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. Also on LinkedIn, Muck Rack, Instagram and YouTube.
Anduril Industries successfully flew its YFQ-44A jet-powered combat drone for the first time on October 31, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the U.S. Air Force’s effort to field autonomous “loyal wingman” aircraft that can operate alongside fighter jets. The Los Angeles-based defense tech company and the Air Force confirmed the semi-autonomous flight demonstrates rapid…
DroneDeploy rolled out three operational AI agents and revealed plans for autonomous ground robots at its Horizons 2025 user conference in Newport Beach, signaling the reality capture company’s transformation from drone-focused mapping platform to comprehensive construction AI and robotics provider. The announcements position DroneDeploy to compete directly with established construction tech playe
The Pentagon’s Department of Government Efficiency unit is leading a previously undisclosed effort to overhaul the U.S. military drone program, aiming to acquire at least 30,000 cheap drones in the coming months—a dramatic intervention that positions Red Cat, Skydio, and other American manufacturers for significant contract wins after years of bureaucratic delays, according to a…
A German defense drone startup valued at $500 million suffered a catastrophic public failure during October 2025 military trials when its AI-powered strike drones missed all targets across four separate attempts, raising serious questions about whether venture capital can replicate battlefield-proven innovation. Stark Defence’s Virtus loitering munitions—marketed as autonomous strike drones capabl
Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division are building disposable combat drones for less than $800 each, dramatically undercutting commercial alternatives that cost up to $11,000 while delivering the same battlefield capabilities. The Attritable Battlefield Enabler, or ABE 1.01, costs just $740 at scale and provides small units with reconnaissance, target acquisition, and the ability to…
A one-year U.S.–China trade truce announced after President Trump met President Xi in Busan includes a pause of the Commerce/BIS “50% affiliates” rule, tariff trims, and commitments on soybeans, fentanyl precursors, and rare earths. It does not stop the NDAA clock that could put DJI on the FCC Covered List on December 23, 2025 if…
Chinese drone specialist Huaiba from “怀爸疯科技” (Huaiba Crazy Tech) has published an extensive hands-on review of the DJI NEO 2, providing the first detailed look at how the upgraded palm-launched drone performs in real-world conditions. His YouTube video demonstrates the NEO 2’s new dual-axis gimbal, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system, and dramatically improved tracking capabilities through…
DJI officially launched the Neo 2 drone in Asia on October 30, 2025, bringing substantial upgrades to its palm-launched platform including a larger 1/2-inch camera sensor, dual-axis gimbal stabilization, and comprehensive obstacle avoidance sensors. The Neo 2 represents DJI’s most capable sub-250-gram drone yet—but American drone pilots face an uncertain path to accessing one. The…
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