Chariot Defense Raises $34M Series A for Battlefield Power
Chariot Defense, a U.S.-based developer of intelligent hardware and software power infrastructure, has raised $34M in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz. The startup builds systems replacing noisy diesel generators with silent, efficient alternatives for drones, sensors, electronic warfare, and directed energy weapons. The capital will scale software-defined battlefield power systems amid rising tactical edge demands.
Drone Swarms Spike Power Needs
The funding arrives as modern battlefields demand more resilient power for drone swarms, AI-driven sensors, and directed energy systems. Diesel generators, long the standard, expose positions with noise and require constant fuel logistics, limiting distributed operations. Chariot Defense's silent systems address this shift, capturing energy from vehicles and environments while integrating multiple sources into microgrids.
Diesel Generators Bottleneck Operations
U.S. military units at the tactical edge face power shortages for unmanned systems, command and control, and medical applications. Traditional diesel generators consume vast fuel supplies, with logistics accounting for significant operational risks and costs. Current solutions fail in silent watch scenarios, where noise detection compromises missions. Chariot's approach cuts fuel reliance by up to 45% through distributed microgrids.
Amphora Units Enable Silent Power
Chariot Defense offers the Amphora A24 for mobile power supporting soldier batteries, sensors, communications, and robotics, harvesting energy silently from surroundings. The Amphora A400 delivers high-voltage three-phase power for air defense, directed energy weapons, and maintenance equipment. Unlike rigid legacy systems, these software-defined units form resilient microgrids, adapting to battlefield dynamics and reducing single points of failure.
Microgrids Cut Fuel Dependency
Distributed tactical microgrids integrate solar, vehicle, and other sources, providing redundancy absent in diesel setups. Competitors rely on bulky, fuel-heavy infrastructure, but Chariot's stack prioritizes modularity and efficiency for unmanned operations. Field tests with DoD units confirm viability, with end-user testimonials highlighting operational advantages.
a16z Signals Defense Tech Conviction
Andreessen Horowitz led the round, bringing total funding to $41M since founding earlier in 2024. The investor's focus on frontier defense technologies validates Chariot's role in energy transformation for warfare. This mission capital supports rapid scaling of proven products amid DoD's push for power agility.
Power Infrastructure Market Expands
Directed energy weapons and electronic warfare systems require gigawatt-scale power at the edge, driving investment into alternatives. The tactical power sector sees structural shifts as drone swarms multiply energy needs. Chariot positions itself to capture demand from units adopting distributed operations, with products already fielded.
Ex-Anduril Team Drives Execution
Founded in 2024, Chariot Defense assembled a team from Tesla, Apple, Anduril, Uber, and military operations. Ex-Anduril engineers bring experience in autonomous systems, while Tesla alumni contribute power hardware expertise. This blend enabled validated product delivery within months, accelerating adoption over typical defense timelines.