Drone News Update

• Drone News: DJI Loses Lawsuit, Freefly's Ember FPV, DJI Unveils Mavic 3TA, Ohio Pushes Drone Bill

  Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week; DJI loses lawsuit against the Pentagon, DJI unveils new Mavic 3 Thermal Advanced, Freely releases the Ember FPV, and an Ohio bill to ban foreign made drones. Let's get to it.First up, DJI has lost its lawsuit challenging the Pentagon's "Chinese Military Company" designation. On September 26th, a U.S. District Judge rejected DJI’s challenge, upholding the national security threat classification. The ruling leaves DJI facing major business restrictions and the very real possibility of an automatic product ban.This is because its technology has "substantial theoretical and actual military application," regardless of DJI's own policies against military use. DJI argued that its founder and early investors control 88% of the stock and over 99% of voting rights, but the judge ruled that the ownership structure was "difficult to discern."This is a massive disruption, considering DJI accounts for over 76% of registered drones in the U.S. For public safety agencies, the costs are staggering. The Department of Interior documented price increases from $2,600 to over $15,000 per unit when switching from DJI to approved domestic drones.The biggest threat, however, is a looming deadline. The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act mandates a security review by December 23, 2025. If no federal agency completes this review, DJI will automatically be added to the FCC's Covered List.In some new product news, DJI has quietly launched the Mavic 3TA, an advanced thermal version of its Mavic 3 Enterprise series. This seems to be an iterative update focused on boosting real-world utility for professionals in search and rescue, public safety, and inspections.The Mavic 3TA features an uncooled VOx microbolometer with an 8-micrometer pixel pitch. This smaller pixel pitch should provide finer detail and more accurate temperature readings. The thermal lens also has a longer 60-millimeter equivalent focal length, compared to the 40-millimeter on the 3T. The temperature measurement range is still robust, from -20 to 500 degrees Celsius.It keeps the same compact, foldable design, weighing 920 grams. It has a 45-minute flight time, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and an IP54 weather resistance rating. The visual cameras are the same as the 3T, with a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera using a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with a 56x hybrid zoom.Next up, Freefly released the Ember FPV drone, a 500g FPV drone with a high-speed camera on it. By high speed, I mean somewhere between 600 and 3000 fps. While specs aren’t yet public on this guy, it looks to be a huge upgrade from the exiting cinelifters we see carry larger cameras.There’s also a new bill in Ohio this week, which would ban drones made by a foreign adversary. Of course, AUVSI is in support of stripping public safety agencies from using the best possible equipment, as they’ve pushed for in other states. If you haven’t yet written your comment for Part 108, time is running out. You have until Monday at 11:59PM ET to get your comments in. It’s extremely important that you voice your opinions.Like every week, we’ll discuss these stories in depth and share our opinions on Post Flight in the premium community. We’ll see you there and we’ll see you on Monday for the live! https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb180https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/sb180/00_IN/pdf/https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7378982847786823682/?originTrackingId=WoVXzy9%2B7TVAhS3oVQkgHA%3D%3Dhttps://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2025-1908-0023/commenthttps://dronexl.co/2025/09/29/dji-unveils-mavic-3ta-enterprise-drone-with-upgraded-thermal-tech/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/26/dji-loses-pentagon-lawsuit/

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• Drone News: Part 108 NPRM Updates, Skydio's New Drones, $130M for Auterion, Drone Collision Update

  Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: Part 108 NPRM updates, Skydio unveils two new drones for specialized operations, Auterion secures a massive $130 million in funding, and an update to the story about the Super Scooper mid-air collision. Let's get to it.First, let's talk about some Part 108 NPRM stuff. The deadline is approaching for submitting your comment. Please take the time to write a comment about how this would affect your ability to fly BVLOS. There are currently 800 comments ONLY. There were over 50,000 comments on the Remote ID NPRM.DJI sounded the alarm this week on the NPRM. The company is warning that the rules, as they’re currently written, could effectively ground the vast majority of drones being used today, not just DJIs, and sideline thousands of skilled pilots. While everyone agrees we need a clear path forward for BVLOS, DJI points out some fundamental problems in the draft.If you haven’t yet written your comment for Part 108, time is running out. All comments must be submitted by October 6th, 2025.Next up, American drone manufacturer Skydio is expanding its lineup with two new specialized drones. The Skydio R10 is designed for tactical indoor situations where you wouldn't want to send a person. It’s a compact, 10-by-10-inch quadcopter that weighs 1.7 pounds and has built-in blade guards for navigating tight and/or dangerous spaces. It offers features for first responders, including onboard lighting, a two-way audio system to communicate with suspects or victims, and Skydio’s obstacle avoidance for flying in complete darkness. The R10 is slated for early access this autumn.Then there’s the F10, which is built for speed and endurance. This is a fixed-wing drone that can hit speeds of over 80 miles per hour and stay airborne for more than 90 minutes. This is a good fit for large-scale BVLOS missions like monitoring wildfires or conducting long search and rescue operations. The F10 is scheduled for release in the first half of 2026. Both of these drones also integrate into the X10 ecosystem, using the same software, controllers, and workflows. It’ll be interesting to see if we can get our hands on these to put them to the test. Next up, Auterion has secured a massive $130 million in Series B funding to scale its defense software. The company, which began with open-source drone software, has evolved into a major defense contractor. They're creating an operating system for autonomous systems across air, land, and sea. According to reports, their technology is already being used on the battlefield in Ukraine, where they are delivering tens of thousands of AI "strike kits" under a Pentagon contract. This new funding will help Auterion expand its work on AI-enabled software for large-scale, coordinated drone operations. And finally, an update to last week’s story about the drone that hit the firefighting airplane in LA earlier this year. We found out that Peter Akemann is facing jail time and a staggering $156,000 fine after crashing his DJI Mini 3 Pro into a firefighting airplane. The pilot pleaded guilty to unsafe drone operation and was sentenced to 14 days in prison, 30 days of home detention, 150 hours of community service, and a total fine of $156,000. And in post-flight this week, our show on the premium community where we share our opinions, we’ll cover these stories and we’ll talk about the DJI Mini 5 weight-gate. We’ll see you there! https://dronexl.co/2025/09/19/dji-warns-faa-bvlos-rules-ground-drones/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/23/gamer-crashes-dji-mini-plane-fine-jail/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/19/skydio-unveils-new-drones-for-indoor/https://dronelife.com/2025/09/23/auterion-secures-130-million-series-b-to-scale-defense-software/

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• Drone News: DJI Announces Mini 5 Pro, CA Drone Pilot Sentenced, SAR Drone Shot During Flight

  Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. DJI has announced the new Mini 5 Pro, a drone pilot has been sentenced for colliding with a firefighting aircraft, and a search-and-rescue drone was shot in Maine. Let's get to it.First, DJI has unveiled the Mini 5 Pro, and the specs are pretty jaw-dropping for a sub-250-gram drone. The headline feature is a 50-megapixel, 1-inch CMOS sensor. This is something pilots have been requesting for years. The camera can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second in HDR and even does 4K slow-motion at 120 frames per second. For the pros, it supports 10-bit D-Log M and HLG color profiles, with a max ISO of 12,800. The gimbal also got a major upgrade, with a 225-degree roll rotation and true vertical shooting. For safety, DJI is introducing what they call "Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing," which uses a forward-facing LiDAR and multiple vision sensors for better performance in low light. Flight time is rated at 36 minutes with the standard battery, and an optional Intelligent Flight Battery Plus can supposedly push that to 52 minutes! Now for the big catch: the Mini 5 Pro will NOT be officially available in the US market through DJI's store. Other retailers may carry it, but it won’t be available through the DJI store. Next up, a drone pilot in California has been sentenced for a mid-air collision with a firefighting airplane. Peter Akemann, a 57-year-old from Culver City, pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor for the unsafe operation of a drone. This incident happened back in January 2025, when he flew his drone into the path of a "Super Scooper" firefighting aircraft that was battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. The drone struck the aircraft's wing, causing a 3-by-6-inch hole and forcing the plane to be grounded for repairs. The cost of those repairs? A whopping $65,169.As part of his plea agreement, Akemann has been ordered to pay full restitution to the Quebec government, which owned the plane, and to the repair company. He also has to complete 150 hours of community service supporting wildfire relief efforts. This is a stark reminder for everyone: flying in a Temporary Flight Restriction, especially over an emergency scene, is incredibly dangerous and illegal. In our final story, a real-world drones-for-good story took a bad turn in Maine. A commercial drone operated by 2A Tac Air Services was shot while it was being used to search for two missing dogs. The operator, Rob Russell, was flying the drone at an altitude of 366 feet in Corinth, Maine, when he received a warning. Upon inspection, he found a bullet hole straight through the M30’s front sensors. Russell, who uses his fleet of drones for SAR missions across New England, said the damage will cost thousands to repair and takes a critical tool out of service. This incident is now under federal investigation. It’s important for everyone to understand that shooting at a drone is a federal offense, legally equivalent to shooting at a manned aircraft. On this topic, the FAA is proposing in the new Part 108 NPRM to add language that would protect remote pilots and their Visual observers from harassment and distraction. This is a welcome addition.It’s incredibly important to make your voice heard on the issues with the Part 108 NPRM. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out our latest video on our comment for Part 108. Spoiler alert, part 108 as proposed would NOT include current part 107 or recreational pilot. We have a solution to that. Be sure to watch that video next and get your comment submitted before October 6th, 2025! And lastly, if you like our proposal to fix the NPRM, be sure to fill out our form so we can include you and your company as supporters in our joint comment to the FAA.

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• Drone News: Mini 5 Pro leaks, DOC Drone Regulations on Trade and Importation, 30-mile Drone Delivery

  https://hub.pilotinstitute.com/pilot-institute-mugWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. DJI Mini 5 Pro leaks and a possible release date, Department of Commerce to release regulations around trade and importation of drones, and finally, a 30-mile medical delivery by drone in Kansas.First up this week, it looks like the DJI Mini 5 Pro is right around the corner. Trustworthy sources and leaked images are pointing to a September 16th launch, with the drone hitting store shelves as soon as September 17th. The marketing slogan is "Pro in Mini," and based on the leaked specs, they are not kidding! The biggest news is that DJI has apparently managed to pack a 1-inch sensor into a sub-250-gram drone. The camera is rumored to have an F/1.8 lens, which should be fantastic for low-light performance. Leaked photos also clearly show what looks like forward-facing LiDAR, which will help with obstacle avoidance and protecting that big new gimbal and sensor. European pricing has also been spotted, with the base model and the screenless RC-N3 remote starting at 799 euros. The Fly More Combo with the RC2 controller is expected to be around 1129 euros. There’s even a rumor that you might be able to use your Mini 3 and Mini 4 batteries in the new Mini 5. Wouldn't that be awesome? The one major catch, especially given our next story, is that the Mini 5 probably won’t be available in the United States. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.Next up, according to a report from Reuters, the U.S. Commerce Department will release regulations to address national security risks. These rules will target the information and communications technology in drones from China and other foreign adversaries. While the announcement didn't give specific details, this action follows the ANPRM we saw earlier this year. It’s important to note that this ANPRM is and was separate from the existing audit requirements set forth in the 2024 NDAA for DJI and Autel. At this time, there is NO preview or draft text of the ruling from the Department of Commerce, but we’ll keep you updated when we see one.Last up, Kansas just made history with the state's first-ever long-range medical drone delivery. In a landmark test flight, the Community HealthCare System used a Pyka autonomous drone to deliver an AED to a rural hospital in Onaga. The 30-mile flight took only 30 minutes, a journey that would have taken a courier van over an hour. The drone used was the Pyka Pelican Cargo, which is a VTOL aircraft with a 70kg or 150lb payload and a range of 200 miles. For this mission, the drone flew autonomously along a pre-approved FAA flight plan. The project was a collaboration between the healthcare system, Kansas State University, and the Kansas Department of Transportation. This is a great use of drones and one of the best uses of delivery drones in my opinion. On post-flight we’ll also be talking about our comments for the Part 108 NPRM! We’ll see you on Monday for the live, have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2025/09/08/dji-mini-5-launch-release-date-leak/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/07/kansas-medical-drone-delivery/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/05/trump-administration-chinese-drone-imports/https://hub.pilotinstitute.com/pilot-institute-mug

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• Drone News: Angel Aerial's New Drone, Pilot Pleads Guilty, Drone Captures a Rescue, Amazon's New SCL

  Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: a new NDAA-compliant drone from Angel Aerial, a drone pilot who was sentenced for flying over Cape Canaveral, a drone captured a rescue in North Carolina, and Amazon has revealed a new safety system for its delivery drones.First up, Ohio-based Angel Aerial Systems has released a new NDAA-compliant tricopter called the Trio Scout. Its big claim to fame is a 100-minute hover time. The Trio Scout weighs 5.5 pounds, including its battery. The payload is a dual EO/thermal gimbal, featuring a 1280x720 electro-optical camera with 20x optical and 2x digital zoom for a total of 40x zoom. The thermal camera is a 640x480 sensor with 4x digital zoom. The company claims a max transmission distance of 1.86 miles and a wind tolerance of 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. The price is listed at $34,999 with a 10-week lead time. Now, the 100-minute flight time is from real-world tests, not theoretical flight time. The company is transparent that in warmer conditions, like 120 degrees Fahrenheit at 5,000 feet, you're looking at about 88 minutes and in the extreme cold, that can drop to 65 minutes.Next up, a 71-year-old Canadian drone pilot, Xiao Guang Pan, has been sentenced for illegally flying his drone over Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida. He pleaded guilty to unlawfully photographing defense installations and received 12 months of probation before being deported back to Canada.According to court records, in January of this year, NASA officials detected a drone near the base. Deputies found Pan operating a DJI Mavic 3 Pro from a nearby parking lot. He had reportedly been flying in the area for at least three consecutive days. While he was flying in Class D airspace, he was right on the edge of restricted areas. His drone captured 56 images and two videos of sensitive infrastructure.When questioned, Pan claimed he was just a tourist photographing cruise ships and sunrises and that he hadn't received any airspace warnings. However, a forensic analysis of his devices told a very different story. Investigators found over 1,900 files, including 243 images and 13 videos of the base. More importantly, the drone's data logs showed that the DJI system had issued multiple geofencing and airspace warnings.And in our third story this week, incredible drone footage has been released showing the rescue of a pilot from a plane that crashed into the ocean off Oak Island, North Carolina. On August 2nd, a single-engine plane piloted by Mark Finkelstein suffered an engine failure, forcing him to ditch the aircraft in the ocean. Luckily, the Oak Island Beach Safety Unit was nearby and responded immediately. They launched a drone, which provided a crystal-clear, stable overhead view of the entire scene. You can see the rescuers surrounding the cockpit and pulling Finkelstein out feet-first through the windshield. The entire extraction took less than 30 seconds once they reached him. He walked away with only a minor cut.Lastly, Amazon is rolling out a new safety feature for its delivery drones. The new tech is called "Safe Contingent Landings," or SCL. It’s a sophisticated "Plan B" for the drone if it detects a major problem like a system malfunction or severe weather. Instead of just falling or making a risky return flight, the drone can autonomously scan the ground in real-time, build a 3D map, and find a safe spot to land, avoiding people, animals, and cars. http://dronexl.co/2025/09/02/drone-captures-rescue-pilot-from-plane/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/02/amazon-drones-now-have-plan-b/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/28/angel-aerials-trio-scout-drone-ndaa/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/28/drone-pilot-sentenced-cape-canaveral-space-force-base/

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