Performance Drone Works (PDW) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Fourth Law and Odd Systems to advance domestic development, qualification, and potential production of Ukrainian thermal camera technology.
The collaboration establishes a non-binding framework to evaluate U.S. thermal-sensor manufacturing under Project Foundation, an initiative launched on October 9th by The Fourth Law and Odd Systems to mass-produce uncooled long-wave infrared sensors, also known as microbolometers, in Europe and the United States. Initial efforts will center on jointly developing and evaluating a U.S.-compliant, export-ready configuration of the Kurbas 640 camera family. Subject to successful evaluation and definitive agreements, PDW is intended to serve as the primary U.S. manufacturing partner for Kurbas cameras requiring domestic production, supporting integration into PDW platforms and distribution to other U.S. customers.
Odd Systems develops and manufactures thermal cameras shaped by Ukrainian combat operations, building them around thermal sensors while engineering electronics, image processing, and low-level firmware in-house. Kurbas is currently the most widely used Ukrainian-made thermal camera on the frontline, supplied to more than 200 drone manufacturers and flying on platforms ranging from Shahed interceptors to strike drones. Thermal imaging provides operators with night vision and furnishes unmanned systems with key information for perception and reconnaissance.
James Slider, CEO of PDW, said, “Delivering airpower at scale requires a reliable supply of the critical components inside every aircraft. The Fourth Law and Odd Systems are developing and refining technology against the demands of today’s battlefield. We see an opportunity to turn those hard-earned lessons into enduring U.S. industrial capability.”
Yaroslav Azhnyuk, CEO of The Fourth Law and co-founder of Odd Systems, said, “Ukraine taught us the hard way that you can’t build drones at scale on components someone else controls. Kurbas cameras were built and proven at the frontline. With PDW, we can bring that technology to American platforms and, through Project Foundation, build the thermal-sensor supply chain behind it on U.S. soil.”
The strategic initiative marks a step in PDW’s effort to expand domestic production capacity for critical drone and robotics components, aligning with goals tied to a conditional loan commitment of up to $820 million announced in July 2026 from the Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital. The OSC commitment aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing of autonomous system components and decrease reliance on foreign-controlled supply chains. This vision-systems collaboration follows PDW’s acquisition of Vanteon, which expanded its radio-frequency, communications, and embedded-systems engineering capabilities.
“This collaboration is a concrete step toward the vision behind our OSC commitment: build the components our own platforms need and strengthen the supply base for the broader American drone industry,” continued Slider.
The OSC loan commitment remains subject to financial close, negotiation of definitive documentation, and applicable closing requirements, while development, manufacturing, and distribution activities under the MOU remain subject to separate definitive agreements, regulatory approvals, and ongoing evaluations.
