Italy
German Engineer Builds Flying Star Wars X-Wing Drone That Hits 152 MPH
A German drone enthusiast built a fully functional Star Wars X-wing replica drone that reaches speeds over 200 km/h (124 mph)...
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
Department of Defense
DJI Appeals Court Ruling on Pentagon’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ Label Despite Winning on Most Allegations
DJI filed an appeal today with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging a federal court decision that upheld the Department of Defense’s designation of the drone maker as a “Chinese Military Company” despite the court rejecting most of the government’s allegations. The October 14 announcement marks the latest chapter in a…
FAA
News Organizations Challenge FAA Drone Rules That Would End Urban Journalism
News organizations have formally challenged the FAA’s proposed drone regulations before the October 6 comment deadline, warning that the rules would effectively ban aerial journalism in America’s cities and raise serious First Amendment concerns about government restrictions on newsgathering. The News Media Coalition’s challenge comes as press freedom advocates fight on multiple fronts against dro
DJI
Olean Police Deploy Drone to Rescue Three Kayakers from Allegheny River
A thermal-equipped drone helped the Olean Police Department swiftly locate and rescue three kayakers in distress on the Allegheny River in upstate New York. The October 4, 2024 rescue highlights how drone technology is becoming an essential life-saving tool for police and fire departments across the country. The Olean Police Department received a distress call…
Ukraine
Ukrainian Drone Swarm Startup Swarmer Raises $17.9M In Record Defense Tech Funding
Ukrainian drone swarm startup Swarmer has secured $17.9 million in total funding, marking the largest publicly announced investment in a Ukrainian defense technology company since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. The company closed a $15 million Series A round in mid-September 2025, following a $2.9 million seed round in 2023, according to Euromaidan Press.…
Ukraine
South Africa Investigates How Civilian Laser Sensors Ended Up in Russian Attack Drones
South African authorities are investigating how laser range finders manufactured by Pretoria-based Lightware Optoelectronics ended up in Russian Garpiya-A1 suicide drones attacking Ukraine. The discovery adds a new dimension to the growing problem of Western and civilian components being weaponized in Russia’s drone arsenal. This marks the first time an African manufacturer has been linked…
DJI
DJI’s Mavic 4 Pro Promo Shows Drone Footage from Prohibited National Parks and Tribal Lands
DJI just posted a promotional video showcasing its new Mavic 4 Pro capturing stunning landscapes across the American West—including drone footage from multiple locations where recreational and commercial drone flights are strictly prohibited or severely restricted. The video features imagery from national parks and Navajo tribal lands where drone operations have been banned for over…
Ukraine
Sweden Invests $367 Million In Anti-Drone Systems As European Airspace Incursions Escalate
Sweden announced Friday it will invest 3.5 billion Swedish kronor ($367 million) in anti-drone defense systems, accelerating deployment by eight years as unidentified drone sightings continue to rattle European aviation and military installations. According to Reuters, the investment comes as drone incursions have forced airport closures from Copenhagen to Munich over the past three weeks,…
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