Performance Drone Works (PDW) is an American defense technology and robotics company headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. Founded by drone racing pioneers, engineers, and military veterans, PDW specializes in small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), software suites, and simulation technology purpose-built for contested operational environments.
The company focuses on tactical applications across defense, national security, and public safety sectors. Its platforms are engineered to perform in GPS-denied environments and electronically contested battlefields, providing tactical reconnaissance, cargo transit, electronic warfare, and precision strike capabilities.
Hardware Platforms
PDW manufactures hardware systems designed for multi-mission tactical capabilities and high-rate production.
C100 Heavy-Lift Quadcopter
The C100 is PDW's flagship Group 2 modular small unmanned aerial system. Designed to be backpackable and rapidly deployable by a single operator, the C100 serves as a multi-mission platform capable of operating in severe radio frequency (RF) and electronic warfare (EW) environments.
Flight Duration: Up to 74 minutes
Maximum Speed: 40 mph
Operational Range: 10+ kilometers
Payload Capacity: Supports up to 10 lbs
Mission Applications: Electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), radio frequency relays, cargo/medical supply delivery, electronic warfare, and kinetic payloads.
AM (Attritable Multirotor)
The AM platform is an attritable, First-Person View (FPV) tactical strike drone built for high-volume fielding in contested environments. Engineered for modularity and low-cost mass production, the system supports both anti-personnel and anti-material mission profiles.
Modular Frame Sizes: Swappable 5-inch, 7-inch, and 10-inch arm configurations
Flight Duration: Up to 35 minutes
Payload Capacity: Up to 5 lbs
Operational Range: 10 km standalone, expanding to 20+ km when paired with a C100 command-and-control signal relay
Payload Architecture: Features a universal interface allowing rapid integration of evolving strike payloads and sensors.
Software Solutions
PDW develops edge-based software architectures designed to manage drone operations, telemetry, and payload controls without relying on continuous satellite navigation.
PDW CORE
PDW CORE is the central ground control software suite for PDW aircraft. It provides flight controls, sensor integration, and real-time mission planning interfaces. The software integrates natively with the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK), allowing real-time video feeds and target telemetry to be shared directly with networked warfighters on the ground.
Advanced Communications & Autonomy
PDW incorporates proprietary communications architectures designed to resist jammer interference. Following the strategic acquisition of RF and engineering firm Vanteon, PDW integrates custom software-defined radios (SDR) and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) logic into its platforms to maintain connectivity and autonomous navigation in degraded environments.
Simulation and Training Services
Beyond operational hardware and edge software, PDW provides simulation products and instructional services to develop operator proficiency.
PDW SIM
PDW SIM is a fully modular flight simulation platform engineered specifically for military and public safety sUAS operators.
Physics Modeling: Mirrors the flight characteristics and physical dynamics of PDW platforms (such as the C100) to build muscle memory.
Synthetic Environments: Features dynamic 3D maps combining real-world geospatial data with synthetic elements like signal interference, battery depletion, weather conditions, and shifting terrain.
Efficiency Focus: Designed to reduce live-flight training hours, airspace constraints, and equipment wear while cutting flight training costs.
Flight Training Initiatives
PDW provides training curriculum and instruction led by former military operators. These programs cover basic flight mechanics, high-speed manual FPV pilot skills, mission planning, tactical deployment under combat stress, and operations in GPS-denied environments.
Manufacturing and Facilities
PDW manufactures all platforms in the United States to ensure NDAA compliance and defense supply chain integrity.
The company operates "Drone Factory 01" (DF01), a 90,000-square-foot production facility located in Huntsville, Alabama. Built to support high-rate agile manufacturing models, DF01 has the capacity to produce hundreds of C100 aircraft and thousands of AM-series multirotor strike platforms per month to meet high-volume demand from the U.S. Department of Defense and allied forces.
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