Nearthlab Red Cat Futures Initiative

South Korean AI drone company partners with Red Cat to support the Pentagon’s Replicator program and expand U.S. defense market presence.

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb

South Korean drone AI company Nearthlab recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with San Juan, Puerto Rico-based Red Cat Holdings, Inc. a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations. 

The agreement establishes Nearthlab as a member of the Red Cat Futures Initiative (RFI), described as “an independent, industry-wide consortium focused on advancing next-generation uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) through strategic collaboration.” Launched in May 2024, the RFI brings together key players in the robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) to accelerate innovation across AI, swarming, command and control, and payload technologies. 

The initiative is designed to support the Pentagon’s Replicator program, which aims to “rapidly deploy attritable autonomous systems across multiple domains.”

By joining the RFI, Nearthlab will work alongside Red Cat to discover areas of potential collaboration on key technologies to expand its footprint in the U.S. defense market and contribute to emerging allied security strategies.

“Partnering with Red Cat, a drone company recognized for its leadership in defense innovation, provides Nearthlab with a significant opportunity to contribute to the advancement of autonomous drone technologies,” said Jay Choi, CEO of Nearthlab. “We’re committed to leveraging our AI expertise to support the objectives of the RFI and the broader defense community.”

“Nearthlab has an impressive track record in AI-based autonomous flight and is the exact type of company we’re looking to collaborate with to drive innovation forward,” said Jason Gunter, Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Red Cat. “We see significant potential with this partnership to expand Red Cat’s network of industry partners with the goal of getting the most powerful and flexible drone solutions into the hands of warfighters globally.”

More information on Nearthlab is available here. More information on Red Cat Holdings is available here. 

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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.

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