United Kingdom
Drone news in the UK: regulations, industry updates, innovative uses, events, and the impact on businesses and communities across the United Kingdom.
Coventry Advances Drone Research for Emergencies
Coventry University has started a new research program to explore how drones can support emergency operations in crowded cities, and the Urban Ascent project brings together Coventry City Council, Skyfarer, The Manufacturing Technology Centre and Slink Tech to test how…
Ukraine Signs Drone Production Deal With Norway As NATO Allies Race To Access Battle-Tested Tech
Ukraine and Norway will jointly manufacture combat drones starting in 2026, marking the latest NATO country to tap into Kyiv’s battlefield-proven drone expertise. We’ve been tracking this trend for months, and the pattern is now undeniable: the most bombed country…
UK Councils Deploy Growing Drone Fleets to Watch Residents
More than 60 councils across the United Kingdom now have trained drone pilots on staff. An additional dozen authorities have contacted the Civil Aviation Authority for guidance as they explore their own drone programs. As reported by GB News, CAA…
Kilmarnock Teens Claim the RTX Drone Crown
Kilmarnock Academy lifted the 2025 RTX Quadcopter Challenge trophy after a strong performance in London at the Honourable Artillery Company grounds. As Manufacturing Management reports, the team flew past the judges and the competition, leaving London East Cadet Wing in…
UK’s DragonFire Laser Destroys Drones At 404 MPH In Historic Test
The United Kingdom just proved laser weapons are no longer science fiction. Britain’s DragonFire laser system destroyed high-speed drones traveling at 650 km/h (404 mph) during live trials at the MOD Hebrides range in Scotland. The successful tests triggered a…
UK orders DragonFire laser to blast drones for just $13 a shot
The United Kingdom has approved a 316 million pound contract for MBDA UK to deliver the DragonFire laser weapon to the Royal Navy, as Defense News reported. This marks a major milestone for European directed energy weapons. The system will…
Police Drone Injures Child in Kent Crash, Wisconsin Deputies Save Missing Man with Thermal Drone
Welcome to your weekly US news update from Pilot Institute. We have three important stories this week that show both the risks and benefits of drone operations. A police drone crashed and injured a child. A thermal drone helped rescue…
UK Police Drone Crash Sends Child to the Hospital
According to multiple sources, a police officer in Kent was operating a DJI Matrice 30T drone when it struck a power line and crashed into a child, causing them to be taken to a London hospital for severe injuries to…
French Navy Receives New Naval Drone With Next Gen Sonar
Thales has delivered a new autonomous surface drone to the French Navy as part of the joint French and British Maritime Mine Counter Measures program, as they an announced on their website. This delivery strengthens the ongoing effort to modernize…
Drone Show Brings David Hockney’s Art to the Sky Above Bradford
The sky above Saltaire in West Yorkshire turned into a glowing canvas on Nov. 13. More than six hundred drones rose over the Victorian village and recreated some of David Hockney’s most iconic works in midair. The show, titled Painting…
Ukraine Launches Mass Production Of Octopus Interceptor Drones As Russia Unleashes 430-Drone Attack On Kyiv
Ukraine has begun mass production of its domestically developed Octopus interceptor drone system, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Friday, just hours after Russia launched one of the war’s deadliest drone attacks on Kyiv. The announcement marks a critical escalation…
Unidentified Drones Surveil French Military Tank Convoy and Ammunition Factory in Escalating European Security Crisis
French authorities opened investigations after unidentified drones conducted surveillance over a military train carrying Leclerc main battle tanks and an ammunition factory producing gunpowder for Ukraine’s artillery—the latest incidents in a coordinated pattern targeting NATO military infrastructure across Europe. The…