Performance Drone Works Secures Up to $820 Million US Defense Loan for Drone Production

The Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) has issued a conditional loan commitment of up to $820 million to Performance Drone Works (PDW) to expand domestic manufacturing of critical drone components. The financing will support production of propulsion, power, control, vision systems and other enabling technologies at PDW’s 90,000‑square‑foot Drone Factory 01 in Huntsville, Alabama.

The loan is part of President Trump’s Executive Order 14307, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” and aims to reduce reliance on foreign‑controlled supply chains, bolster the U.S. drone industrial base, and meet urgent defense requirements such as the Army’s C100 unmanned aircraft system. OSC director David Lorch said the commitment will “expand domestic component production… improve supply chain resilience,” while PDW CEO James Slider called it essential for “building the capabilities our nation depends on.” The loan remains subject to financial, legal and technical due‑diligence before finalization.