DEALS
Rafael Suárez

Rafael Suárez

Rafael Suárez is a drone pilot and commercial videographer with more than 20 years behind the lens, flying and filming with drones since 2016. He wrote for DroneXL on drone news, hardware, and developments shaping the industry. Rafa is based in Quito, Ecuador.

1,179
Articles
144
Beats covered
2025
Writing since
Aug 18
Latest story
Sort
US Army Europe crowns its Best Drone Warfighters
DJI

US Army Europe crowns its Best Drone Warfighters

Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany turned into a buzzing hive of rotors and radio chatter from December 8 to 10, 2025, as ten teams squared off in the first ever U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Drone Warfighter Competition, as reported by Army.mil. This is an event that made one thing very clear: modern combat…

Drone Busts Chicago Railyard Burglary Before Coffee Time
Police

Drone Busts Chicago Railyard Burglary Before Coffee Time

Somewhere above a quiet Chicago railyard, a drone was doing its job, watching patiently, humming softly, and absolutely not impressed by what it was about to see. Early in the morning on December 5, while most of the city was asleep and a few insomniacs were still debating late night snacks, a railroad operated drone…

Prisons Face a Growing Threat From Smuggling Drones
Contraband

Prisons Face a Growing Threat From Smuggling Drones

Drones were supposed to bring us sunset photos, roof inspections, and the occasional wedding video with questionable music choices. Instead, they are now running prison logistics like an airborne Amazon Prime, except the packages include drugs, phones, and the occasional criminal mastermind business plan. According to officials speaking with ABC News, drones have become one…

Overhead black-and-white view of a DJI Phantom quadcopter surrounded by folding DJI Mavic drones and other multirotors arranged on a white surface
Drone as First Responder

Drone Brings Lifesaving Gear to Man Trapped by Flood

Floods do not arrive politely. They do not knock, wait, or ask if you are ready. One minute a river looks high but manageable. The next minute it has decided it wants the road, the trees, and your car too. That reality played out this week in Washington state, where a powerful atmospheric river dumped…

Tiny flapping drone matches insect speed with an AI brain
First Responders

Tiny flapping drone matches insect speed with an AI brain

MIT microrobot using AI control flies with insect agility, doing flips and tight maneuvers, a step toward rescue robots in rubble. Somewhere, a housefly is feeling slightly threatened. Tiny drones could one day crawl through collapsed buildings to help find survivors after earthquakes. These micro-robots, inspired by insects, now show flight skills close to the…

— The DroneXL Briefing · Free

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.

One email with the drone news that matters — DJI, FAA, public safety, and everything in between, straight from the newsroom. No spam, no fluff.

8,400+
Articles published
340+
Beats & desks
2020
Covering drones since
100%
Independent