Denver, Colorado - America First Defense (AFD) obtained a license from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) for the Detachable Drone Highjacker (DDH), a cutting-edge drone-mounted electronic warfare payload designed to defeat hostile Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This development builds on AFD's recent strategic positioning through its partnership with Gaxos.ai (NASDAQ:GXAI), which acquired a 19.99% stake in AFD just days earlier on March 3, 2026, for approximately $2.9 million.
The DDH represents a precision-oriented approach to counter-drone operations. Originally developed at NPS, the system attaches to a friendly drone and neutralizes enemy UAS through targeted cyber operations, exploiting vulnerabilities in communication protocols, rather than relying on broad-spectrum jamming that can disrupt friendly or civilian signals. This selective, air-to-air method enables "sniper-like" precision in defeating threats, making it ideal for scenarios requiring minimal collateral interference, such as protecting military assets, critical infrastructure, border security, or homeland defense operations.
Vadim Mats, CEO of Gaxos, stated, “This platform represents a differentiated approach to defeating hostile drones through precision electronic warfare. Our stake in AFD positions us at the forefront of counter-UAS technology.”
This licensing agreement allows AFD to further develop, refine, and commercialize the DDH into a scalable airborne counter-UAS capability. With growing global proliferation of inexpensive drones posing asymmetric threats, technologies like the DDH address urgent Department of Defense and homeland security priorities for cost-effective, precise, and deployable solutions. AFD's focus on American-made intellectual property aligns with broader national security goals for resilient, domestically controlled defense innovations.
Gaxos.ai's stake in America First Defense places the NASDAQ-listed company at the forefront of this emerging counter-UAS frontier. As an AI-focused firm expanding into high-growth sectors, Gaxos gains meaningful exposure to defense applications through this minority ownership. CEO Vadim Mats highlighted the strategic fit: “This platform represents a differentiated approach to defeating hostile drones through precision electronic warfare. Our stake in AFD positions us at the forefront of counter-UAS technology.
Further milestones in development, testing, and potential deployment of the DDH are expected to be announced as AFD progresses the program. This move underscores the accelerating intersection of innovative tech startups, academic research from institutions like NPS, and real-world defense requirements in an era of evolving aerial threats.