Texas

News, deep dives, and analysis — every Texas story, newest first.

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Oct 11

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Texas drone news covers border and cartel security concerns, the state’s outsized role in commercial drone delivery, and police and industry activity, tracked apart from the general United States desk given how much drone news concentrates here.

Cartel drone activity has made counter-drone authority a real policy fight: Texas wants counter-drone power, but only 61 US officers nationwide are currently certified to use it, a gap between what the state wants and what federal certification currently allows. Detection technology is advancing separately: AT&T is turning its 5G towers into drone radar using existing network infrastructure rather than dedicated counter-drone hardware.

Texas is also one of the most active states for commercial drone delivery. Zipline’s Walmart drone parachuted a package into Greenville, Texas, landing feet from a parked truck, part of a broader Walmart delivery network expansion across the state.

Industrial investment is following. Saronic is planning a $3 billion Texas shipyard for drone ships, and League City police plan to fly BRINC 911 drones by December. Every Texas drone story is in the feed below.

Key facts

What this covers: Drone news across Texas: cartel and border security concerns, commercial delivery expansion, and police and industry activity
The security gap: Texas wants counter-drone authority for cartel activity, but only 61 US officers nationwide are currently certified to use it
Delivery leader: Texas is one of the most active states for commercial drone delivery, with both Walmart and Zipline expanding service there

Start here

Texas Wants Counter-Drone Power. Only 61 US Officers Are Certified. — August 18, 2026
Saronic Plans $3 Billion Texas Shipyard For Drone Ships — July 25, 2026
Zipline Walmart Drone Parachutes Into Greenville, Texas Street, Landing Feet From A Parked Truck — July 27, 2026

Last updated October 11, 2026 — the feed below updates with every new story.

White Zipline Platform 2 delivery drone hovering against a blue sky with scattered clouds, its delivery droid hanging below it on a tether

Texas · Zipline

Round Rock Says It Has No Zoning Rule for Zipline's Drone Hub

Zipline's Austin hub sits outside Round Rock city limits. The city says its zoning has no rule for drone hubs and will write one after a second opens.

Haye KestelooOct 115 min read

A DJI drone silhouetted in flight against a sunset sky with towering clouds

FAA

Dallas Drone Pilot Faces 8 Years. The Runway Charge Carries Just One

Pujan Gajjar, 24, is indicted on four counts over alleged drone flights at Love Field and DFW. By DroneXL's reading, the certificate counts carry the time.

Haye KestelooOct 9

Zipline

Zipline Starts Austin Deliveries With FAA Comment Window Still Open

Zipline opened delivery in Round Rock on October 9 for 5,000 residents, two days before comments close on the FAA's draft review of its Austin plans.

Haye KestelooOct 9

Pilot Institute

DJI Neo 3 Unboxing Leak, 71,207-Drone Record, FAA $12M, FBI School

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you this week: the DJI Neo 3 has a video leak, Sky Elements sets a Guinness World Record, the FAA hands out $12 million to drone test sites, and the FBI doubles its counter-drone school capacity.

Greg ReverdiauOct 9

Fourteen-story beige concrete hotel tower with vertical window strips and Holiday Inn signs, seen against a clear blue sky with a palm tree in front

Police

Laredo Police Vow to Take Down Drones at Hotel Fire. FAA Lists No TFR

Laredo's police chief says officers will mitigate drones over the DoubleTree fire. Federal law lets local police do that only with FBI certification.

Haye KestelooOct 7

Pilot Institute News Update week 385 thumbnail covering Blue UAS report, FAA lawsuit, DJI leak, and Skydio drone

Blue sUAS

DSPA Calls Congress Over Blue UAS Report as 15 States Sue FAA and Skydio Unveils the MegaDock

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you this week: DSPA asks Congress to look at the DHS Blue UAS report, 15 states sue the FAA over drone delivery, DJI's next enterprise drone leaks in China, and Skydio unveils a fixed-wing drone and a robotic dock.

Greg ReverdiauOct 2

Amazon

Amazon Already Raised Its Texas Drones. 'Drone Warriors' Want Higher

Richardson's Drone Warriors told TODAY they want Amazon's MK30 drones flying higher. Amazon already raised them to 225 feet in February.

Haye KestelooOct 1

Amazon Prime Air MK30 delivery drone on its launch stand with a second MK30 climbing away behind it

Drone Delivery

FAA Sued by 15 States Over Drone Delivery Clearance Amazon Runs On

Fifteen states and Harris County petitioned the Second Circuit on September 28 to set aside the FAA's nationwide drone delivery environmental finding.

Haye KestelooSep 29

Frequently asked questions

Why is counter-drone capability such a live issue in Texas specifically?

Cartel drone activity along the border has made counter-drone authority a priority for Texas law enforcement, but the state is running into a national bottleneck: Texas wants that power, and only 61 US officers are currently certified to legally operate counter-drone equipment.

How active is drone delivery in Texas?

Very. Zipline's Walmart delivery service parachuted a package into Greenville, Texas, landing feet from a parked truck, and the state hosts some of the most visible real-world delivery testing anywhere in the country, alongside broader Walmart drone network expansion.

What other kinds of drone stories come out of Texas beyond cartels and delivery?

Industrial and defense investment shows up too. Saronic is planning a $3 billion Texas shipyard for drone ships, and League City police plan to fly BRINC 911 drones by December, both signs of Texas drone activity extending well past border security.

Texas

Key facts

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Frequently asked questions

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