Performance Drone Works
Huntsville, Alabama, United States
About
Performance Drone Works is a defense prime contractor based in Huntsville, United States working in unmanned systems, c4isr, communications & satcom +1 more.
Performance Drone Works (PDW) is a U.S. company that designs, builds and supports mission-ready drones and aerial robotic systems for defense and public safety. Its main production site, Drone Factory 01 in Huntsville, Alabama, combines engineering, flight test, systems integration, production and fulfillment. Its products include the C100 multi-mission tactical UAS and the AM attritable strike drone, along with the PDW CORE ground control software, PDW SIM simulator and training services. In 2026 PDW completed the acquisition of Vanteon, a Rochester, New York engineering firm specialising in RF systems and software-defined radios, to expand its communications engineering capacity. PDW has also received a conditional loan commitment from the U.S. Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital to expand domestic drone and component manufacturing. The company supplies drone components to qualified U.S. and allied manufacturers beyond its own systems.
Location
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Products & capabilities
Defense domains
Supply-chain role
What they offer
Markets
Products
C100
Multi-mission tactical UAS
Multi-mission drone for ISR, laser target designation, kinetic strike, EW and communications, with quick-swap payloads and a 10 lb payload capacity. Also offered as a public safety drone.
AM
Attritable strike drone
NDAA-compliant attritable precision strike UAS with modular payloads, designed for mass production at Drone Factory 01.
PDW CORE
Ground control software
Mission planning, payload management and data integration software for the C100.
PDW SIM
Flight simulator
Simulator with mission scenarios for training on tactical small unmanned aircraft systems.
PDW Vision Payload
Sensor payload
Vision-based navigation payload for GPS-denied environments.
MANET Communication Relay
Communications relay
Relay system extending network reach beyond line of sight with resilient video, voice and data communications.
End users
Standards, platforms & customers
Defense standards
Platforms & programmes
Named customers
Credentials & affiliations
Certifications
Blue UAS
People
Management & team (8)
+ 4 more
