Rafael Suárez

Rafael Suárez is a drone journalist and content creator with more than 20 years behind the lens. He began in film photography in 1998, moved to digital in 2005, and has been flying and filming with drones since 2016. As a commercial videographer he has produced work for premium brands including BMW, Porsche, and MINI, and his documentary work champions a #flysafe mentality across the industry. Based in Quito, Ecuador, he covers drone news, hardware, and the policy and business shaping the industry for DroneXL, and shares reviews and cinematic flight on his YouTube channel. A dad and a lifelong aviation nerd, he's happiest when something is in the air.

1,178

Articles

144

Beats covered

2025

Writing since

Aug 13

Latest story

DJI

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Leaks in Plain Sight

We just got what might be the most polite leak in DJI history: the actual Quick Start Guide of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4. Yes, the instruction manual.

Rafael SuárezFeb 27

Russia

Russian Drone Approaches French Carrier in Sweden

A Russian drone approached the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while the warship was docked in Malmö, Sweden, during a strategic visit, according to United24 Media. The Swedish Armed Forces detected the unmanned aircraft and immediately deployed electronic warfare countermeasures. The drone’s approach was disrupted before it could reach the carrier. Reports indicate the…

Rafael SuárezFeb 27

Department of Homeland Security

Fortem Lands $18M Army Counter-Drone Deal

The counter drone race just added fresh fuel. Fortem Technologies has secured a three year, $18 million contract with the U.S. Army to deploy its net based DroneHunter interceptors at Army sites worldwide, as TechBuzzNews reports. The award signals something bigger than a procurement line item. It reflects a structural shift in how the Pentagon…

Rafael SuárezFeb 27

Police

Monroe Police Drone Tracks Suspect After Pursuit

The Monroe Police Department used a drone with thermal imaging early Thursday morning to locate a suspect who fled from a stolen vehicle after a pursuit that began in neighboring Wadesboro, as reported by WCNC. Shortly before 1 a.m., Monroe officers were alerted that the Wadesboro Police Department was actively pursuing a stolen red Hyundai…

Rafael SuárezFeb 27

DJI

DJI Drone Tracks DUI Suspect in Freezing Woods

In the blue hush of a 5 a.m. Washington morning, when frost grips the grass and most of the world is still asleep, a small aircraft lifted into the air above Deer Park. Not a helicopter. Not a plane. A DJI bird. Like the ones that you and me fly everyday. Well, not exactly like…

Rafael SuárezFeb 27

Anduril

US Air Force swaps AI midflight on YFQ-44A

The United States Air Force just treated combat drone autonomy like an app you can close and reopen, except this app flies at jet speeds. In a recent test, Anduril Industries demonstrated that its YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft can switch between two completely different mission autonomy systems while airborne, no landing, no wrench turning, no…

Rafael SuárezFeb 27

DJI

Ohio Launches Statewide Drone First Responder Pilot

The Ohio Department of Transportation, through DriveOhio, has selected nine public safety agencies for the Ohio Statewide Drone First Responder Pilot Program, a coordinated effort to integrate rapid launch drone systems directly into emergency dispatch workflows across the state, as Hometown Stations reports.

Rafael SuárezFeb 26

Summerville DFR Launches With Nokia, Motorola and BRINC

Skydio

Summerville DFR Launches With Nokia and Motorola Solutions

Correction (March 9, 2026): An earlier version of this article’s headline included BRINC alongside Nokia and Motorola Solutions, which incorrectly implied BRINC was part of the Summerville Police Department deployment. BRINC is a Motorola Solutions portfolio investment referenced in the context of the broader DFR ecosystem. The Summerville program is a Nokia Drone Networks and…

Rafael SuárezFeb 26

Rafael Suárez

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.