Youngstown drone maker lands dual selection in $1 billion DoW program
Built from the ground up for low-cost, scalable mass production without special tooling, the Remora UAV leverages a 100% domestic supply chain in Northeast Ohio. Backed by regional manufacturing hubs, the leadership team aims to close the national security gap in global drone development.
A Youngstown startup is positioning itself as a leading contender for one of the federal government's most significant drone procurement efforts to date.
Agilis Air, a portfolio company of the YBI Engine Tech Incubator, has been selected as a Phase II Qualifier for the U.S. Department of War's (DoW) $1 billion Drone Dominance Program (DDP). The company was chosen across two separate mission categories: Mission A (long-range strike) and Mission B (urban strike), a distinction that sets it apart from most of the 49 companies invited to participate nationally and internationally.
The dual selection comes down to how Agilis Air designed its Remora UAV. The team built the drone from the ground up to meet the DoW's stated requirements — low cost and scalable mass production of expendable systems. Paired with the leadership team's three-plus decades in the industry and a track record of delivering UAVs to the DoW and Department of Defense (DoD), the company made the case for both mission profiles.
Scaling to a potential production contract of 8,000 or more drones is a challenge the company says it planned for. The Remora was engineered for mass producibility from the start, with no special tooling required — production scales by adding trained assemblers, not by retooling the line.
The broader context is one the Agilis Air leadership team has been tracking for decades. America has fallen behind other parts of the world in drone development and deployment, and the national security implications of that gap have become increasingly visible. The DDP, in their view, is a starting point rather than a solution — but an important one.
"All you have to do is turn on the news to see how drones are being used around the world in different conflicts, and they are making the difference between who wins and who loses," said Shawn Theiss, CEO and founder of Agilis Air. "We are part of a movement to assure that America is never on the losing end in those situations."
Building a 100% domestic supply chain in Northeast Ohio wasn't a recent pivot for Agilis Air; it has been a deliberate strategy for years, made possible by the region's deep roots in aviation manufacturing stretching back to World War II and continuing through the present day.
YBI and America Makes have been part of that foundation. Beyond financial support, both organizations provided advisory guidance, connections to DoW contacts, and production capabilities for drone components. The Agilis Air team credits that support as a meaningful factor in reaching this milestone.
"Agilis Air's selection as a Phase II Qualifier in the Drone Dominance Program is a defining moment for the company and a strong signal for the Mahoning Valley," said Chandler Fiffick, Senior Director of the YBI Engine Tech Incubator.
"We are proud to represent the innovation, engineering talent, and advanced manufacturing capabilities of Northeast Ohio in support of current and future DoW needs," Theiss added.
Phase II qualification positions Agilis Air for future production contracts under the DDP. The company is based in Youngstown and operates under the YBI Engine Tech Incubator.
