Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is the Editor in Chief and Founder of DroneXL.co, where he covers all drone-related news, DJI rumors and writes drone reviews, and of EVXL.co, for all electric vehicle news. Haye can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

6,334

Articles

273

Beats covered

2020

Writing since

Sep 8

Latest story

Ukraine

US Slaps Sanctions on Global Network Fueling Iran’s Drone Rebuilding Effort After June War

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned 32 individuals and entities across eight countries on Wednesday for operating procurement networks that supply Iran’s ballistic missile and drone production programs, marking the latest attempt to prevent Tehran from reconstituting military capabilities destroyed during the 12-Day War in June 2025. The sanctions target a sophisticated web of front companies…

Haye KestelooNov 12

DJI Mavic 4 Pro Hits Amazon With Up To 19% Discounts: Your Complete Buying Guide - DJI Launches Urgent Instagram Campaign As December 23 Ban Deadline Looms With No Audit Started

Search & Rescue

DJI Launches Urgent Instagram Campaign As December 23 Ban Deadline Looms With No Audit Started

DJI has launched an urgent public advocacy campaign on Instagram warning that a December 23, 2025 deadline that could decide the company’s fate in the U.S. is just 43 days away—and no federal agency has started the mandated security audit that could prevent an automatic ban. The Instagram post, shared by DJI Global’s official account,…

Haye KestelooNov 12

Europe

Unidentified Drones Surveil French Military Tank Convoy and Ammunition Factory in Escalating European Security Crisis

French authorities opened investigations after unidentified drones conducted surveillance over a military train carrying Leclerc main battle tanks and an ammunition factory producing gunpowder for Ukraine’s artillery—the latest incidents in a coordinated pattern targeting NATO military infrastructure across Europe. The drone sighting over the military convoy occurred shortly before midnight on Nov

Haye KestelooNov 12

Weaponized drones

Shield AI’s X-BAT: SpaceX-Style Vertical Landing Meets Combat-Proven AI in $27M Fighter Drone

A jet-powered drone that launches vertically like a rocket, flies over 2,000 miles autonomously without GPS, and lands tail-first on a trailer could reshape air warfare—and it’s built by engineers who perfected SpaceX’s reusable rocket landings. Shield AI unveiled the X-BAT on October 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealing a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)…

Haye KestelooNov 12

Department of Defense

MQ-9 Predator Drones Monitor US Protesters for First Time Since 2020

The Department of Homeland Security deployed MQ-9 Predator drones over Los Angeles anti-ICE protests in June 2025, marking the first time since 2020 that military-grade surveillance aircraft have monitored domestic demonstrations on U.S. soil. The deployment represents a significant departure from longstanding government policy against flying such drones over protests due to First Amendment concer

Haye KestelooNov 12

White House

XTI Aerospace Acquires Drone Nerds for $40M as Unusual Machines Invests $25M in DJI Ban Bet

XTI Aerospace closed a $40 million acquisition of Drone Nerds and secured a $25 million strategic investment from Unusual Machines on November 10, 2025, positioning both companies to capitalize on potential Chinese drone restrictions just 43 days before a critical federal deadline. The dual transactions mark a significant consolidation play in the U.S. drone market…

Haye KestelooNov 12

Police

Syracuse Police Drone Program Stalled Again As Lawmakers Withdraw Approval For Fourth Time In 2025

Syracuse lawmakers have once again grounded the city’s controversial drone-as-first-responder program, marking the fourth time in 2025 that city councilors have delayed approval of software needed to launch autonomous police drones that would respond to 911 calls. Councilor Chol Majok withdrew the proposal at a Public Safety Committee meeting on Monday, November 11, nearly one…

Haye KestelooNov 11

Bell

UK Airports Face Inevitable Drone Attacks, Aviation Chief Warns After Belgium Shutdowns

The UK’s top aviation regulator has issued a stark warning that British airports will face disruption from organized drone attacks, declaring it “not a question of if, only of when” such drone incidents occur. The warning from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) follows multiple shutdowns at Belgian airports in early November 2025 that stranded…

Haye KestelooNov 11

Haye Kesteloo

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.