US Government

Washington and the drone industry: legislation, procurement, security reviews, and agency policy beyond the FAA.

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Aug 26

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Ukraine

Ukraine Launches Mass Production Of Octopus Interceptor Drones As Russia Unleashes 430-Drone Attack On Kyiv

Ukraine has begun mass production of its domestically developed Octopus interceptor drone system, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Friday, just hours after Russia launched one of the war’s deadliest drone attacks on Kyiv. The announcement marks a critical escalation in Ukraine’s efforts to build cost-effective air defenses against Russia’s relentless Shahed drone campaign. The…

Haye KestelooNov 17

Overhead black-and-white view of a DJI Phantom quadcopter surrounded by folding DJI Mavic drones and other multirotors arranged on a white surface

Amazon

Police To Get Counter Drone Powers For 2026 World Cup

Drones are already listed as one of the top threats by the White House Task Force and the National Security Council. But there is a problem.

Rafael SuárezNov 16

Department of Defense

MQ-9 Predator Drones Monitor US Protesters for First Time Since 2020

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

Haye KestelooNov 12

White House

XTI Aerospace Acquires Drone Nerds for $40M as Unusual Machines Invests $25M in DJI Ban Bet

XTI Aerospace closed a $40 million acquisition of Drone Nerds and secured a $25 million strategic investment from Unusual Machines on November 10, 2025, positioning both companies to capitalize on potential Chinese drone restrictions just 43 days before a critical federal deadline. The dual transactions mark a significant consolidation play in the U.S. drone market…

Haye KestelooNov 12

Department of Defense

From Teenage Drone Racers To $121M Defense Contractors: How Two 20-Somethings Are Building America’s FPV War Machine

Soren Monroe-Anderson was just 20 years old when he walked into the Pentagon with his friend Olaf Hichwa, trying to sell drones they’d built in his parents’ garage. A senior Department of Defense official shut them down immediately: “You can’t just waltz into the Pentagon as 21-year-olds and sell weapon systems to the D.O.D.” Two…

Haye KestelooNov 10

White House

UK Sends RAF Counter-Drone Specialists To Belgium As Mystery Aircraft Trigger NATO Response But Are They Actually Drones?

Britain is deploying Royal Air Force counter-drone specialists to Belgium after a week of mysterious aircraft sightings shut down major airports and triggered shoot-down authorizations at military bases—but some of the “drones” may have been helicopters and airplanes misidentified by observers. UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced the deployment today following an urgent request from…

Haye KestelooNov 9

NASA

French Fishing Nets Become Anti-Drone Barriers Protecting Ukraine From Russian FPV Attacks

Discarded fishing nets from Sweden and France’s Brittany coast are finding new purpose on Ukraine’s frontlines, where they’re being deployed as low-tech anti-drone barriers against Russian attack drones. The Breton charity Kernic Solidarités has delivered 280 kilometers (174 miles) of horsehair netting to Ukraine—transforming what would be 800 tons of annual waste into frontline protection…

Haye KestelooNov 8

NASA

Belgium Mobilizes German Counter-Drone Support and Tightens Registration After Airport Shutdowns

Belgium is deploying German military counter-drone systems and strengthening drone registration enforcement after a wave of unidentified aircraft forced multiple airport closures and exposed critical gaps in European airspace security. The emergency response follows disruptions at Brussels Airport, Liège Airport, and repeated incursions over military bases housing NATO assets. Germany announced Th

Haye KestelooNov 7

US Government

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