SAN FRANCISCO — Defence startup Kairox Systems has introduced Tempest, an autonomous hybrid drone designed to fly through the air, travel underwater and return to flight during a single mission. The San Francisco-based company is part of Y Combinator’s Fall 2026 batch.
Tempest is a fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone classified as a Group 1 Hybrid Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HAUV). It has a stated operational range of 50 kilometres and carries a modular payload of up to 1 pound.
The drone can fly to an operational area, enter the water, travel beneath the surface and emerge to resume flight. Its intended military applications include mine detection, coastal surveillance and maritime operations. The platform also features autonomous navigation designed for GPS-denied and jammed environments, according to the company.
Kairox Systems (YC F26) is building autonomous drones that fly and swim. Militaries around the world rely on unmanned systems for cross-domain air and sea missions, but they still need separate drones, separate operators, and separate logistics chains. Navy officers, special operations (SOF) operators, and researchers at MIT all told us the same thing: Aerial drones are fast but easy to detect. Underwater drones are stealthy but slow to get on target. At Kairox, we believe hybrid drones are the next evolution of unmanned platforms.
— Kairox Systems (@KairoxSystems) November 12, 2026
Kairox says Tempest is designed to reduce the need for separate aerial and underwater drones. Its pressure-vessel design protects internal systems during underwater operations, while VTOL capability allows deployment from locations such as small boats and open ground. The company also targets low-cost production for potential one-way swarm missions.
The platform is currently at Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL 4) and undergoing laboratory testing of its air-to-water and water-to-air transitions. Kairox reports engagement with the U.S. Marine Corps and validation discussions with users across U.S. and allied militaries.
Founded in 2026 by three MIT alumni, the company is led by CEO Joel Santiago Baretti, CTO Alex Rice and COO Jorge Cavazos-Cuellar. Kairox is continuing development of Tempest for potential future military applications.
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