DJI
Florida’s DJI Drone Ban: A $200 Million Disaster With No Evidence
Florida DJI Drone Ban, blueprint for disaster massive destruction of taxpayer value, reduced first responder capabilities, no evidence of security threats
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Parrot
France Races Year-End Deadline For Ukraine Drone Deals As UK And Germany Dominate Funding
French drone manufacturers are scrambling to finalize co-production agreements with Ukraine before 2025 ends, but face stiff competition from Britain and Germany, which have already established direct funding channels and secured battlefield-proven partnerships. The November 17 meeting between Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris brought together French defense companies and
Florida
Florida Turns Banned Chinese Drones Into Military Target Practice for Counter-Drone Training
More than 500 Chinese-made drones confiscated under Florida’s controversial 2023 ban are getting a second (short) life as target practice for US Special Operations Command, according to Bloomberg News. The quadcopters, originally headed for the incinerator, will instead be shot down with shotguns during a three-day military training exercise next month. The initiative marks an…
Police
NYPD Drone Flights Surge 3,200% as Watchdog Warns of Unchecked Surveillance
The New York Police Department conducted 6,546 drone flights in the first six months of 2025, representing a 3,200% increase since 2022, according to a new report by civil rights watchdog Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.). The explosive growth raises serious questions about privacy, safety, and transparency as the NYPD deploys 4.7-pound Skydio drones over…
DJI
Police Drone Injures Child in Kent Crash, Wisconsin Deputies Save Missing Man with Thermal Drone
Welcome to your weekly US news update from Pilot Institute. We have three important stories this week that show both the risks and benefits of drone operations. A police drone crashed and injured a child. A thermal drone helped rescue a missing 85-year-old man. And a viral drone show proposal set a new standard for…
Parrot
UAS Nexus Launches Drone Syndicate To Solve Blue UAS Component Supply Chaos
Utah engineering firm unveils NDAA-compliant parts marketplace and MOSA-first FPV platform as Pentagon drone orders surge. While defense contractors battle for Blue UAS contracts, a Salt Lake City engineering firm is solving a more fundamental problem: sourcing the thousands of NDAA-compliant components needed to actually build drones at wartime scale. UAS Nexus launched the Drone…
Auterion
Rheinmetall Bets Big on Code: Major Stake in Auterion Signals Shift to Software-Defined Warfare
German defense giant Rheinmetall has acquired a significant stake in U.S. drone software leader Auterion, signaling a massive industry shift where hardware manufacturers finally admit that future wars will be fought with code, not just explosives. Rheinmetall, the manufacturer behind the Leopard 2 tank and massive artillery systems, is buying into the “Android for Drones”…
DJI
DJI Avata 360 Clears FCC Hurdle With 34 Days Until Potential Ban Deadline
The DJI Avata 360 has secured FCC certification on November 19, 2025, clearing the regulatory hurdle that allows the company to legally sell its groundbreaking 360-degree FPV drone in the United States. But there’s a catch: this approval comes just 34 days before a December 23 deadline that could automatically ban all future DJI product…
Department of Defense
Drone Maker DJI Invests in 3D Printer Giant Elegoo Amid US Ban Fears
DJI has officially invested in the parent company of ELEGOO, a leading manufacturer of consumer 3D printers, in a move widely seen as a strategic hedge against potential U.S. bans.
Police
Police Drone Spots Manatees and Dolphin in Florida River
A Bradenton Police Department drone pilot recently captured a rare and heartwarming scene along the Manatee River near Bradenton Riverwalk
United States
Record Drone Drops Into Hurricane Melissa’s Fury
The drone was launched from the NOAA WP 3D Hurricane Hunter Aircraft known as Kermit. Then the tiny uncrewed aircraft system was dropped
Anduril
National Guard Prepares for Drone Threats at the FIFA World Cup
The Washington National Guard is getting ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as reported by Military Times and they are treating drones like the new wildcard on the field. Earlier this month, Guard leaders and security officials gathered at Seattle’s Lumen Field to simulate drone attacks during a live match. The scenario was part…
Hoverfly
France’s Elistair Debuts Dual-Payload Tethered Drone That Runs 24 Hours Without Battery Swaps
French tethered drone manufacturer Elistair has unveiled a new configuration of its Khronos system that combines persistent surveillance with tactical communications in a single platform, addressing one of modern warfare’s most persistent logistics headaches. The Khronos Dual Payload debuted at Milipol 2025, the international homeland security trade show in Paris running November 18-21, integratin
United States
Chinese Startup Debuts $45K Drone That Tows Paragliders to 3,400 Feet
Shenzhen-based Blue Wing showcased its SkyTow-201 drone towing system at France’s Coupe Icare festival, drawing strong European interest despite facing regulatory hurdles that could delay market entry for years. A Chinese drone startup has developed a six-propeller system that tows paragliders and hang gliders to altitude, potentially eliminating the need for trucks, winches, and complex…
Drone Service Providers
French Startup Rift Raises €4.6M For ‘Surveillance-as-a-Service’ Drones That Cost 10x Less Than Helicopters
French deep-tech startup Rift has secured €4.6 million ($4.9 million USD) to build Europe’s first fully autonomous aerial surveillance network, promising 24/7 border monitoring and critical infrastructure protection at a fraction of traditional helicopter costs. The funding round includes €3 million in equity from New York-based AlleyCorp and Paris-based OVNI Capital, plus €1.6 million in…
Skydio
UK’s Chinese EV Ban Mirrors America’s DJI Drone Crackdown. Western Security Theater Goes Global
The playbook American lawmakers perfected against DJI drones is crossing the Atlantic. The UK Ministry of Defence is considering a blanket ban on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles for military personnel, citing surveillance concerns over built-in cameras and microphones—the exact same argument U.S. officials used to justify restrictions on Chinese drones despite years of failing to produce…
DJI
Asheville Police Drone Flies 20×30-Foot American Flag At NFL Stadium, Claims League Record
The Asheville Police Department’s drone unit flew what they claim is the largest American flag ever carried by a drone at an NFL stadium during the Carolina Panthers’ first responders’ day on November 9, 2025, according to local reports. The heavy-lift drone carried a massive 20-by-30-foot American flag over Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte…
DJI
Hubless Drone Concept Looks Stunning But Physics Says Otherwise
A striking new drone design promises crash-proof durability through monocoque construction and hubless rotors. But there’s a problem: the technology works underwater, not in the air. The Mono Mothra concept from Rify Studio and designer Martunis reimagines the quadcopter as a single-piece unibody built to survive crashes that would shatter conventional drones. Its most eye-catching…
Skydio
Portland, Maine City Council Rejects Police Drone Program Despite Search-And-Rescue Benefits
Portland, Maine’s City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to reject the police department’s proposal to purchase a $45,000 drone for search-and-rescue operations and accident reconstruction, marking another rare example of sustained citizen resistance to police drone adoption as most U.S. cities rapidly deploy aerial surveillance with minimal public debate. The Portland Police Department sought to…
Florida
Florida Schools to Deploy Drones That Can Stop Active Shooters
The drones come from a Texas company called Campus Guardian Angel. The Florida Department of Education made the announcement after
Skydio
Stamford Drones Beat Fire Trucks to Scene in New “Game Changer” 911 Program
DFR Revolution: Stamford’s new automated Paladin DJI M30 drones are launching from rooftops to beat fire trucks to the scene, giving commanders eyes on high-rise fires before crews even leave the garage. In a dramatic validation of drone technology, a 911-dispatched drone recently beat fire crews to a high-rise blaze in Stamford, CT, confirming a…
DJI
DJI Gives Pilots Full Airspace Control. The World Holds Its Breath.
For pilots, hobbyists, public safety teams, and commercial operators, this change is more than a firmware update. It changes how people plan
Police
Germany Authorizes Military to Shoot Down Drones as Sabotage Fears Mount
Germany is breaking a decades-long taboo by empowering its military to shoot down unidentified drones over domestic soil. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet approved the landmark legislation Wednesday, authorizing the Bundeswehr to deploy weapons and advanced jammers inside Germany’s borders to protect critical infrastructure. The move was reported by Bloomberg, citing the need to counter a…
DJI
DJI Mini 3 Pro Jammed And Lost At Sea Finds Its Way Home
He had a DJI Mini 3 Pro on board, and this was a perfect moment to get some aerial shots. He launched the drone and captured views of Kalamata
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