News — UAVHelpline

News

Weekly Digest — July 16, 2026

This week's most consequential drone developments span enterprise airspace compliance, a record-breaking eVTOL cargo debut, a major defense acquisition, and a landmark naval strike-drone trial.

By UAVHelpline Editorial · 2 min read

2026-07-10

Ondas Acquires DZYNE Technologies for $875.8M, Launches Ondas Sentinel Autonomous Defense Division

Ondas Inc. has completed a $875.8 million cash-and-stock acquisition of DZYNE Technologies, bringing long-endurance Group 5 ISR platforms, a kinetic counter-UAS interceptor, and expendable autonomous systems under the newly formed Ondas Sentinel operating division. The deal pushes Ondas' 2026 revenue target to at least $525 million, up from $390 million, as the company projects DZYNE alone will generate over $300 million in 2027.

By UAVHelpline Editorial

2026-07-10

Skapion Secures $36 Million Seed Round to Build Mobile Counter-Swarm Defense System

Defense technology startup Skapion has raised $36 million in seed funding, co-led by UP Partners and Khosla Ventures, to accelerate development of a mobile, end-to-end system engineered for simultaneous interception of large-scale drone swarms. Founded in late 2025 by veterans of Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling programs, the company is targeting military forces, critical infrastructure, and fixed installations across the US, Israel, and allied nations.

By UAVHelpline Editorial

2026-07-10

AVSS Surpasses 2,000 Systems Manufactured Year-to-Date, Setting a New Canadian Drone Production Record

Fredericton-based AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions Inc. has manufactured more than 2,000 drone components and systems in the current fiscal year, already eclipsing its entire previous-year output. The milestone underscores growing international demand for fully Canadian-engineered drone technology and a rapidly diversifying product portfolio.

By UAVHelpline Editorial

2026-07-10

IISS Report Revives 'Russian Shadow Fleet Drone' Theory, But the Evidence Gap Remains Wide

A landmark IISS study catalogues 144 UAV incidents across 13 European countries and concludes it is 'highly likely' Russia ran a coordinated drone surveillance campaign launched from shadow-fleet vessels — but critics note the report presents no physical forensic evidence linking any specific drone to any specific ship. Europe's C-UAS architecture, meanwhile, remains structurally unequipped to address a maritime launch threat.

By UAVHelpline Editorial

2026-07-03

ANRA Technologies Surpasses 55,000 Commercial Drone Operations Per Month on Its MMX Platform

ANRA Technologies' Mission Manager X (MMX) UTM platform now enables more than 55,000 commercial drone operations monthly — over 1,800 per day — spanning delivery, utilities, and public safety across eight U.S. states. The milestone signals a maturation of shared digital airspace infrastructure and positions the company ahead of the FAA's forthcoming Part 108 and Part 146 BVLOS regulatory framework.

By UAVHelpline Editorial

2026-07-03

BCN Drone Center Secures Spain's First SAIL III Authorization for Urban BVLOS Deliveries

Spanish operator CATUAV (BCN Drone Center) has obtained Spain's first SAIL III operational authorization under the SORA 2.5 framework, cleared for BVLOS cargo flights over populated urban areas using the RigiTech Eiger 3. The authorization, issued by AESA after nearly a year of cross-stakeholder work, is also among the first of its kind issued anywhere in Europe under the new regulatory standard.

By UAVHelpline Editorial

2026-07-01

Sky Spy and Orqa Demonstrate Portable UAV-Based SIGINT System at NATO's Exercise Spring Storm

American-Estonian startup Sky Spy and Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa have successfully demonstrated an integrated airborne signals intelligence capability — pairing the SkyAgent 001 passive RF sensor with the NDAA-compliant MRM2-10 FPV platform — during Estonia's largest annual NATO exercise. The first confirmed operational demonstration of the combined system with NATO forces validated that a single soldier can deploy man-portable, spectrum-hunting intelligence from a lightweight UAV within minutes.

By UAVHelpline Editorial

2026-07-01

Conroe Police Launch DFR Program Funded by Criminal Asset Seizures

The Conroe Police Department in Texas has launched a Drone as First Responder program using two Skydio X10 drones and two docking stations, funded entirely by approximately $230,000 in criminal asset forfeiture proceeds. The one-year trial, authorised by city council in December 2025, aims to cut high-priority response times and deliver aerial situational awareness before officers arrive on scene.

By UAVHelpline Editorial