Reliable Robotics extends funding round, tops $1 billion valuation as FAA certification work advances

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Highlights

Reliable Robotics extended its Series D round by $115 million—$90 million equity led by Nimble Partners and $25 million debt—with total funding now at $380 million and valuation surpassing $1 billion.
FAA certification for Reliable Robotics’ continuous autopilot engagement system is expected within 18–24 months, with a second remote-pilot certification projected in at least three years.
The company’s solid-state collision-avoidance radar, expected to achieve certification by end of 2027, targets improved safety and lower maintenance for commercial aviation operators.

Funding extension supports certification timeline

As first reported by TechCrunch, Reliable Robotics has extended its Series D round with $115 million in new financing, including $90 million in equity led by Nimble Partners and $25 million in debt from Silicon Valley Bank. The Mountain View, California-based company says the round now totals $275 million, while total funding raised to date reaches $380 million.

The company has spent nearly a decade developing autonomous flying technology that can be installed on existing aircraft. Co-founder and CEO Robert Rose says Reliable Robotics continues to submit evidence to the Federal Aviation Administration and is moving closer to certification, a milestone that is critical for commercial deployment.

Its first certified product is expected to be a continuous autopilot engagement system that manages engine startup, taxiing, takeoff and landing while a pilot remains onboard and interacts with the system through a touchscreen. Rose says that approval for this first system is expected in 18 to 24 months, while a second certification that shifts the pilot from the cockpit to a ground-control station remains at least three years away.

Aviation operators watch wider market potential

Reliable Robotics is also developing an in-house collision-avoidance radar after legacy suppliers did not take on the project. According to Rose, the company's solid-state radar has no moving parts, scans at longer range and higher resolution than conventional systems, and is simpler to maintain while lowering costs.

Rose says the radar has gained relevance for operators amid recent commercial aviation collisions, and adds that it also works on the ground to help prevent impacts with other aircraft or infrastructure. He expects the radar to be certified by the end of 2027.

The company is also seeking certification for Reliable Airlines, an Albuquerque-based cargo carrier that uses six Cessna Caravans and flies six days a week. Nimble Partners founder John Burbank says the business opportunity extends beyond a single aircraft program because the system can be adopted across different airframes, potentially widening its impact across the aviation sector once initial approvals are secured.

In our earlier report on cybersecurity funding in Q3 2026, we highlighted how total investment climbed to $6.8 billion even as the number of deals declined, reflecting investors’ preference for fewer but much larger rounds. We also noted that AI-driven and identity-security companies captured a disproportionate share of capital, alongside continued consolidation through major acquisitions—signaling a supportive backdrop for well-positioned late-stage startups.

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