Skyryse, an aviation automation startup based in El Segundo, California, has raised more than $300 million in a Series C funding round, pushing its valuation to $1.15 billion as the company moves closer to U.S. regulatory certification of its flight control system.
The round was led by Autopilot Ventures and includes new and existing investors such as Fidelity Management & Research Company, ArrowMark Partners, Atreides Management LP, BAM Elevate, Baron Capital Group, Durable Capital Partners, Positive Sum, Qatar Investment Authority, RCM Private Markets Fund managed by Rokos Capital Management, and Woodline Partners. Founded in 2016, Skyryse has now raised more than $605 million in equity capital, the company said.
The fresh funding will be used to support the final stages of certification with the Federal Aviation Administration and to accelerate the rollout of the company’s operating system, SkyOS, across a wider range of aircraft. This includes further integration on military platforms such as the Black Hawk helicopter, which Skyryse has already begun outfitting with its technology.
Skyryse’s system replaces dozens of traditional mechanical flight controls with a software-driven architecture built around multiple flight computers. While not fully autonomous, the system is designed to automate the most complex and hazardous aspects of flying, with the aim of enhancing pilot capability and improving overall safety.
The simplified interface, which allows pilots to command aircraft functions through touchscreen inputs, has attracted customers across both civilian and military aviation. Companies such as United Rotorcraft, Air Methods, and Mitsubishi Corporation have signed agreements to integrate SkyOS into helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Skyryse initially focused development on helicopters, which are among the most challenging aircraft to fly due to their inherent instability. Its first operating system, Skyryse One, automates takeoff and landing, fully manages hover, and executes automated engine-out emergency landings. The company says the same software architecture can be adapted to a wide range of aircraft types.
Progress with regulators has advanced in recent years. In 2025, the FAA granted final design approval for Skyryse’s SkyOS flight control computers. The company must now complete formal flight testing and system verification before achieving full certification, a step executives say is now within reach as investment and customer interest continue to build.
