ACS raises $200M to scale autonomous counter-drone system

Allen Control Systems has raised $200 million in Series B funding, bringing the company's valuation to $2.2 billion. The funding will be used to scale manufacturing and accelerate deployment of its autonomous weapon station, Bullfrog, for the United States and allied militaries. The company also plans to develop new product lines.

Bullfrog is a lightweight, low-power autonomous weapon station that combines AI, computer vision, and precision robotics. ACS designed Bullfrog to detect, identify, and neutralize enemy unmanned systems. The system excels in both on-the-move operations and the protection of high-value targets like power substations.

Bullfrog can engage group 1-3 UAs and offers both autonomous and semi-autonomous modes. "Drone threats are growing faster than traditional air defense systems can meet them. Today, we are at risk of a catastrophic strike both abroad and at home," said Mike Wior, co-founder and CEO of ACS.

"Bullfrog provides governments with a scalable and affordable solution that leverages our nearly unlimited supply of bullets all over the world, compared to scarce and expensive missiles and interceptors. This funding helps us scale production to meet the urgent demand from the U.S. and allied partners." Smash Capital led the round, with existing investors Craft Ventures, Rally Ventures, Inspired Capital, Litquidity, Forum Ventures, and others also participating.

ACS has received contracts through Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and allied military customers, and Bullfrog is already deployed with the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy.

Bullfrog demonstrated a 100% success rate during Technology Readiness Experiment 2026 (T-REX 26-1). "Global demand for remote weapon stations has reached unprecedented levels as governments recognize kinetic defeat as the most reliable solution against low-cost weaponized drones," said Steve Simoni, the co-founder and President of ACS. "We are rapidly expanding our advanced manufacturing so we can get systems into the field faster." The company recently expanded its manufacturing footprint in Austin, Texas.

ACS is a defense technology company that creates autonomous precision weapon systems. It is headquartered in Austin, with offices in Alexandria, Va., and an innovation lab in Huntsville, Ala. "ACS has demonstrated a prescient understanding of the trajectory of modern warfare," said Paul Szurek, Partner, Smash Capital.

"The company has built a proven system that addresses a real operational problem, and they've shown they can move quickly from development to deployment." Why this matters: The significant funding and valuation of ACS underscore the growing concern among governments and militaries about the threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The company's autonomous counter-drone system, Bullfrog, addresses this threat with a scalable and affordable solution that leverages AI, computer vision, and precision robotics. As UAS threats continue to evolve and increase, the demand for effective countermeasures like Bullfrog is likely to grow.