South Korean drone developer PABLO AIR will merge with defense components maker VOLK to strengthen its global competitiveness in the fast-growing defense drone market, the companies announced Thursday. Shareholders approved the deal on Aug. 22, with closing scheduled for Sept. 27.
The merger integrates VOLK’s defense-certified manufacturing — including control systems, drive units and actuator equipment supplied to South Korea’s military since 1983 — with PABLO AIR’s AI-powered swarm coordination platforms.
The combined capabilities will accelerate production of the PabloM drone line, which features reconnaissance systems, multipurpose inspection drones and loitering munitions such as the S10s, designed for 30-minute flights and precision strikes from multiple angles.
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VOLK generated $24 million in revenue in 2024 and projects $29 million in 2025, underscoring its role as a stable defense supplier. PABLO AIR, founded in 2018, has gained international recognition for its Level 4 swarm coordination achievement, which allows a single operator to manage dozens of drones making collective artificial intelligence-driven decisions. The system was tested during South Korean Army demonstrations and showcased at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.
“This merger allows us to pair advanced swarm intelligence with proven defense manufacturing expertise,” said Kim Young-Joon, CEO of PABLO AIR. “It gives us the innovation and production scale required to compete with leading U.S. and European drone makers and to meet global defense contracts.”
The merged company said it is now positioned to enter U.S. Department of Defense, NATO and allied procurement programs in a global defense drone sector projected to surpass $80 billion by 2030.