS was Askari's first paying customer.
- Supplies Rift AlphaOver $2M in procurement contracts, predominantly special operations customers.
Facilities1
| Facility | Kind | Location | Status | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Askari Defense Atlanta office | Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Operating | Reported |
- Askari Defense Atlanta officeHeadquarters · Atlanta, Georgia, United StatesOperatingReported
People7
- Ben Airdo · LinkedIn ↗
Co-Founder & COO
- Marc van Zyl · LinkedIn ↗
Co-Founder & CTO
- Robbie van Zyl · LinkedIn ↗
Co-Founder & CEO
- Ben Airdo · LinkedIn ↗
Director
- Marc van Zyl · LinkedIn ↗
Director
- Mike Rosengarten · LinkedIn ↗
Director
- Robbie van Zyl · LinkedIn ↗
Director
Sources12
Show all 12 sources and supporting evidence
Profile3
- 1
- 2
Crunchbase · Supports Organization · employee range
“employee_range: 1-10 (profile: 1-10)”
- 3
LinkedIn · Supports Organization · employee range
“employee_range: 1-10 (profile: 2-10 employees)”
Systems2
- 4
Tectonic · Jun 25, 2026 · Supports Funding round, Funding round · amount, Funding round · investors, Organization, Organization technology, Role, Supply relationship, System
“Builders VC led the round”
- 5OtherBlack Flag 100.2
Black Flag · Supports Organization, Role, System · system input:edge-ai-compute
“Askari builds man-packable counter-robot systems that detect, track, and neutralize autonomous aerial and ground threats at the individual operator level”
Funding6
- 6Regulatory filingForm D: Askari Defense, Inc.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · Jul 8, 2026 · Supports Facility, Funding round, Organization · founded year, Role
“817 West Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA”
- 7
Georgia Tech News · Jul 6, 2026 · Supports Funding round · amount
“The company has raised approximately $1.7 million in early funding”
- 8
Unmanned Airspace · Jun 26, 2026 · Supports Funding round · amount
“The announcement follows an earlier seeding round of USD 1.7M”
- 9
Hypepotamus · Apr 2, 2026 · Supports Facility, Funding round, Role
“The company now operates out of the Biltmore Building in Midtown Atlanta .”
- 10Regulatory filingForm D: Askari Defense, Inc.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · Jul 14, 2025 · Supports Funding round
“Total Offering Amount: 4000000; Total Amount Sold: 1317900; Date of First Sale: 2025-04-29”
- 11Regulatory filingAskari Defense, Inc. - SEC Form D (0002037822-24-000001)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · Sep 24, 2024 · Supports Funding round · amount
“Total Amount Sold $ 220,000 USD”
Supply chain1
- 12
OpenStreetMap Nominatim · Oct 4, 2026 · Supports Facility, Facility · lat, Facility · lng
“Biltmore Innovation Center, 817, West Peachtree Street Northwest”
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.