Reliable Robotics crosses $1B valuation with $115M funding, pushes toward FAA autonomous flight certification

SpaceX Alums Build Autonomous Aviation Platform

Reliable Robotics, a Mountain View-based startup founded by former SpaceX engineers, has secured $115 million in new funding to accelerate development of autonomous flight systems that retrofit existing aircraft. The capital infusion—comprising $90 million in equity led by Nimble Partners and $25 million in debt from Silicon Valley Bank—represents an extension of the company's Series D round, which now totals $275 million. This valuation milestone pushes Reliable past the $1 billion mark, with total funding raised now standing at $380 million.

Co-founder and CEO Robert Rose, who previously served as director of flight software at SpaceX before stints at Tesla and Google, emphasized that the company continues making measurable progress toward Federal Aviation Administration certification. Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Juerg Frefel brings nearly a decade of SpaceX engineering experience to the operation. Both executives recognize that navigating aviation's regulatory framework—among the world's most stringent—represents the defining challenge of their venture.

Multi-Front Certification Strategy

Reliable is pursuing FAA approval across four interconnected pathways, each representing a step toward fully autonomous commercial aviation. The first certification target addresses continuous autopilot engagement, which automates engine startup, taxiing, takeoff, and landing while keeping a pilot in the cockpit operating the system via touchscreen interface. Rose projected receiving certification for this initial phase within 18 to 24 months, marking a crucial validation of the core technology.

The second certification phase, expected at least three years away, removes the pilot entirely from the aircraft, relocating them to a ground-control station where they remotely operate the autonomous systems. This transition represents a fundamental shift in aviation operations and raises distinct regulatory hurdles.

Proprietary Collision-Avoidance Technology

Reliable has developed an in-house solid-state collision-avoidance radar system after failing to interest legacy aerospace suppliers in the project. Unlike conventional radar systems with moving antennas that scan sequentially, the company's solid-state design eliminates moving parts entirely, providing superior range, higher resolution scanning, and reduced maintenance requirements at lower cost. Rose noted particular timeliness given recent commercial aviation collision incidents and highlighted dual application—the radar functions both in flight and on the ground to prevent runway incursions and aircraft conflicts.

The company targets end-of-2027 certification for this radar system, which addresses a genuine gap in aviation safety infrastructure.

Reliable Airlines—The Proving Ground

The final certification pillar involves Reliable Airlines, an Albuquerque-based carrier operated by the company itself. The airline currently operates six Cessna Caravans—proven workhorses in cargo aviation—flying cargo missions six days weekly. The FAA must certify not only the autonomous equipment but also the airline's operational procedures under separate regulatory authority, creating dual certification requirements.

This self-operated airline serves a crucial dual purpose: demonstrating real-world operational viability of the autonomous systems while generating evidence that satisfies FAA certification demands.

Investment Vision and Industry Transformation

Nimble Partners founder John Burbank articulated the broader strategic vision behind the funding, characterizing Reliable's approach as fundamentally transformative rather than incremental. Rather than developing a single autonomous aircraft, Reliable has engineered a modular system applicable to any existing airframe—a critical distinction that multiplies addressable market opportunity. Burbank drew parallels to autonomous vehicle adoption in automotive, predicting that once initial FAA certification succeeds, industry-wide recognition of autonomous aviation as inevitable will trigger rapid, sector-wide adoption.

The investment thesis centers on Reliable's nine-year journey toward proving autonomous flight viability at scale. By successfully retrofitting commercial aircraft while maintaining safety standards, the company positions itself to establish the foundational technology and regulatory pathway that transforms aviation operations.