By Dronelife Features Editor Jim Magill The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department has continued to expand its current drones as first responders (DFR) program, despite concerns that its use of drones and equipment made by Chinese company DJI could raise security issues. In January Chief Stacey Graves Police created a specialized DFR unit, with four officers who are … [Read more...] about Kansas City Police Move Forward With DJI For DFR Program Expansion
drone operations
AirData Expands Global Reach With Eight-Language Platform Translation
AirData, a drone fleet data management platform serving commercial, public safety, and government operators, announced on January 27, 2026, that its platform is now available in eight languages. The expanded language support—English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Hebrew—is now live across both the web application and mobile apps. The platform … [Read more...] about AirData Expands Global Reach With Eight-Language Platform Translation
Windracers ULTRA Achieves 2,000km Range with Heavy-Lift Payload Capability
British drone manufacturer Windracers has announced that its ULTRA heavy-lift drone can now fly up to 2,000km in a single flight while carrying a 200kg payload—a capability that positions the aircraft among the world's most advanced long-endurance unmanned aerial systems. The announcement came at Windracers LAUNCH 2026 in London, where CEO Simon Muderack revealed the expanded … [Read more...] about Windracers ULTRA Achieves 2,000km Range with Heavy-Lift Payload Capability
Meteodrones Provide New Data to National Weather Service
Switzerland-based meteorology data company Meteomatics has announced a partnership with NOAA's National Mesonet Program (NMP) to integrate operational weather drone data into National Weather Service forecasts—marking the first time drone-collected observations will feed directly into U.S. weather forecasting operations. Meteodrones Fill Critical Data Gaps The Meteodrones … [Read more...] about Meteodrones Provide New Data to National Weather Service
Pendleton UAS Range Partners With Strativ Group for Drone Pro Recruitment
Pendleton UAS Range (PUR) has announced a strategic partnership with Strativ Group, a global recruitment firm specializing in aerospace and advanced technologies. The collaboration aims to provide PUR customers with access to specialized talent across multiple disciplines critical to unmanned aviation operations. Recruitment Solutions for UAS and Aerospace Operations Under … [Read more...] about Pendleton UAS Range Partners With Strativ Group for Drone Pro Recruitment
