MANILA, Philippines – Google is acquiring drone-making startup Titan Aerospace, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Details of the acquisition were not disclosed, but the Google-Titan Aerospace deal follows Facebook’s acquisition of drone competitor Ascenta.

Both Titan and Ascenta are known for developing high-altitude drones, which are capable of atmospheric heights. These high-altitude drones can fly for years in the atmosphere on solar power.

Google will apparently team up Titan Aerospace to help in the efforts of Project Loon, the balloon-powered Internet access initiative. TechCrunch adds that a combination of balloons and drones could “make a network of Internet-providing automatons even better at globe-trotting, with a higher degree of control and ability to react to changing conditions.”

A statement on Titan Aerospace’s website also notes other possibilities, such as “helping monitor environmental damage like oil spills and deforestation.” – Rappler.com