Last week, police surveillance startup Flock Safety made headlines by acquiring drone startup Aerodome for over $300 million, as reported by sources in the venture capital world. This figure had not been previously disclosed. Flock Safety and Aerodome, both backed by Andreessen Horowitz, have raised a significant amount of funding, with over $680 million and $28 million, respectively, according to PitchBook. Aerodome was founded by Rahul Sidhu, a former police officer, just 17 months ago, describing it as an “American Dynamism speed-run”, in reference to a16z’s defense tech-focused initiative.

Sidhu highlighted that this acquisition marks one of the largest in public safety tech history, emphasizing that it signals the beginning of a new era in public safety tech advancement. Aerodome’s technology enables drones to act as first responders. While many police drone programs currently require human pilots, companies like Skydio, Brinc Drones, and Aerodome are striving to develop fully autonomous services. For instance, in response to a 911 call, a drone could autonomously launch and survey the area, notifying police if it is safe to approach.

Flock Safety, known for its cameras that can identify license plates and sensors that detect gunshots, has also focused on serving law enforcement clientele. With the acquisition of Aerodome, Flock Safety aims to expand into police drone operations. They plan to launch their own drones in the next year and are looking to hire 100 additional engineers for their aviation team, as announced by Sidhu.

This strategic move puts Flock Safety in direct competition with Skydio, a drone manufacturer and another portfolio company of a16z. Garrett Langley, founder and CEO of Flock Safety, expressed confidence in the expansion into drones, stating that drone-as-first-responder programs are essential for the future of public safety. He emphasized the efficiency of drones in providing law enforcement officers with rapid access to crucial information during emergencies.