News, deep dives, and analysis — every Los Angeles story, newest first.
Counter-drone radar manufacturer Chaos Industries has secured $510 million in a Series D funding round that closed last month, bringing the Los Angeles-based company’s valuation to $4.5 billion. The funding represents the latest sign of surging investor interest in defense technology as drone threats validated by the Ukraine war drive unprecedented capital flows into the…
The Department of Homeland Security deployed MQ-9 Predator drones over Los Angeles anti-ICE protests in June 2025, marking the first time since 2020 that military-grade surveillance aircraft have monitored domestic demonstrations on U.S. soil. The deployment represents a significant departure from longstanding government policy against flying such drones over protests due to First Amendment concer
In Mission Viejo, California, a drone typically used for public safety and inspection work helped bring a missing dog home. The city’s Animal Services department deployed its new DJI drone, equipped with a state-of-the-art thermal imaging camera, to locate and rescue a frightened pet that had been missing for more than 24 hours. The success…
Anduril Industries successfully flew its YFQ-44A jet-powered combat drone for the first time on October 31, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the U.S. Air Force’s effort to field autonomous “loyal wingman” aircraft that can operate alongside fighter jets. The Los Angeles-based defense tech company and the Air Force confirmed the semi-autonomous flight demonstrates rapid…
A California homeowner faces a staggering $300,000 fine after a city drone recorded illegal fireworks at his property on July 4th—even though he insists he wasn’t there. The case, part of a nearly $1 million drone enforcement crackdown in Stanton, raises troubling questions about warrantless aerial surveillance, constitutional protections against excessive fines, and whether property…
Akemann’s drone collided with the firefighting plane, punching a football-sized hole in its wing. The plane, one of only two available to fight the blaze
A Culver City man has been sentenced for flying a drone that collided with a firefighting aircraft battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, causing significant damage and temporarily grounding the critical water-dropping plane, according to NBC LA. Peter Tripp Akemann, 57, a computer game developer, pleaded guilty in February to a federal class-A misdemeanor…
On June 25, 2025, the Los Angeles Police Commission approved a new policy allowing the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to deploy drones for routine emergency calls, marking a significant shift from their prior use in only high-risk scenarios like barricaded suspects or explosives, according to the Los Angeles Times. This decision launches a pilot…
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