HAWTHORNE, Calif. — California-based defense startup Thermopylae Aerospace has announced SPART, a tube-launched interceptor designed to counter Group 2 and 3 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and turbojet-powered attack drones.
SPART is a foldable, ultra-light electric-powered quadcopter launched from a conventional, mortar-like pneumatic tube. It uses thermal guidance to track and intercept targets and can reach speeds of up to 350 km/h (217 mph), with a targeted flight endurance of up to 20 minutes.
The interceptor is designed to address high-volume, low-cost aerial threats, including Shahed-type attack drones. Thermopylae Aerospace is targeting a unit cost of about $10,000 or less per launch. SPART also has a partial-reuse design, allowing an interceptor that misses its target to potentially be recovered and used again.
The system can be deployed from UAVs, ground vehicles, maritime vessels and manned vehicles. Rather than depending on a centralized protection system, the company intends SPART to provide a mobile, distributed defensive layer.
Thermopylae Aerospace is developing a complete system combining the interceptor with its launcher, RF communications and command-and-control system, which can integrate with available radar systems. Its software has also been designed to work with widely used Ukrainian situational-awareness and command-and-control systems.
In mid-July 2026, the company completed a successful end-to-end demonstration at Edwards Air Force Base during the “Game of Drones 26-2” event organized by the U.S. Air Force’s 412th Test Wing. Founder and CEO Yehor Balytskyi briefed senior Air Force Test Center leadership, including Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro and Chief Master Sgt. Sevin Balkuvvar.
Thermopylae Aerospace was founded in June 2025 by Ukrainian aerospace and mechanical engineers and is headquartered in Hawthorne, California. Balytskyi left Ukraine at age 17 after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The company has grown from a two-person team to about five employees.
In November 2025, Thermopylae Aerospace raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding from investors including Naval Ravikant, UA1, Norgard Capital and Cyrus Venture Fund. The company said the funding would support production expansion, further testing in Ukraine and deployment with defense units.
Thermopylae Aerospace says its goal is to develop a low-cost interceptor that can be produced and deployed in high volumes, helping address the economic challenge of defending against large numbers of relatively inexpensive drones.
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