Industry

Funding rounds, partnerships, layoffs, and the market math underneath the drone headlines.

798

Articles

102

Beats covered

Reporters on beat

Oct 19

Last updated

Pete Hegseth in a navy suit gesturing with clasped hands in front of a red, white and blue striped backdrop, lectern with the Department of War seal at left

Department of Defense

Hegseth Orders Four-Star Drone Command, Congress Has To Build It

Hegseth ordered a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command for Oct. 1, 2027. The memo names no commander, no budget, and needs a law Congress hasn't passed.

Haye KestelooOct 1

Top-down drone photo of a Main Line estate near Philadelphia showing the gray roof, brick patio and swimming pool surrounded by trees

Industry

Redfin Just Handed Drone Pilots a Client Checklist. Use It

Redfin tells home sellers how to prep for a drone shoot. Here is the checklist pilots should send clients, with photos by Billy Kyle and Ken Dono.

Haye KestelooSep 27

A grey Tekever AR3 fixed-wing drone with four VTOL lift rotors and an underslung camera turret stands on a hangar floor.

Industry

Tekever Hits $6.4 Billion as University of California Backs AI Drones

Tekever raised $580 million at a $6.4 billion valuation, led by UC Investments, a week after signing to replace the British Army's Watchkeeper drones.

Haye KestelooSep 23

A young boy in a Blue Angels flight suit holds a Blue Angels RC model jet at Flite Fest 2023

Industry

Army Has 40,000 Drones and Too Few Pilots. FAA Data Shows Why

The Army has drones for every squad but too few trained pilots. FAA data shows the hobbyist pipeline that produces them has been shrinking since 2023.

Haye KestelooSep 20

Flytrex delivery drone approaching its rooftop docking station at a Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

Drone Delivery

Flytrex Puts Drones on Roofs Before You Order, Cutting Costs 60%

Flytrex will preposition delivery drones on restaurant rooftops using predictive AI, claiming a 60% cut in cost per delivery and half the wait time.

Haye KestelooSep 16

Wingcopter 262 VTOL drone in forward flight against a blue sky

Industry

Wingcopter 262: Delivery Drone Maker Launches 6-Hour Recon Drone

Wingcopter's all-electric 262 VTOL flies up to six hours and 93 miles at 22 pounds, and the German delivery company is lining it up for Ukraine.

Haye KestelooSep 15

Electra EL-2 hybrid-electric demonstrator N301EL banking in flight above clouds, showing its eight wing-mounted propellers

Technology

Electra CEO Keynotes Ohio Air Mobility Forum, EL9 Not Flying Yet

NAAMCE hosts its fifth advanced air mobility forum in Springfield on October 15, with Electra CEO Marc Allen keynoting a day about reaching production.

Haye KestelooSep 15

Pilot Institute 90-plus day drone training plan thumbnail with drone graphic

Drone Service Providers

The Drone Industry Is at a Crossroads: What Drone Service Providers Should Do Right Now

I sat down with revenue operations specialist Amy Wiegand to talk through the drone market squeeze, the Part 108 question mark, and the decisions drone service providers should be making today.

Greg ReverdiauSep 14

Industry

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