Angels Aircraft Launches Pre-Seed Round to Develop Autonomous UAV Platform ‘Archangel’
BY Composights
Published: 09 Jun 2025
A transformative shift is underway in aerospace, driven by the convergence of autonomy, advanced manufacturing, and mission-critical urgency. In response, Angels Aircraft announced the launch of its pre-seed funding round to develop Archangel, a fully autonomous, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) along with light strike missions.
Engineered from inception as a hardware-first platform, Archangel represents a new class of autonomous systems, purpose-built for rapid fielding, dual-domain flexibility, and scalable production. The funding will support design finalization, prototype construction, and comprehensive ground testing, critical milestones on the path to operational deployment.
Key Differentiators of the Archangel UAV:
Blended-Wing Airframe: Optimized for aerodynamic efficiency and manufacturability to support long-duration missions with reduced logistical burden.
Autonomy-First Design: Seamlessly integrates autonomous control across flight and ground operations, enabling low-operator deployment and flexible mission profiles.
Advanced Composites & Scalable Manufacturing: Employs high-rate composite manufacturing methods adopted from neighbouring industrial industries, which provide affordable scalability.
Capital-Efficient Development Strategy: Targeted late-stage technologies, short iteration cycles, and modular integration to decrease technical risk and time-to-field.
“This is about precision, speed, and mission alignment,” said John Courter, Founder and CEO of Angels Aircraft. “With Archangel, we’re not just building a UAV—we’re developing an autonomous ISR and strike solution that meets the operational demands of today’s conflicts. By repurposing proven technologies from adjacent sectors, we’re accelerating delivery timelines while reducing program risk.”
The current funding will enable Angels Aircraft to:
Complete construction and ground validation of the first flight-capable prototype
Conduct systems integration and avionics testing
Advance supply chain partnerships and initiate production-readiness planning.
Angels Aircraft’s production approach follows a flexible make-versus-buy model, enabling the use of commercial supplier networks while maintaining control over mission-critical intellectual property and manufacturing processes. This hybrid strategy provides agility in initial-stage development and preparedness for future scaled production.
The Strategic Imperative
The global Group 4/5 UAV segment is projected to exceed $10 billion by 2033, as the requirement for autonomous, attritable vehicles with persistent surveillance and precision effects at lower lifecycle expenditures remains strong. As near-peer adversaries and maturing mission environments exist, systems like Archangel target a pressing and growing capability deficit.
The technology is mature. The requirement is urgent. The opportunity is now.
Stakeholders interested in supporting the next generation of defense autonomy or the resurgence of American aerospace manufacturing are invited to get in touch with Angels Aircraft at this critical juncture.
Source: www.angelsaircraft.com
