United Kingdom
Drone news in the UK: regulations, industry updates, innovative uses, events, and the impact on businesses and communities across the United Kingdom.
Skyports Launches BlueWater 2 to Make the UK’s Shipping Industry Cleaner and Smarter
Skyports Drone Services has officially launched BlueWater 2, a bold new step toward greener maritime operations in the United Kingdom. The project aims to prove that drones can make ports cleaner, smarter, and more efficient while cutting the heavy emissions…
CASA Introduces Flexible Registration for DJI Mini 5 Pro: Should Other Regulators Follow?
Australia’s aviation authority has quietly implemented a pragmatic solution to the DJI Mini 5 Pro weight controversy—one that places responsibility on operators while acknowledging the reality of configuration-based weight variance. Rather than forcing all Mini 5 Pro units into a…
DJI Mini 5 Pro’s 250-Gram Drone Problem: Inside The Last-Minute Design Changes That Broke The Weight Limit
An industry insider has revealed the specific pre-production decisions that pushed the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone over the critical 250-gram regulatory threshold, ending four generations of the company’s success in the sub-250g category. According to the long-time trusted DroneXL…
Netherlands Invests €200 Million In Joint Ukraine Drone Production As Battle-Tested Designs Go Global
Ukraine and the Netherlands signed a memorandum of understanding on October 10 to jointly produce military drones, marking another major step in Ukraine’s strategy to export its battle-proven drone manufacturing capabilities to NATO allies. The deal positions Ukraine’s defense industry…
CASA Confirms DJI Mini 5 Pro Classification: Australia Joins US, Canada, UK in Rejecting Sub-250g Status
Australia’s aviation authority has officially confirmed that the DJI Mini 5 Pro will be classified as a “small restricted RPA” rather than a sub-250g micro drone, according to correspondence obtained by Adelaide drone operator Corey Roberts of Airworks Pty Ltd.…
Unifly Joins European Defence Agency Project To Standardize Military Drone Risk Assessment
Unifly, a Terra Drone subsidiary and global leader in UAS Traffic Management solutions, has joined a European Defence Agency (EDA)-led initiative to harmonize pre-flight drone risk assessment standards across Europe’s defense and security operations. The MIL-UAS-SPECIFIC 3 project aims to…
UK Slashes Drone Registration Threshold to 100 Grams – DJI Mini 5 Pro Owners Must Comply by January 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, the United Kingdom will become the strictest drone regulator in the Western world by requiring registration for any drone weighing over 100 grams. The new rule drops the current 250-gram threshold by more than half, impacting…
Drone incursions spur NATO ‘Eastern Sentry’ air defense operation on eastern flank
NATO launched the Eastern Sentry operation on Friday to bolster air and missile defenses along Europe’s eastern flank after Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace this week, an incident NATO chief Mark Rutte called “reckless and unacceptable.” The military activity…
U.S. Drone Defenses Go Big: Zapping Threats on a Budget
Drone fans, get ready for a wild ride! The U.S. military is pumping up its anti-drone game, building defenses that swat drones like flies without breaking the bank. A National Interest report dives into a Pentagon task force tackling drone…
Belgium and Türkiye Join Drone Coalition, Boosting Ukraine’s Battlefield Advantage
On July 2, 2025, Belgium and Türkiye officially joined the international drone coalition, a 20-nation initiative to enhance Ukraine’s defense through advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Coordinated by Latvia and the United Kingdom, the coalition has committed approximately $2.97 billion…
Captain Kyle Nordfors and Dr. Robert Koester Honored at Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards
On May 16, 2025, two Americans were celebrated at the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards in London for their transformative contributions to search and rescue (SAR). Captain Kyle Nordfors of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office won the Unsung Hero…
Latvia Bolsters Ukraine with 1,500 Combat Drones in €2B International Push
On April 29, 2025, Latvia delivered a fresh batch of 1,500 combat drones to Ukraine, a crucial step in a 12,000-unit commitment by Latvian manufacturers under the international drone coalition, as reported by Euromaidan Press. This shipment, part of a…