The skies are staying open for DJI drones in the US. The world’s leading civilian drone manufacturer has avoided an immediate ban in the American market since the Countering CCP Drones Act was left out of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) approved by Congress this week.

A flurry of reports of unidentified drones buzzing above US cities has sparked a mix of intrigue and concern. In states like New Jersey, where mysterious lights in the sky have been described as drones, some sightings have turned out to be ordinary aircraft. Despite these reassurances, the rise of drone technology has left many residents wondering how to monitor the airspace around their homes and businesses.

Geopolitical tensions are redefining global markets, with drones emerging as a focal point of strategic competition. Manufacturers in China have begun limiting the export of key drone components to the US and Europe, signaling a significant shift in global supply chains. These changes could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the drone industry at large.

Tech giant DJI has released an important firmware update for its flagship drone mapping and surveying tool, the Zenmuse L2 payload. Firmware v04.00.1001 packs in several user-centric improvements.

The United States National Drone Association (USNDA) has thrown its support behind the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), lauding provisions aimed at weakening China’s grip on the US drone market while strengthening domestic manufacturing. Representing a coalition of national security and defense professionals, the USNDA is a non-profit organization advocating for the safe and innovative use of drones in national security, public safety, and other critical sectors.

The release of the final text of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025 has sparked heated debate, especially concerning provisions targeting Chinese drone manufacturers, including DJI and Autel Robotics.

The long-anticipated final text of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025 has been released, setting the stage for a potential ban on Chinese-manufactured drones. Negotiated between House and Senate lawmakers, the legislation incorporates the provisions of the Countering CCP Drones Act — targeting not just drone makers DJI and Autel Robotics, but also their subsidiaries, affiliates, and licensors.

Teledyne FLIR has announced an exciting new partnership with Gremsy, integrating its Boson radiometric thermal camera module into Gremsy’s gimbaled Vio F1 drone payload. This advanced, lightweight electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payload is designed to tackle a range of critical missions, from infrastructure inspection to disaster relief, firefighting, search and rescue (SAR), and public safety operations.

Spexi, a Canada-based drone imagery powerhouse, has closed a $11.5 million Series A funding round led by Blockchange Ventures. With this injection of capital, Spexi plans to rope in more pilots to capture and deliver data-rich, ultra-high-resolution drone imagery to both the public and private sectors.

DJI FlightHub 2 recently received a powerful upgrade, introducing version 10.1.8 with a host of innovative features designed to streamline drone operations. At the forefront of this update is the ability to livestream multiple drone feeds simultaneously, a game-changing enhancement for teams managing multiple DJI Dock units.

As rogue drone incidents escalate worldwide, D-Fend Solutions is stepping up to meet the challenge with cutting-edge technology and significant financial backing. The counter-drone specialist has announced a $31 million investment round led by Israel Growth Partners (IGP), alongside existing investor Vertex Ventures and new contributor Vertex Growth.

Autel Robotics says its popular EVO Nano and EVO Lite series drones have achieved critical European certifications — C0 and C1, respectively — aligning with the European Drone Regulation (EU) 2019/945. But what do these certifications mean for drone enthusiasts, and why are they a big deal? Let’s break it down.

AVSS made history in 2022 by becoming the first company globally to achieve ISO 21384-3 certification for uncrewed drones. Two years later, its pioneering efforts continue to set the standard for drone safety, influencing regulatory frameworks and inspiring advancements in the rapidly growing industry.

Remote ID technology provider Dronetag is offering an incredible Black Friday promotion on its best-selling Dronetag Beacon. For two weeks only, the Dronetag Beacon is available for just $149 — over 30% off its regular price.

Preformed Line Products (PLP), an Ohio-based critical infrastructure solution provider, has unveiled a new product that could transform how utilities and contractors maintain power lines. The Raptor Clamp Drone Kit, a self-service kit for installing bird diverters, is designed to work seamlessly with popular DJI drones including the Matrice 300 (M300) and M350 RTK.

Tech giant DJI has expanded its agricultural lineup by launching three new drones in the Agras series ⁠— T100, T70, and T70P ⁠— exclusively in China. The flagship T100 is touted as DJI Agriculture’s most efficient drone to date, equipped with groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) capabilities. Meanwhile, the T70 series balances cost-effectiveness with robust features, lowering the entry barrier for agricultural drone users.

Tech giant DJI has achieved an important milestone with its FlyCart 30 drone. The heavy-duty drone has officially received the Type Certificate (TC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, becoming the country’s first medium-sized multi-rotor transport drone to pass this rigorous certification process.

DJI has released an exciting firmware update for its advanced Zenmuse L2 aerial LiDAR payload, revolutionizing its performance for precision mapping and utility inspections. This payload, designed for DJI’s flagship Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK drones, offers significant advancements in data capture and operational efficiency, solidifying its place as a game-changer in aerial surveying.

In a note to customers made public through the company’s blog, Skydio CEO Adam Bry announced the need to ration batteries in the wake of Chinese sanctions he says are focused on “eliminating the leading American drone company and deepening the world’s dependence on Chinese drone suppliers.”