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The United Kingdom has approved a 316 million pound contract for MBDA UK to deliver the DragonFire laser weapon to the Royal Navy, as Defense News reported. This marks a major milestone for European directed energy weapons. The system will first appear on a Type 45 destroyer in 2027. That is several years ahead of…
The Russian drone dove in at speed and hit the side of the vehicle with a sharp explosion that rattled the camera and threw debris in all directions.
The FBI is actively seeking to equip surveillance drones with artificial intelligence capabilities including facial recognition, license plate readers, and weapon detection systems, according to federal procurement documents published by The Intercept Thursday. The move comes as approximately 1,500 US law enforcement agencies already operate drone programs with minimal oversight. FBI Issues Reques
The Dutch military fired weapons at unidentified drones flying over Volkel Air Base on Friday night, marking a significant escalation in Europe’s response to mysterious aircraft incursions over NATO facilities, Reuters reported. Security personnel at the southeastern Netherlands base spotted multiple drones between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. local time on November 22, prompting air…
DJI published its most comprehensive public statement addressing the looming U.S. market ban, confirming that no federal agency has begun the security audit mandated by Congress—despite the company requesting the review nine months ago. With just 30 days until the December 23, 2025 deadline, DJI’s official blog post reveals a bureaucratic trap: the National Defense…
As First Alert 6 reports, the Omaha Police Department is taking a big step forward today with the official launch of Nebraska’s first Drones as First Responders program and city leaders are ready to show how drones will help officers reach emergencies faster and safer. The department says the goal is simple. Respond faster. Keep…
Why the DJI drone ban means body bags, not just economic pain. First responders lose life-saving tools while American manufacturers remain years behind.
Florida DJI Drone Ban, blueprint for disaster massive destruction of taxpayer value, reduced first responder capabilities, no evidence of security threats
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
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”…
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…
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.
A Bradenton Police Department drone pilot recently captured a rare and heartwarming scene along the Manatee River near Bradenton Riverwalk
The drone was launched from the NOAA WP 3D Hurricane Hunter Aircraft known as Kermit. Then the tiny uncrewed aircraft system was dropped
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…
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
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