In a major move, police surveillance startup Flock Safety has acquired drone startup Aerodome for over $300 million, marking one of the largest tech acquisitions in public safety history. The deal brings together two companies backed by Andreessen Horowitz, with a combined funding of over $708 million.

Aerodome, founded just 17 months ago by former police officer Rahul Sidhu, has developed technology that powers drones as first responders. The acquisition accelerates Flock Safety's expansion into police drones, with plans to release its own drones over the next year and hire an additional 100 engineers for its aviation team.

The move puts Flock Safety in direct competition with drone manufacturer Skydio, another a16z portfolio company. Flock Safety's CEO, Garrett Langley, believes that drones will play a central role in the future of public safety, enabling law enforcement officers to get eyes on the scene faster.

This acquisition highlights the growing importance of autonomous drones in public safety and law enforcement, and marks a significant milestone in the development of this technology.