Axon recently acquired Sky-Hero , a leading Brussels-based innovator in tactical UAVs and UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles, primarily focused on indoor use cases. Sky-Hero’s aerial and ground robots are currently used by elite tactical teams at leading law enforcement and military agencies around the world.

Sky-Hero’s products will integrate over time into the Axon Air powered by DroneSense software platform, becoming Axon’s first suite of tactical uncrewed vehicles. These products will augment the existing Axon Air portfolio, which includes drone operations software and hardware from leading third-party providers and professional services, the company says. Axon says the addition of Sky-Hero underscores the company’s mission to protect life. Sky-Hero is another key component that advances our moonshot goal to reduce gun-related deaths between police and the public by 50% in the next decade, the company says.

“Sky-Hero is driven to develop leading products that serve our customers so they can maintain safety and serve mission-critical needs within their communities,” said Yves Coppye, founder of Sky-Hero. “Axon’s expertise in this market provides the ability to scale our products as a resource for public safety. Knowing that Sky-Hero’s comprehensive system of products can play a role in this monumental effort to reduce gun-related deaths between police and the public by 50% in the next 10 years in the US, and in Axon’s global efforts to protect life and obsolete the bullet, is incredibly motivating, and we are excited to join the Axon team.”

Axon said, “We look forward to continuing to partner with public safety agencies along this journey to advance robotic security with the ultimate goal to protect life. Stay tuned to our blog for future updates on robotic security initiatives and the role Sky-Hero will play within our overall portfolio and plans.”