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In March, drones took three AWS data centers offline in the Middle East…

2026-08-05 · 13:18 UTC ·@typesfast ·1 min read

Brief

impactdrones (YC S26) pitches containerized autonomous interceptor cells described as 'air defense as a service' that detect, launch, and physically remove hostile drones without jamming. The post cites a March incident where drones disabled three AWS Middle East data centers, costing Amazon $200 million in one day, and contrasts Patriot missiles' >$1M cost to kill a ~$30k drone, arguing their box scales for civilian infrastructure.

Why it matters

In March, drones took three AWS data centers offline in the Middle East, disrupting about a dozen core cloud services and causing Amazon to lose $200 million in one day.

Key details

  • impactdrones (Y Combinator S26) offers 'air defense as a service' via containerized cells of autonomous interceptors that detect drones, launch, and physically remove them (explicitly not jamming), to protect critical civilian infrastructure.
  • The post contrasts costs: a Patriot missile costs over $1 million to kill a ~$30,000 drone, arguing traditional military air-defense doesn't scale for civilian sites and positioning impactdrones as a scalable alternative.
Source evidence

YC companies selling baby Patriot missiles for your house

Jasper Lortije (@JasperLort)

AIR DEFENSE AS A SERVICE.

In March, drones took three AWS data centers offline in the Middle East and a dozen core cloud services with them. Amazon lost 200 million USD in one day.

We build the box that stops it.

Containerized cells of autonomous interceptors, parked next to anything you need to keep running. It detects the drone, launches, and physically removes it. Not jamming.

A Patriot missile costs over 1m USD to kill a 30k USD drone. That math never scaled to civilian sites. Ours does.

Introducing @impactdrones, @ycombinator S26. Air defense as a service for critical civilian infrastructure.

Video

— https://nitter.net/JasperLort/status/2084702238493041101#m