{"id":5799,"date":"2025-07-04T23:28:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T22:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/villpress.com\/?p=5799"},"modified":"2025-11-02T07:43:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T06:43:21","slug":"perseus-defense-yc-s25-launches-to-build-americas-iron-dome-for-drones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/villpress.com\/cs\/perseus-defense-yc-s25-launches-to-build-americas-iron-dome-for-drones\/","title":{"rendered":"Perseus Defense (YC S25) Launches to Build America\u2019s \u201cIron Dome\u201d for Drones"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perseus Defense, a startup founded by aerospace engineers, Jason<\/a> from NASA and Steve<\/a> from Boeing, has officially launched with an ambitious goal: to build the first low-cost, guided micro-missile system to protect U.S. troops and critical infrastructure from the growing threat of drone warfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As drone attacks become increasingly cheap and deadly, Perseus is taking a bold swing at solving what the military calls one of today\u2019s most urgent battlefield problems. The company has joined the Y Combinator Summer 2025 batch (YC S25)<\/strong> and is already turning heads in defense circles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem: $500 Drones vs $100M Assets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s drone warfare is asymmetric. A $500 off-the-shelf drone can destroy a $100 million asset or take lives on the front line. In many active zones, up to 80% of casualties now come from drone strikes<\/strong>. Yet the cost to neutralize these drones using existing tech \u2014 from intercept missiles to high-powered lasers \u2014 can exceed $100,000 per shot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight now, the economics of defense are upside down,\u201d says Jason Cornelius, PhD<\/strong>, co-founder and CEO of Perseus. \u201cThe enemy spends $500; we spend a hundred grand to stop it. That\u2019s not scalable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Solution: Guided Micro-Missiles for <$10K Per Shot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perseus Defense is flipping the cost equation. They\u2019re building man-portable guided micro-missile pods<\/strong> that can autonomously detect, identify, and intercept drones \u2014 all for under $10,000 per launch<\/strong>. That\u2019s a 20x reduction<\/strong> in cost compared to current alternatives, making drone defense viable at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system is designed for flexibility, enabling deployment on trucks, boats, or fixed installations. The team says it will be essential for protecting convoys, forward bases, and critical infrastructure<\/strong> in the U.S. and abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Researchers at TU Delft have made significant advancements in robot navigation by drawing inspiration from ants<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Founders: Aerospace Vets from NASA and Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perseus was co-founded by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n