U.S. and international manufacturers invited to compete, with up to $250 million more budgeted for development and scaled production The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has launched a $100 million competition to identify low-cost intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that can be produced and deployed at scale. The Low Cost ISR (LC-ISR) Challenge opened … [Read more...] about DIU Launches $100 Million Challenge for Low-Cost ISR Aircraft
US drone industry
Finding the Missing Piece of America’s Drone Supply Chain
Inside SES.AI, advanced battery chemistry, AI-driven materials discovery and global manufacturing illustrate the challenge of building the industrial base beneath America’s growing drone market. On the factory floor at SES.AI's Massachusetts facility, the challenge of building a secure U.S. drone supply chain becomes tangible. Batteries are being developed for applications … [Read more...] about Finding the Missing Piece of America’s Drone Supply Chain
Autel Challenges FCC Covered List Decision, Distances Itself from DJI
Drone maker argues FCC relied on broad assumptions instead of company-specific analysis In a sharply worded filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), drone manufacturer Autel Robotics is pushing back against the agency’s decision to place its products on the FCC’s Covered List. The filing makes one point especially clear: Autel does not want to be treated as … [Read more...] about Autel Challenges FCC Covered List Decision, Distances Itself from DJI
Industrial Policy and Wright’s Law: A New Perspective on Building the U.S. Drone Industry
At the AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 conference this week, Red Cat Holdings executive Brendan Stewart delivered one of the more historically grounded and economically detailed discussions of the event, arguing that rebuilding the U.S. drone industry will require long-term industrial policy, manufacturing scale, and patience. Stewart, Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Government … [Read more...] about Industrial Policy and Wright’s Law: A New Perspective on Building the U.S. Drone Industry
AgEagle Rebrands as EagleNXT: Interview with the CEO
AgEagle adopts name change, readies for changes in ag drone markets By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill In order to portray the company’s growth beyond the agricultural drone markets it currently serves, AgEagle Aerial Systems is rebranding itself as EagleNXT. In a statement, the company said the rebrand reflects EagleNXT’s mission to produce drones, sensors, and … [Read more...] about AgEagle Rebrands as EagleNXT: Interview with the CEO
