Santa Ana Police Seek Approval for Skydio X10 Drone Program

The Santa Ana Police Department is asking the City Council to approve a contract worth about $683,000 to officially launch the city’s first police drone program, with a vote scheduled for February 3.

If approved, Santa Ana would join a growing list of police departments in Orange County that already operate their own unmanned aircraft programs, as The Orange County Register reports.

The proposal marks the latest step in a nationwide push toward Drone as First Responder programs, where aircraft are launched to incidents before patrol units arrive, giving officers and supervisors real time awareness from the air.

Skydio X10 drones and a long term contract

The proposed contract would run through February 2029 and would be signed with Axon Enterprise, the same company that already supplies Santa Ana police with body worn cameras.

As part of the deal, the department plans to acquire five Skydio X10 drones with different capabilities, matching what has become the standard platform for the latest wave of DFR programs across the United States.

The Skydio X10 is designed for public safety missions, with advanced obstacle avoidance, strong low light performance, and secure data handling.

According to police officials, these drones would be deployed to priority calls, streaming live video and audio back to supervisors and responding officers while units are still en route.

Community input and policy development

Santa Ana first included the possibility of a police drone program in its military equipment policy back in 2022. Since then, the department has been researching options, forming a drone commission, and collecting public feedback.

A staff report to the City Council notes that community outreach took place between August and January. Residents generally supported the idea of drones being used to reduce response times and help with issues like illegal fireworks enforcement.

At the same time, many residents emphasized the need for transparency, clear rules, and limits on how the technology is used.

If the council approves the contract, the Police Department will adopt a new policy defining when drones can be deployed, how footage will be stored, and what safeguards will be in place to protect privacy and constitutional rights.

DroneXL’s Take

Santa Ana’s proposal fits neatly into the broader national pattern. Departments are no longer experimenting with random platforms, they are standardizing around systems like the Skydio X10 that are purpose built for DFR operations.

The real test will not be the technology itself, which is already proven, but whether the department can maintain public trust through strict policies, clear oversight, and disciplined use. Get that balance right, and drones become a force multiplier. Get it wrong, and even the best hardware in the world will face pushback.

Photo credit: Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register, Skydio.