Florida

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Nov 13

Last updated

Senator Rick Scott smiling in his official Senate portrait, with the U.S. flag on the left and the Florida state flag on the right

FCC Ban

Rick Scott Backs DJI Ban. Florida Idled an Estimated $200M Fleet

Sen. Rick Scott wants DJI and Autel kept on the FCC Covered List. Florida's own ban idled an estimated $200 million in agency drones.

Haye KestelooOct 21

Gray Skydio X10 drone with a three-sensor camera gimbal hovering low over a green field with trees behind it

DFR

Lakeland's $22M Axon Deal Adds Drones, Taps Immigration Grant

Lakeland OKs a $21.98M, 10-year Axon deal with Drone as First Responder flights. An immigration grant is applied to its first two years. Money itemized.

Haye KestelooOct 5

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue ArcherFRS blood delivery drone on the ground at the Public Safety Operations Complex in Tampa

WHOLE BLOOD

Hillsborough Blood Drones Launch in October, Flown From Sarasota

Hillsborough County approved its whole blood drone program for October. ArcherFRS pilots in Sarasota fly it, and no announcement says what it costs.

Haye KestelooSep 30

Amazon

Tallahassee Commissioner Urged Amazon Drone Rules. Florida Law Says No

A Tallahassee commissioner said Amazon's drones need regulating. The city attorney says Florida law bars it. Amazon shows its MK30 there October 20.

Haye KestelooSep 30

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, seen across the water with a steam cloud billowing beside the pad

Counter-Drone

Space Force Adds Lasers at Cape Canaveral After 500 Port Drone Flights

Space Force is adding a directed-energy weapon at Cape Canaveral. Next door, Port Canaveral logged 500+ drone incursions in 2025, already a Florida felony.

Haye KestelooSep 26

Amazon

Amazon Targets December for Jacksonville Drones, Pilot Says

Amazon showed its Prime Air drone map for west Jacksonville at an airport meeting. The MK30 reads pilots' ADS-B, but a pilot says they can't see it back.

Haye KestelooSep 25

Amazon

Amazon Preps Tallahassee Drone Hub. Florida Law Gives City Little Say

Amazon is hiring Prime Air drone handlers in Tallahassee and a drone unit is filed for its warehouse lot. Florida law keeps the city out of the flights.

Haye KestelooSep 23

Gray drone wing and fuselage lying across the bow of a center-console fishing boat while two men look back from the helm

Department of Defense

Air Force Loses Shahed Clone Off Eglin, Fishing Charter Reels It In

A Pensacola charter hauled a US Air Force Shahed-136 clone out of the Gulf near Eglin. The base confirms a test article went down but won't name it.

Haye KestelooSep 21

Florida

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.