Reliable Robotics, a Mountain View, California company that retrofits autonomous flight systems into existing aircraft, has raised $115 million, made up of $90 million in equity and $25 million in debt from Silicon Valley Bank, TechCrunch reported on October 20, 2026. The money extends its Series D to $275 million and values the company at more than $1 billion. Nimble Partners led the equity.
Why it matters: it is one of the larger physical AI rounds this month outside robots and cars, and its milestones are regulatory. None of Reliable’s four certification tracks with the US Federal Aviation Administration has been completed.
Key Facts
- $115M: $90M equity led by Nimble Partners, $25M debt from Silicon Valley Bank (TechCrunch, Oct 20, 2026)
- Series D extended to $275M; valuation above $1bn; $380M raised to date
- Certification targets: continuous autopilot engagement in 18–24 months; collision-avoidance radar by end-2027; remote piloting at least three years away
- First operator: Reliable Airlines, Albuquerque, flying cargo in six Cessna Caravans
What does Reliable Robotics sell?
Autonomy that goes into planes already in service. Its first product, continuous autopilot engagement, handles engine start, taxi, take-off and landing while a pilot stays on board; Reliable expects FAA certification in 18 to 24 months. The second, remote-piloted operation, moves the pilot to a ground-control station and is at least three years from certification. The third is a solid-state collision-avoidance radar with no moving parts, developed in-house, with certification expected by the end of 2027.
The company is led by chief executive Robert Rose, formerly director of flight software at SpaceX, who has also worked at Tesla and Google; chief technology officer Juerg Frefel is also a SpaceX veteran. Gideon Strategic Partners, RockCreek, Geek Ventures, Gold Hill Capital and Sparkwave Capital joined the equity round.
Who will use it first?
Reliable Airlines, an Albuquerque operator that flies cargo six days a week in six Cessna Caravans. It would be the first airline certified to use the technology, though airline operations need their own FAA approval on top of the aircraft system. Rose said the company is making “steady progress” towards certification.
Why retrofit rather than build?
Because certification is the cost that matters. A new autonomous aircraft would need its airframe certified as well as its software. Installing autonomy in a type that is already certified narrows the approval to the system itself, and lets the company sell into an existing fleet. The regulator still sets the pace: Reliable’s valuation now rests on approvals expected between 2027 and the end of the decade.
Frequently Asked
How much did Reliable Robotics raise?
$115 million in October 2026: $90 million in equity led by Nimble Partners and $25 million in debt from Silicon Valley Bank, extending its Series D to $275 million at a valuation above $1 billion.
Is Reliable Robotics’ autonomous flight system FAA certified?
Not yet. The company expects certification of its continuous autopilot system in 18 to 24 months, its collision-avoidance radar by the end of 2027, and remote-piloted operation in at least three years.
Which aircraft does Reliable Robotics use?
Its first operator, Reliable Airlines in Albuquerque, flies cargo in six Cessna Caravans. The company’s system is designed to be installed in existing aircraft.