PDKinematics, a Lithuanian defense startup, develops precision-guidance systems for small unmanned aerial vehicles. Founded in late 2022 by former private equity manager Rapolas Markevičius, the company currently employs approximately 20 people and focuses on strengthening European defense capabilities.
The company's flagship product, Gannet, is a low-SWaP-C (size, weight, power, cost) system designed to enable drones to deploy precision-guided munitions from altitudes of up to 700 meters. This is reported to be six times higher than the altitude used for unguided munitions, while maintaining accuracy.
Gannet is platform-agnostic, jam-resistant, and capable of operating in GPS-denied environments. PDKinematics states that it can integrate the system across various UAV types in under four weeks. The technology is currently deployed in Ukraine and several other European countries.
The startup leverages direct feedback from military end users in Ukraine to iterate on its product development cycles. Markevičius notes that the company aims to scale its operations gradually, prioritizing the defense needs of Ukraine and Europe before pursuing broader global expansion.
