Drones have transformed modern warfare, but the way warfighters control them has changed surprisingly little. Most small, unmanned aircraft still rely on handheld controllers, tablets or virtual reality interfaces that force operators to divert attention from the battlefield. PYRRHUS Aeronautics believes that approach creates a critical vulnerability, and the Georgia-based defense technology company has built a system designed to eliminate it. The company’s flagship & 1st product, LADRS, or Laser Aiming & Drone Remote System, allows troops to control drones directly from a rifle-mounted device rather than a traditional joystick. According to Co-Founder and CEO Elad Amar, the goal is straightforward: keep soldiers focused on the fight while making drones easier to operate. Amar, an IDF infantry veteran who continues to serve as a reservist, said the concept emerged from firsthand experience. “I had the idea while people were shooting at me,” Elad said during an interview with Military.com. “We need to change how we use drones because it’s putting troops in danger.” Amar’s vision became a reality with the help of his Co-Founder, Dr. Leandro Gryngarten, a Georgia Tech graduate who currently serves as CTO of PYRRHUS. Later, the startup joined a defense-focused startup accelerator, ASTRA, in partnership with Starburst and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), builder of the Arrow Missile Defense System.