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While DJI isn’t technically banned in the United States, the drones they’ve been releasing lately, like the DJI Mini 5 Pro or the Mavic 4 Pro drone, have been incredibly difficult to get. So, if you’re wanting to buy a DJI drone today, especially the newer ones like the Mini 5 Pro—which I’m borrowing from…
Chinese drone specialists have been conducting clandestine technical development work on military unmanned aerial vehicles at a sanctioned Russian weapons manufacturer, according to a Reuters exclusive report citing European security officials and internal documents. The collaboration between Chinese experts and IEMZ Kupol, a state-owned Russian arms maker under Western sanctions, represents a sig
The Pentagon’s ambitious Replicator Program—designed to deploy thousands of AI-enabled drones against China in a potential Taiwan conflict—has fallen significantly behind schedule due to widespread technical failures and procurement missteps. The Wall Street Journal reported September 26 that the troubled program has been transferred to a new Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) in a bid…
German defense AI startup Helsing has unveiled its autonomous combat drone “CA-1 Europa,” marking a significant milestone in Europe’s push toward next-generation unmanned warfare systems. The four-tonne aircraft was presented at a factory outside Munich on September 25, with the company targeting a first flight in 2027. This development signals Europe’s growing ambition to compete…
Iran’s low-cost Shahed-136 drone has sparked an international arms race, with militaries worldwide scrambling to develop copycat versions of the weapon that has proven devastatingly effective in Ukraine, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The Iranian-designed drone, costing just tens of thousands of dollars and capable of flying over 1,000 miles, has fundamentally changed…
Denmark has implemented a five-day ban on civilian drone operations starting next week as the country prepares to host a high-level European Union summit in Copenhagen. The temporary restriction aims to eliminate confusion between civilian aircraft and potential hostile drones during the gathering of EU government leaders. Why This Matters for Drone Operators This unprecedented…
European Union defense ministers are fast-tracking plans for a comprehensive “drone wall” defense system after fresh unidentified drone sightings over military installations across Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania sparked fears of escalating Russian hybrid warfare tactics, reports Radio Free Europe. The latest incidents, reported early September 27, came just one day after EU defense minist
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport was forced to shut down for 45 minutes on September 27, 2025, after an unidentified object came dangerously close to a landing Transavia aircraft. The incident adds to a growing pattern of drone sightings disrupting major European airports over the past week. The mystery object was spotted at 12:10 PM local time…
Danish authorities detected professional drones at multiple military facilities overnight Sunday, prompting NATO to deploy a German warship for air defense as the Nordic country grapples with a week-long campaign of mysterious aerial intrusions. The ongoing incidents represent one of the most sustained and sophisticated drone campaigns targeting European military infrastructure in recent memory, r
FCC filings reveal Jovistar Inc., a newly identified, suspected DJI shell company, has submitted documents for an unmanned aircraft with specifications closely matching the DJI Mini 5 Pro, complete with LiDAR capability that could circumvent ongoing U.S. import restrictions. READ MORE: DJI FACES DECEMBER BAN DEADLINE AS POLITICAL PRESSURE SPAWNS PROXY COMPANY NETWORK Jovistar’s business…
A local resident in Vadum, North Jutland, reported sighting two unidentified drones flying over her home late Thursday night, just days after similar intrusions disrupted operations at nearby Aalborg Airport. The observation, occurring between 11:45 p.m. and 11:50 p.m., adds to a surge of drone reports across Denmark, prompting heightened police vigilance, reports BT. For…
DJI suffered a comprehensive legal defeat on September 26, 2025, when US District Judge Paul Friedman rejected the Chinese drone giant’s challenge to its Pentagon “Chinese Military Company” designation, dealing a crushing blow to the world’s dominant drone manufacturer despite the court’s acknowledgment that the Defense Department’s evidence wasn’t “bulletproof,” reports Reuters. The 49-page rulin
Mini 5 Pro. Let's that sink in. Bliss. Pure bliss and joy. If I had to choose words for what I felt when I took off and looked at my screen, those would
Security researcher uncovers Fikaxo, DJI’s newest proxy company as Chinese drone maker’s shell network adapts to escalating US restrictions through automated frequency monitoring A new DJI shell company called Fikaxo Technology Inc. has been discovered through sophisticated frequency analysis, representing the latest evolution in a growing network of proxy companies designed to circumvent US restr
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you this week: Part 108 NPRM updates, Skydio unveiling two new drones for specialized operations, Auterion securing $130 million in funding, and an update to last week’s story on the SuperScooper mid-air collision. Let’s get to it. Part 108 NPRM: Deadline Approaching First…
Transport Canada has officially confirmed that the DJI Mini 5 Pro will maintain its micro drone classification despite weight variations that can push some units above the critical 250-gram threshold, according to an official statement obtained by drone community member, Mat Mathews from Blackhawk Aeronautical Solutions. The clarification comes as drone operators worldwide have expressed…
Ukrainian autonomous drone control developer NORDA Dynamics has secured $1 million in funding to scale production of UAV systems designed to operate without GPS or traditional communications. Swedish investment firm Varangians led the round, which signals growing investor confidence in Ukraine’s defense technology sector. This funding round matters for the drone industry because it validates…
A reported drone sighting that shut down Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport for three hours Monday evening may have been a case of mistaken identity involving a training aircraft. Copenhagen Airtaxi AS has confirmed their school plane was conducting training flights in the area during the incident, reports the Norwegian Drone Magazine. The apparent drone observation near…
Chinese drone experts have been working directly with sanctioned Russian weapons manufacturer IEMZ Kupol to develop military drones, according to new intelligence documents obtained by Reuters. The collaboration involves multiple site visits and shipments of attack drones, revealing a deeper partnership between Chinese commercial drone companies and Russia’s defense industry than previously known.
Poland has become Taiwan’s largest drone customer, capturing nearly 60% of the island nation’s drone exports as European countries rapidly pivot away from Chinese defense technology in response to growing security concerns. Taiwan’s drone exports have skyrocketed to approximately $32 million through August 2024—up from virtually zero in previous years—with Poland driving the surge, according…
Norwegian authorities have arrested a foreign national in his 50s for operating a drone in restricted airspace near Oslo’s airport, highlighting escalating drone security issues across Nordic countries this week. The incident occurred Thursday when police seized the unmanned aircraft, though the flight did not disrupt air traffic operations, according to Lisa Mari Lokke, head…
A commercial drone pilot conducting aerial searches for missing pets in northern Maine has been targeted by gunfire twice in recent weeks, with one bullet striking his aircraft—acts that constitute federal crimes carrying potential prison sentences under aviation law. Robert Russell, owner of 2A TAC Drone Services based in Barrington, New Hampshire, was operating his…
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Oh, The DJI Mini 5 Pro is going to crash for sure. What the hell are you doing? What the—he’s just—okay, we hit something. Time to test out the tracking capabilities of the Mini 5 Pro. I have it right here with me. We’re in the forest for the first test, and I’m really excited…
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