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. Also on LinkedIn, Muck Rack, Instagram and YouTube.

6,733

Articles

276

Beats covered

2020

Writing since

Nov 14

Latest story

Hoverfly

France’s Elistair Debuts Dual-Payload Tethered Drone That Runs 24 Hours Without Battery Swaps

French tethered drone manufacturer Elistair has unveiled a new configuration of its Khronos system that combines persistent surveillance with tactical communications in a single platform, addressing one of modern warfare’s most persistent logistics headaches. The Khronos Dual Payload debuted at Milipol 2025, the international homeland security trade show in Paris running November 18-21, integratin

Haye KestelooNov 20

United States

Chinese Startup Debuts $45K Drone That Tows Paragliders to 3,400 Feet

Shenzhen-based Blue Wing showcased its SkyTow-201 drone towing system at France’s Coupe Icare festival, drawing strong European interest despite facing regulatory hurdles that could delay market entry for years. A Chinese drone startup has developed a six-propeller system that tows paragliders and hang gliders to altitude, potentially eliminating the need for trucks, winches, and complex…

Haye KestelooNov 20

Drone Service Providers

French Startup Rift Raises €4.6M For ‘Surveillance-as-a-Service’ Drones That Cost 10x Less Than Helicopters

French deep-tech startup Rift has secured €4.6 million ($4.9 million USD) to build Europe’s first fully autonomous aerial surveillance network, promising 24/7 border monitoring and critical infrastructure protection at a fraction of traditional helicopter costs. The funding round includes €3 million in equity from New York-based AlleyCorp and Paris-based OVNI Capital, plus €1.6 million in…

Haye KestelooNov 20

Skydio

UK’s Chinese EV Ban Mirrors America’s DJI Drone Crackdown. Western Security Theater Goes Global

The playbook American lawmakers perfected against DJI drones is crossing the Atlantic. The UK Ministry of Defence is considering a blanket ban on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles for military personnel, citing surveillance concerns over built-in cameras and microphones—the exact same argument U.S. officials used to justify restrictions on Chinese drones despite years of failing to produce…

Haye KestelooNov 20

Asheville Police Drone Flies 20x30-Foot American Flag At NFL Stadium, Claims League Record

DJI

Asheville Police Drone Flies 20×30-Foot American Flag At NFL Stadium, Claims League Record

The Asheville Police Department’s drone unit flew what they claim is the largest American flag ever carried by a drone at an NFL stadium during the Carolina Panthers’ first responders’ day on November 9, 2025, according to local reports. The heavy-lift drone carried a massive 20-by-30-foot American flag over Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte…

Haye KestelooNov 19

DJI

Hubless Drone Concept Looks Stunning But Physics Says Otherwise

A striking new drone design promises crash-proof durability through monocoque construction and hubless rotors. But there’s a problem: the technology works underwater, not in the air. The Mono Mothra concept from Rify Studio and designer Martunis reimagines the quadcopter as a single-piece unibody built to survive crashes that would shatter conventional drones. Its most eye-catching…

Haye KestelooNov 19

Skydio

Portland, Maine City Council Rejects Police Drone Program Despite Search-And-Rescue Benefits

Portland, Maine’s City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to reject the police department’s proposal to purchase a $45,000 drone for search-and-rescue operations and accident reconstruction, marking another rare example of sustained citizen resistance to police drone adoption as most U.S. cities rapidly deploy aerial surveillance with minimal public debate. The Portland Police Department sought to…

Haye KestelooNov 19

Skydio

Stamford Drones Beat Fire Trucks to Scene in New “Game Changer” 911 Program

DFR Revolution: Stamford’s new automated Paladin DJI M30 drones are launching from rooftops to beat fire trucks to the scene, giving commanders eyes on high-rise fires before crews even leave the garage. In a dramatic validation of drone technology, a 911-dispatched drone recently beat fire crews to a high-rise blaze in Stamford, CT, confirming a…

Haye KestelooNov 19

Haye Kesteloo

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.