Hoverfly Technologies has announced its strategic entry into the drone components industry with the launch of a new product line called Hoverfly Motors. The Sanford, Florida based company, widely recognized for its persistent tethered unmanned aerial systems, is now offering a suite of high performance propulsion solutions branded as “Powered by KRM.” The initiative is built on a partnership with Korea Robot Manufacturing (KRM) and is aimed at strengthening the U.S. drone industrial base with hardware that meets the strict standards of the American defense sector.
The introduction of Hoverfly Motors marks the first phase of a broader strategic division within the company. While propulsion systems are the starting point, Hoverfly has indicated that additional critical drone components will be revealed later this year at XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit. The move positions Hoverfly not only as a drone manufacturer but also as a supplier of secure, defense grade hardware to the wider unmanned systems market.
Hoverfly and KRM Forge Drone Components Alliance
The announcement follows a high level executive meeting held on March 18, 2026, at KRM’s newly expanded Gumi factory in South Korea. Hoverfly President and CEO Steve Walters and VP of Products and Services Michael Miranda conducted an in depth site review to finalize the next stage of the partnership. According to the company, the visit signaled a shift from a standard supplier arrangement toward deep supply chain integration. Discussions focused on U.S. market localization, establishing local production lines to meet “Made in USA” requirements, and complying with tightening Department of War domestic content regulations.
“This visit reinforced a truly strategic partnership that goes well beyond a supplier relationship. Demand for reliable, on-shored supply chains for drones in the U.S. defense market continues to grow, and our collaboration with KRM is the definitive answer to that need.” Steve Walters, President and CEO of Hoverfly Technologies
The partnership originated with KRM’s $5 million strategic investment in Hoverfly’s Series B round in October 2025, which designated KRM as the exclusive manufacturer for the company’s core propulsion drone components. Momentum for the new product line was further validated at XPONENTIAL Europe, where Miranda reported overwhelming interest from global defense and industrial partners seeking secure supply chain alternatives.
Defense-Grade Propulsion Lineup and Compliance
The “Hoverfly Motors” lineup features high performance brushless DC (BLDC) motors organized across three size classes: Stratus for large platforms, Atlas for medium, and Pulse for small. The initial models include the BL8950, BL4416, BL4229, and BL2819. In addition to motors, the product line includes Precision Control Electronics such as the ESC AIO (All in One) and ESC 1 Channel systems. KRM’s Gumi factory recently doubled its production capacity to 300,000 units per year, with the ability to scale further to 500,000 units. The procurement of Electronic Speed Controllers is especially notable because these are the drone components that govern flight stability, meaning their adoption validates that KRM’s control algorithms meet U.S. military cybersecurity and performance benchmarks.
Hoverfly brings significant credibility to this venture. The company is the manufacturer of the only tethered UAS qualified for selection on the DCMA Blue UAS Cleared List. With over 600 systems delivered to the U.S. Army and consistent NDAA compliance through the Green UAS pathway, Hoverfly’s expansion into drone components gives the broader industry access to what the company calls a “Blue DNA” hardware alternative to restricted foreign technology. Both companies are also working through a comprehensive FCC certification strategy and refining distribution frameworks to ensure the products meet all regulatory requirements before reaching end users.
“We are not exporting parts; we are transplanting our most advanced robotics DNA into the American defense ecosystem. By combining KRM’s precision engineering with Hoverfly’s operational excellence, we are building a permanent, trusted bridge for the next generation of secure UAS technology.” Kwang-sik Park, CEO of KRM
Hoverfly Technologies is based in Sanford, Florida and specializes in tethered drone systems for defense and security applications. Korea Robot Manufacturing is a South Korean robotics engineering firm focused on high precision components and non Chinese supply chain solutions for advanced autonomous systems.
