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United States

Drone policy, incidents, and industry news across the United States — from statehouses to the national airspace.

2,564
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Aug 22
Last updated
Drone Helps Rescue Lost Hiker in Oregon Woods
Search & Rescue

Drone Helps Rescue Lost Hiker in Oregon Woods

A lost hiker was safely rescued in the McKenzie Bridge area of Oregon on December 26 thanks to a coordinated search effort that included drone technology, infrared imaging, and ground crews navigating difficult terrain. The operation highlights how unmanned aircraft systems are becoming a standard tool in modern search and rescue missions, especially in rugged…

Stranger Things Drone Show Turns Vegas Upside Down
Drone Light Show

Stranger Things Drone Show Turns Vegas Upside Down

Las Vegas officially slipped into the Upside Down this week, at least according to Netflix, after a massive drone show brought the world of Stranger Things to life above the Strip, as USA Today reports. The Hawkins inspired spectacle took place on Sunday, December 28, using an eye watering 5,000 drones to recreate iconic moments…

Soaring Above Limits: The DJI Mini 4 Pro Altitude Unlock.
Police

FEMA’s $500M Counter-Drone Program Launches With World Cup Funding

I’ve been tracking the expansion of police counter-drone capabilities for months, and what just happened is bigger than the headlines suggest. Missouri received $14.24 million in federal funding for World Cup drone security, but that’s not the real story. The real story is that FEMA just deployed the first phase of a $500 million program…

Stalker-XE AI-Enabled UAS by Lockheed Martin | Photo Credits: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Shows Off AI That Can Replan a Drone Mission Mid-Flight

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works just ran a live AI demonstration that hits on one of the hardest problems in autonomy – the unknown of what happens when an unmanned mission goes sideways. In the demonstration, Lockheed’s AI-driven contingency management software detected simulated fuel issues on a Stalker XE drone, generated updated mission options in seconds,…

Blake Resnick, founder of Brinc Drones, unveiled a groundbreaking product designed to revolutionize emergency response during Episode 78 of the PIXL Drone Show. The new drone, called the Responder, is set to transform how police and fire departments handle 911 calls by providing rapid, autonomous aerial support.
DJI

Police Drone Programs Hit 6,000 Nationwide As Legal Challenges Mount

I’ve been tracking police drone expansion all year, and the Wall Street Journal just confirmed what we’ve been reporting: this technology is spreading faster than anyone anticipated. But buried in their coverage is a detail most outlets are missing. The same aggressive enforcement model that generated nearly $1 million in California fines is already facing…

US Army’s 10th Mountain Division Goes All In on Attack Drones
Skydio

US Army’s 10th Mountain Division Goes All In on Attack Drones

The US Army’s 10th Mountain Division has quietly crossed an important line, moving from simply using drones as flying eyes to treating them as frontline weapons, with the formal activation of a brand new unit dedicated entirely to offensive drone operations, as the Army press release states. On December 16, the division stood up Fox…

Police Drone Finds Missing Hiker in Ohio Night Search
Bell

Police Drone Finds Missing Hiker in Ohio Night Search

A late night search in southern Ohio ended safely thanks to a police drone and a program that has been in place longer than many people realize. As the Scioto Post reports, on December 28, just before 11 p.m., Chillicothe Police were dispatched to assist the Ross County Sheriff’s Office near Belleview Avenue and Plyleys…

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

FBI launches national counter drone training center

The FBI has quietly flipped the switch on a new national hub designed to deal with one of aviation’s fastest growing gray zones, illegal and hostile drone activity over US airspace. Called the National Counter UAS Training Center, or NCUTC, the program is meant to train state and local law enforcement to detect, identify, track,…

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