Red Cat closes acquisition of Apium Swarm Robotics for swarming drone systems

Red Cat Holdings, Inc. announced the acquisition of Apium Swarm Robotics on March 30, 2026. Apium is a developer of distributed control systems for autonomous swarming drones and uncrewed surface vessels based in California. The company will operate as an independent Red Cat company. The acquisition deepens Red Cat's capabilities in swarming autonomy. Apium's distributed autonomy stack allows multiple robotic platforms to dynamically coordinate, adapt to mission changes, and complete objectives without continuous operator input. This approach enables greater resilience, lower operator burden, and more effective performance in complex scenarios including operations where GPS and communications are denied. Red Cat and Apium first partnered in 2025 through the Futures Initiative. Apium demonstrated its technology at the Army's 2025 ACM-UAS Industry Day and Red Cat's Innovation Day in February 2026. The integration will enhance Red Cat's Family of Systems, including the Black Widow ISR drone fielded by the U.S. Army.