RocketDNA Ltd delivered a break-even operating cash flow quarter with $2.47 million revenue, driven by soaring autonomous drone usage and the debut of its Skylink® operating system.
- Q1 revenue steady at $2.47 million, up 49% year-on-year
- Net operating cash flow breaks even at $62k
- xBot® recurring revenue surges 73% quarter-on-quarter
- Australian xBot® flights jump 113%, active software users rise 47%
- Skylink® OS deployed live with Tier-1 mining customer
First Positive Operating Cash Flow Signals Scaling Progress
RocketDNA Ltd (ASX:RKT) has achieved a key milestone in its growth trajectory, reporting its first quarterly net operating cash flow break-even result with a modest $62,000 positive cash flow for the March 2026 quarter. This marks a $345,000 improvement over the previous quarter’s operating cash burn and underscores the operating leverage built into its autonomous drone business model.
The company posted $2.47 million in revenue, steady from the prior quarter but up an impressive 49% compared to the same period last year. This growth was largely driven by expanding recurring revenue streams from its xBot® drone fleet and data services, which surged 73% quarter-on-quarter, reflecting deeper customer penetration and increased flight frequencies. Cash receipts from customers also rose 17% to $2.84 million, supporting the positive cash flow outcome.
Operational Expansion Across Major Mining Clients
RocketDNA’s operational momentum continued with the manufacture, commissioning, and deployment of xBot® units for heavyweight mining clients including BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, Norton Gold Fields, and Sibanye Gold. Australian xBot® flight missions soared 113% quarter-on-quarter, while active SiteTube® software users climbed 47%, highlighting growing customer engagement with RocketDNA’s integrated hardware and software ecosystem.
Notably, the company’s “land and expand” strategy saw new purchase orders and deployments at Norton Gold Fields and Assmang’s Khumani Iron Ore Mine in South Africa, alongside the commencement of security monitoring operations with Glencore at Steelpoort. However, the trial at BHP Western Australian Iron Ore was ceased prior to deployment, with discussions ongoing for alternative opportunities.
Skylink® Operating System Goes Live with Tier-1 Customer
March also marked the live deployment of RocketDNA’s proprietary Skylink® operating system with a Tier-1 mining customer, a significant step in transforming its drone operations from site-specific deployments to a scalable, multi-site platform. Skylink® enables centralised mission management, real-time tracking, and prioritisation across multiple locations, streamlining autonomous drone workflows and increasing fleet utilisation.
This launch builds on the initial announcement of Skylink® earlier in March and signals the company’s intent to deepen integration with enterprise clients through software-enabled services. The platform is designed to unlock higher-margin revenue streams through workflow automation and third-party system integration, complementing RocketDNA’s hardware and data offerings. This software development aligns with the company’s broader strategy to expand recurring revenue and operational scale across mining and adjacent sectors, as seen in the growing adoption of its SiteTube® data platform.
The deployment of Skylink® also coincides with enhanced automated security features developed for African operations, allowing drones to respond autonomously to alarm triggers, thereby improving response times and operational efficiency.
Financial Position and Investment in Growth Assets
RocketDNA ended the quarter with a cash balance of $2.97 million, down from $3.86 million at the end of December 2025. This decline primarily reflects $641,000 invested in expanding the xBot® fleet and Remote Operating Centre infrastructure, alongside $118,000 spent on Skylink® software development and SiteTube® enhancements. The company’s capital expenditure underscores its commitment to scaling income-generating assets rather than operational burn.
Payments to related parties amounted to $233,000 for the quarter, including director and executive fees with bonus components.
Scaling Recurring Revenue and Multi-Site Deployments Ahead
Looking forward, RocketDNA is focused on ramping up newly secured contracts and expanding xBot® usage across existing customer sites. The rollout of Skylink® and further SiteTube® feature enhancements are expected to play pivotal roles in accelerating the company’s “land and expand” approach, enabling broader multi-site contracts with higher recurring revenue potential.
The company’s shift towards a software-driven platform model aims to reduce operational friction and support larger autonomous drone fleets within single customer organisations. This evolution is expected to unlock additional monetisation pathways, including workflow automation and integration with third-party systems, positioning RocketDNA to increase revenue per customer over time.
These developments complement RocketDNA’s recent strong revenue growth and operational scaling, following the company’s FY25 expansion that included a 6% revenue increase and multiple major contract wins across Australia and Africa. The company’s journey from its last quarter’s revenue jump and contract wins illustrates a clear trajectory towards sustainable, software-enabled growth in the autonomous drone services sector. Skylink® OS deployed live and 6% revenue growth in 2025 provide useful context to this quarter’s results.
Bottom Line?
RocketDNA’s first positive operating cash flow and live Skylink® deployment mark a turning point, but sustaining growth hinges on converting multi-site contracts and software adoption into steady recurring revenue.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Skylink® adoption accelerate multi-site contract expansions as anticipated?
- How will RocketDNA navigate the setback of the BHP WAIO trial cessation?
- Can recurring revenue growth offset hardware sales volatility in coming quarters?