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New drone hub in Kurnool aims to create jobs, attract global investment, and build India’s leadership in drone tech Garuda Aerospace Invests in Future of Drones with Andhra Pradesh Drone City Garuda Aerospace has committed INR 100 crore (approximately USD 12 million) to the development of the Andhra Pradesh Drone City in Kurnool. CEO Agnishwar… Read more: Garuda Aerospace and Andhra Pradesh Partner to Launch Indian Drone City

Industry stakeholders highlight need for federal office, incentives, and training programs to support U.S. innovation in robotics and AI American robotics companies are calling for a national robotics strategy to ensure the United States remains competitive in the rapidly advancing global robotics industry, according to a recently published Associated Press article. Executives from major robotics… Read more: U.S. Robotics Leaders Call for National Strategy Amid Rising Global Competition

New company builds on Swoop’s legacy with open platform strategy and plans for continued growth Kite Aerospace Pty Ltd (Kite Aero), a newly launched company in uncrewed aviation, has announced the successful acquisition of key assets from Swoop Aero. The deal includes the Kite drone and Swoop’s well-known drone operations software platform. The acquisition ensures… Read more: Kite Aero Acquires Swoop Aero Assets, Aims to Expand Global Drone Logistics

The Ukrainian government has recently made significant strides in expanding its drone capabilities, as evidenced by two major announcements from official sources. Bird of Prey Drone System Approved for Combat On March 26, 2025, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced the approval of the domestically produced Bird of Prey unmanned aviation system for combat operations. This system,… Read more: Ukraine Expands Drone Capabilities with New Approvals and Ambitious Procurement Plans

AFWERX program backs new technology for emergency teams and military wildfire efforts Picogrid and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Mission Innovation X (MIx) have been awarded a $1.75 million contract through the U.S. Department of the Air Force’s innovation program, AFWERX. The goal of the project is to develop new ways to help emergency… Read more: Picogrid and MIT MIx Awarded $1.75M to Support Wildfire Response

New Transport Canada authorization expands BVLOS drone missions in low-density areas at night Volatus Aerospace has received a major approval from Transport Canada. The company can now conduct long-distance drone operations at night across Canada. These flights can take place in low-density areas, where fewer than 1,000 people live per square kilometer, and below 400… Read more: Volatus Aerospace Approved for Nighttime Long-Distance Drone Flights Across Canada

New agreement with KISMEC connects certified drone operators to agriculture industry opportunities On March 25, 2025, Terra Drone Corporation announced that its Malaysian subsidiary, Terra Drone Agri, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kumpulan Inovasi dan Sumber Manusia untuk Pendidikan (KISMEC). KISMEC is a Malaysian vocational training institution focused on workforce development. This… Read more: Terra Drone Agri Partners with Malaysian Training Center to Support Drone Pilot Jobs

SPH Engineering removes barriers with powerful new version of its flight planning software—available to all by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Riga, Latvia-based UAV software and integration services provider SPH Engineering recently announced the launch of UgCS Open, a free version of its flight planning software. Providing many of the same 3D pathing, terrain-aware… Read more: UgCS Open Makes Pro Drone Planning Free and Easy

Join us on Tuesday, April 1, at 3:00 PM EST for the next episode of the Public Safety Drone Review, a free, live event presented by DRONERESPONDERS in collaboration with DRONELIFE. This month’s guest is Steven Katz, Vice President at Flying Lion, Inc., a leader in providing Drone as First Responder (DFR) and UAS support… Read more: Upcoming Public Safety Drone Review Highlights Remote Training and Real-World Operations with Flying Lion’s Steven Katz

Small drones biggest development in combat since nuclear weapons By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Small, first-person view (FPV) drones are rapidly becoming the most significant weapon of modern warfare, the CEO of a technology-oriented defense contractor said in an interview. Ryan Gury, CEO of Performance Drone Works (PDW), said the widespread and effective use… Read more: The New King of Combat: How Small FPV Drones Are Reshaping Modern Warfare

New patent revealed at Avalon Airshow promises safer, space-saving vertiport infrastructure for Advanced Air Mobility, with research showing up to 250% faster energy dissipation than flat tarmac. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab Australian vertiport developer Skyportz recently unveiled the patent for their innovative anti-downwash and outwash drone vertipad design at the Avalon International… Read more: Skyportz Unveils Anti-Downwash Vertipad Design to Shrink Urban Vertiport Footprints

Recent Funding Rounds Highlight Growing Investor Interest in Defense-Oriented Drone Technologies The drone industry is experiencing a significant shift in funding priorities, with military and defense applications attracting substantial investments. Announced today, Israel’s SpearUAV successful funding round, led by Deep Insight venture fund, comes at a time when the global military drone market is projected… Read more: Drone Industry Funding Shifts: Military Applications Take Center Stage

Pilot project in Andhra Pradesh surveys over 1,100 hectares to monitor tree health and estimate fruit production 3F Oil Palm Pvt Ltd has completed a major drone survey in Ayyavaram Village, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. This pilot project marks a key step in using drone technology to support palm oil farmers across India. Over… Read more: 3F Oil Palm Uses Drones to Improve Palm Plantation Yields in India

Autel Robotics has announced updates to its Dragonfish series of drones in 2025, refining the platform to better serve industrial and professional users. The Dragonfish series, known for its tilt-rotor design and adaptability, continues to address the evolving needs of industries such as public safety, infrastructure inspection, and environmental monitoring. Streamlined Product Line and Functional… Read more: Updates to the Autel Dragonfish Platform: Enhanced Features for Industrial Applications

Czech Manufacturer Becomes First to Secure Military and Civilian Clearance for Medium-Sized UAV Primoco UAV Sets Industry Milestone Primoco UAV SE, based in Prague, has achieved a major breakthrough in the drone industry. The company announced that its One 150 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is now the first in the world to receive both NATO… Read more: Primoco UAV One 150 Achieves Dual NATO and EASA Certifications

New partnership aims to scale production of hydrogen-powered drones and strengthen the U.S. defense supply chain A Strategic Push for U.S. Manufacturing Strength Mach Industries, a defense technology company based in Huntington Beach, California, has announced a new partnership with HevenDrones, a leading developer of hydrogen-powered drones. The companies aim to expand U.S.-based manufacturing of… Read more: Mach Industries and HevenDrones Partner to Boost U.S. Drone Manufacturing

News and Commentary.  U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s recent comments have reignited hopes for long-awaited regulations enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. During a March 14 visit to Amazon’s Prime Air facility in Seattle, Duffy emphasized the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) intent to propose rules expanding drone use for deliveries and other… Read more: FAA Signals Momentum for BVLOS Rulemaking: What It Means for Commercial Drone Applications

SwiftDecoder Software Enhances Accuracy and Efficiency in Supply Chain Management Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) has announced that its SwiftDecoder barcode-decoding software will be integrated into Corvus Robotics’ autonomous inventory drones. This partnership aims to enhance inventory tracking and case counting in warehouses and distribution centers (DCs), improving stock visibility while reducing labor costs. Enhancing Automation in… Read more: Honeywell and Corvus Robotics Partner to Automate Warehouse Inventory Tracking

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has announced significant updates to its Blue UAS List and Framework following a three-day flight demonstration challenge at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms. The event, held in February 2025, marks the first of what is intended to be an annual competitive event to update capabilities on the… Read more: Defense Innovation Unit Expands Blue UAS List with New Platforms and Capabilities

Flock Safety, the Atlanta-based public safety technology leader, has announced a $275 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, elevating its valuation to $7.5 billion. The financing, supported by Greenoaks Capital, Bedrock Capital, and others, follows a year of rapid growth—crossing $300 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and expanding partnerships with 4,800 law enforcement… Read more: Flock Safety Secures $275M Funding, Accelerates Drone Expansion