Texas

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Oct 1

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Texas drone news covers border and cartel security concerns, the state’s outsized role in commercial drone delivery, and police and industry activity, tracked apart from the general United States desk given how much drone news concentrates here.

Cartel drone activity has made counter-drone authority a real policy fight: Texas wants counter-drone power, but only 61 US officers nationwide are currently certified to use it, a gap between what the state wants and what federal certification currently allows. Detection technology is advancing separately: AT&T is turning its 5G towers into drone radar using existing network infrastructure rather than dedicated counter-drone hardware.

Texas is also one of the most active states for commercial drone delivery. Zipline’s Walmart drone parachuted a package into Greenville, Texas, landing feet from a parked truck, part of a broader Walmart delivery network expansion across the state.

Industrial investment is following. Saronic is planning a $3 billion Texas shipyard for drone ships, and League City police plan to fly BRINC 911 drones by December. Every Texas drone story is in the feed below.

Key facts

What this covers: Drone news across Texas: cartel and border security concerns, commercial delivery expansion, and police and industry activity
The security gap: Texas wants counter-drone authority for cartel activity, but only 61 US officers nationwide are currently certified to use it
Delivery leader: Texas is one of the most active states for commercial drone delivery, with both Walmart and Zipline expanding service there

Start here

Texas Wants Counter-Drone Power. Only 61 US Officers Are Certified. — August 18, 2026
Saronic Plans $3 Billion Texas Shipyard For Drone Ships — July 25, 2026
Zipline Walmart Drone Parachutes Into Greenville, Texas Street, Landing Feet From A Parked Truck — July 27, 2026

Last updated October 1, 2026 — the feed below updates with every new story.

Amazon Prime Air MK30 delivery drone flying over the tiled roofs of a suburban neighborhood with mountains behind

Texas · Amazon

Amazon Already Raised Its Texas Drones. 'Drone Warriors' Want Higher

Richardson's Drone Warriors told TODAY they want Amazon's MK30 drones flying higher. Amazon already raised them to 225 feet in February.

Haye KestelooOct 14 min read

Amazon Prime Air MK30 delivery drone on its launch stand with a second MK30 climbing away behind it

Drone Delivery

FAA Sued by 15 States Over Drone Delivery Clearance Amazon Runs On

Fifteen states and Harris County petitioned the Second Circuit on September 28 to set aside the FAA's nationwide drone delivery environmental finding.

Haye KestelooSep 29

Amazon

Amazon Told Pflugerville Drones Take No Images. Its Own Site Disagrees

Amazon told Pflugerville's council on Sept. 22 its MK30 drones take no pictures. Amazon's Prime Air operations page says people near deliveries may be recorded.

Haye KestelooSep 28

Amazon

Amazon MK30 Sets Down on a Waco Lawn Days After Baton Rouge

An Amazon MK30 made a precautionary landing on a Waco lawn, wheels out, days after one landed in Baton Rouge. Amazon has not said what triggered it.

Haye KestelooSep 25

Pilot Institute host presenting the weekly drone news update for week 384

FCC Filing

FCC Targets DJI Chips as Amazon Drones Swarm a Texas Suburb

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have three stories for you this week: the FCC moves to block DJI and Autel chips on any drone, Amazon delivery drones are overwhelming a Texas suburb, and SkyeBrowse is rolling out new pricing.

Greg ReverdiauSep 25

Amazon

Amazon Drones Overwhelm Texas Suburb, NYT Says. FAA Signed Off In July

The New York Times counted 52 Amazon drones over one Richardson yard in a day. The FAA ruled that noise not significant in July. Here is the paper trail.

Haye KestelooSep 21

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

A Zipline Platform 2 delivery aircraft docked beneath a charging tower at dusk, tail number 124 on its fuselage, with the delivery pod and its fiducial docking targets suspended below and a windsock on the hillside behind.

FAA

Zipline Asks FAA For 220,000 Texas Drone Deliveries A Day

The FAA's draft environmental assessment for Zipline covers Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo and El Paso. Public comments close October 11.

Haye KestelooSep 15

Frequently asked questions

Why is counter-drone capability such a live issue in Texas specifically?

Cartel drone activity along the border has made counter-drone authority a priority for Texas law enforcement, but the state is running into a national bottleneck: Texas wants that power, and only 61 US officers are currently certified to legally operate counter-drone equipment.

How active is drone delivery in Texas?

Very. Zipline's Walmart delivery service parachuted a package into Greenville, Texas, landing feet from a parked truck, and the state hosts some of the most visible real-world delivery testing anywhere in the country, alongside broader Walmart drone network expansion.

What other kinds of drone stories come out of Texas beyond cartels and delivery?

Industrial and defense investment shows up too. Saronic is planning a $3 billion Texas shipyard for drone ships, and League City police plan to fly BRINC 911 drones by December, both signs of Texas drone activity extending well past border security.

Texas

Key facts

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Frequently asked questions

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