ACSL’s SOTEN drone lands in Canada this June through Draganfly

As governments and enterprise customers across North America continue searching for alternatives to Chinese-made drones, Canadian drone company Draganfly and Japanese drone maker ACSL are teaming up to bring a new NDAA-compliant drone option to Canada.

The two companies have announced an exclusive distribution agreement that will make ACSL’s SOTEN drone available across Canada beginning in June 2026 through Draganfly. But the partnership goes beyond simple distribution. The companies are also integrating their technologies to allow interoperability between their drone systems, cameras, and controllers.

The move comes at a time when governments and public safety agencies in both the US and Canada are increasingly prioritizing secure drone platforms amid growing scrutiny of Chinese drone manufacturers like DJI. In the United States, restrictions surrounding Chinese drone technology continue to tighten, with lawmakers and federal agencies pushing for more NDAA-compliant alternatives for government and enterprise operations.

That growing demand has created opportunities for companies like ACSL, which has already seen adoption of its SOTEN platform in the US market. The compact drone is designed for enterprise and public safety operations and features a secure-by-design architecture, swappable payloads, and portable deployment capabilities.

Under the new partnership, Canadian customers will gain access to the SOTEN platform through Draganfly’s established dealer and enterprise network. The drone will complement Draganfly’s existing lineup, which includes larger platforms like the Apex, Commander 3XL, and Heavy Lift drones designed for payloads ranging from 6.6 pounds to more than 100 pounds.

One of the more interesting aspects of the collaboration is the cross-platform integration both companies are building. Certain Draganfly drones, including the Apex and Commander 3XL, will become compatible with ACSL’s swappable camera payloads and the company’s TAITEN smart controller. That means operators could potentially use a single control ecosystem across multiple aircraft platforms depending on mission requirements.

The SOTEN itself supports four camera configurations, including a 20MP one-inch sensor camera with a mechanical shutter, a dual thermal-optical camera system, a multispectral sensor, and an optical zoom camera. Meanwhile, the TAITEN controller includes a bright 7-inch display, rugged IP54-rated construction, and customizable controls aimed at professional operators working in demanding environments.

ACSL CEO Cynthia Huang said the company has already seen strong customer adoption in the US and believes the Canadian market is ready for more secure and interoperable drone solutions.

Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell added that ACSL stood out as the best fit for integrating with Draganfly’s OEM product line, helping customers build “scalable, future-ready drone programs.”

The partnership also reflects a broader shift happening in the North American drone industry. Instead of relying on a single manufacturer ecosystem, enterprise customers are increasingly looking for interoperable platforms that can adapt to changing regulations, security requirements, and mission needs.

Canada’s commercial drone market is projected to reach nearly $10 billion by 2030, according to the companies, and partnerships like this could play a major role in shaping which manufacturers emerge as leaders in the secure drone space over the next several years.

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