dronelife

Union Minister Kamlesh Paswan Launches Manufacturing Hub, 300 Training Centers, and DGCA-Certified Skill Program A Major Milestone for India’s Drone Ecosystem Garuda Aerospace marked a significant milestone in India’s drone development with the launch of its new Agri-Drone Indigenization Facility in Chennai. The inauguration was led by Shri Kamlesh Paswan, Hon’ble Union Minister of State […] The post Garuda Aerospace Opens India’s First Agri-Drone Indigenization Facility appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Japan Drone Show Creativity Awards Highlight Innovation, Culture, and Social Impact Across the Country by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association. The Japan Drone Show Society recently announced the conclusion of Japan’s first drone show contest, an important step for the development […] The post RedCliff Dominates Japan’s First National Drone Show Contest appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Trump order aims to promote commercial drone exports By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill While U.S. drone manufacturers are hopeful that a presidential executive order could make it easier for them to sell their products abroad, a number of challenges remain to be overcome before the country becomes a leading exporter of non-military UAVs. The […] The post Explained: What Trump’s Executive Orders on Drones Mean for U.S. Exports appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

(News and commentary.) Europe stands at a critical juncture in defense technology development, with two massive initiatives promising to reshape the continent’s military capabilities. The €800 billion Readiness 2030 plan and the €7.953 billion European Defence Fund (EDF) represent unprecedented investments in European defense autonomy. But will these programs successfully catalyze growth in Europe’s nascent […] The post Will Readiness 2030 and the European Defence Fund Fuel European Drone Industry Growth? appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

New European manufacturing and sales hub to enhance local production and meet growing demand DroneShield Invests in European Growth Australian counter-drone technology company DroneShield has announced a major expansion into Europe. The company will establish its first overseas manufacturing and assembly facility to support growing demand and align with regional defense initiatives like the ReArm […] The post DroneShield Expands into Europe to Support Regional Defense Goals appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Australian firm introduces patented modular vertipad to address FAA safety concerns and battery fire risks Skyportz, a global leader in vertiport design and research, has announced that it will offer free access to its patented modular vertipad design to U.S. companies participating in the White House’s new eVTOL pilot initiative. The offer is intended to […] The post Skyportz Offers Free Vertipad Licenses to U.S. Companies Supporting White House eVTOL Initiative appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Industry leaders to share real-world drone successes and strategies at September event in Las Vegas Organizers of Commercial UAV Expo have announced the keynote lineup for the 2025 conference, taking place September 2–4 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. The opening keynote, scheduled for Wednesday, September 3, will feature industry experts discussing the value of […] The post Commercial UAV Expo 2025 Keynotes: It’s All About the ROI appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Patent strengthens support for BVLOS drone operations and expands potential for drone superhighways worldwide Altitude Angel Secures U.S. Patent for ARROW Altitude Angel, a UK-based provider of Unified Traffic Management (UTM) technology, has received a United States patent for its ARROW ground-based detect-and-avoid (DAA) system. ARROW is a key innovation behind the UK’s first drone […] The post Altitude Angel Awarded U.S. Patent for Groundbreaking ARROW Technology appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

New flagship features high payload capacity, advanced sensors, and robust video transmission DJI has officially launched its new enterprise drone, the Matrice 400, introducing a platform designed for long-endurance missions, intelligent obstacle sensing, and heavy payload support. With a flight time of up to 59 minutes and a payload capacity of 6 kg, the Matrice […] The post DJI Launches Matrice 400 Enterprise Drone with 59-Minute Flight Time appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Bryan Bedford, the longtime CEO of Republic Airways, is set to appear before the Senate Commerce Committee on June 11 as President Donald Trump’s nominee for Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The hearing comes at a pivotal moment for U.S. aviation, following the deadliest domestic air disaster in over two decades and amid […] The post Bryan Bedford Faces Senate Scrutiny as Trump’s FAA Nominee appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Drone leaders from across Europe meet in Zadar to expand collaboration and unify airspace integration efforts The Joint European Drone Association (JEDA) gathered representatives from across Europe’s drone industry on June 6 for its Annual General Assembly in Zadar, Croatia. The event welcomed national drone associations from over 15 countries, including Ireland, Austria, Sweden, and […] The post JEDA Hosts Annual General Assembly in Croatia appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

AFWERX funding propels mass production of long-range, heavy-lift uncrewed aircraft Skyways to Transition from Prototype to Full Production Skyways, an Austin-based manufacturer of long-range autonomous cargo drones, has secured a $37 million contract from the U.S. Air Force’s innovation unit, AFWERX. The funding will help Skyways move its V3 cargo drone from prototype to full-rate […] The post Skyways Lands $37M USAF Contract to Scale Autonomous Cargo Drones appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Market Reaction: eVTOL Stocks Surge President Trump’s recently signed executive order, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” has energized the urban air mobility sector, sending the stocks of major eVTOL companies such as Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Eve Holding, Blade Air Mobility, and others sharply higher in the days following its release. The order’s clear intent is […] The post Executive Order Lifts eVTOL Stocks, Tackles Regulatory Barriers, but Leaves Technical Challenges appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

What’s Inside Trump’s Drone Executive Orders On June 6, 2025, President Donald Trump signed two significant executive orders addressing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), marking a pivotal moment for the commercial drone industry and national airspace security. The orders, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” and “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” establish an ambitious framework for expanding drone operations […] The post Trump’s Drone Executive Orders: Beyond the Fact Sheets appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

President Donald J. Trump issued two major Executive Orders today, June 6, 2025, as part of a broader set of actions to strengthen American leadership in drone technology and enhance the security of national airspace. These measures, detailed in official White House fact sheets, aim to accelerate innovation, clarify regulatory authority, and reinforce U.S. competitiveness […] The post Trump Issues Executive Orders on Drones appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Arlington PD Drone As First Responder program begins with a bang By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Police departments across the U.S. are initiating Drones as First Responders (DFR) programs for a number of reasons: to search for missing persons, to get a bird’s eye view of an accident scene or to track suspects fleeing […] The post From Fireworks to First Response: How Arlington PD Built a Smarter Drone Program appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

New partnership aims to bring drone delivery to millions of U.S. households in major metro areas Walmart and drone delivery company Wing have announced what they describe as the world’s largest drone delivery expansion. Over the next year, the service will become available at 100 additional Walmart Supercenters across key U.S. metro areas. By this […] The post Walmart and Wing Announce Major Drone Delivery Expansion appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, joined by China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Congressmen Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Rob Wittman (R-VA), has reintroduced the Drones for First Responders (DFR) Act. (Read the full text of the bill here.) The legislation is designed to strengthen the U.S. drone industry, reduce reliance on Chinese-manufactured drones, and enhance […] The post Congresswoman Elise Stefanik Reintroduces Drones for First Responders Act appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

SimActive and Applanix Experts to Discuss the Role of High-Accuracy Positioning in Aerial Mapping Register for the Webinar:Thursday, June 12 | Two Live Sessions: 10 AM CET and 10 AM PSTRegister here SimActive will host a live interview on Thursday, June 12, bringing together two industry experts to explore the impact of advanced positioning systems […] The post Does Better Positioning Really Improve Mapping Accuracy? appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

New collaboration highlights the growing ROI of drone programs in remote and regulated environment Drone-Enabled Environmental Sampling Launches in Michigan SampleServe, a Michigan-based company known for digital environmental sampling tools, has announced a new partnership with drone logistics firm blueflite. Together, the companies aim to improve water and sediment sampling by integrating drone automation with […] The post SampleServe and blueflite Partner on Drone-Based Water Sampling Solution appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

First drone deployment of FEST® battery tech could double flight range and support growing U.S. demand for secure supply chain Factorial Enters Drone Sector with First Solid-State Battery Shipment Factorial Energy, a U.S.-based leader in solid-state battery technology, has announced its first shipment of FEST® lithium-metal battery cells for drone use. The recipient is Avidrone […] The post Factorial Energy Ships Solid-State Batteries to Avidrone: A New Chapter in Drone Power appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

In a hearing before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Aviation, Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), outlined critical updates and challenges in implementing the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. His testimony emphasized the urgent need for regulatory clarity, workforce development, and infrastructure modernization to secure U.S. leadership […] The post Michael Robbins Testifies Before Congress on FAA Reauthorization Progress and Challenges appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has announced two significant initiatives: the $20 million Project G.I. Challenge to fast-track next-generation UAS solutions, and a new framework inviting third-party assessors to support Blue UAS NDAA compliance. While these developments are designed to modernize and accelerate secure drone adoption for defense, they also highlight ongoing discussion about the […] The post DIU’s Dual Announcements: Project G.I. Challenge and Blue UAS Overhaul Reflect Shifting Landscape for Trusted Drone Certification appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Bridger Photonics expands methane detection to the offshore By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill A company that has pioneered the use of LiDAR-based sensors mounted on fixed-wing aircraft to detect methane emissions emanating from oil and gas facilities on the ground has turned to the use of drones to achieve the same mission for offshore […] The post Bridger Photonics Takes Methane Detection Offshore with Drone-Based LiDAR appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Saildrone Surveyor maps 4,500 km of seabed, marking a major shift in ocean survey capabilities In a landmark achievement for maritime technology, Saildrone and Meta have successfully completed a first-of-its-kind deep-water cable route survey using an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV). The 26-day mission took place in the North Atlantic during June and July 2024, using […] The post Saildrone and Meta Complete First Autonomous Deep-Ocean Cable Route Survey appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article