Latest from TechRadar UK in Drones

Zelensky confirms Ukraine's drones will reach 6,000 miles in 2027 — enough to cover the entirety of Russia and able to reach as far as San Francisco from Kyiv

Efosa Udinmwen — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:35:00 +0000

Zelensky says Ukraine's drones will soon fly far enough to hit anywhere in Russia
Kyiv and Washington quietly push forward a plan to build drones on US soil
Ukraine's drone range could jump to 10,000 km, but engineers still face big hurdles

In a recent interview with American conservative commentator Laura Loomer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian drones should exceed 4,000 km in range in 2026.

The Ukrainian leader added that long-range drones could achieve distances between 5,000 km and 10,000 km, or about 6,000 miles, by 2027.

Such a capability would theoretically allow a drone to cover Russia’s entire territory and reach distances comparable to the route between Kyiv and San Francisco.

Ukraine plans expanded drone cooperation with the United States

The projected increase in range forms part of Kyiv’s efforts to expand drone production through cooperation with Washington and possible manufacturing facilities inside America.

The discussions include joint production, technology exchanges, testing arrangements, and the development of production lines for advanced unmanned systems.

Ukraine has gained extensive experience with aerial drones, naval drones, and deep-strike platforms in its ongoing war with Russia.

Those battlefield developments have become central to discussions about future cooperation, as Kyiv seeks wider access to industrial capacity and advanced manufacturing resources.

The first stage of agreements between Ukraine and the United States has already been completed, while further documents remain under preparation.

"We're going to build a great factory," Zelensky said, describing plans for production lines that could support future drone manufacturing.

Both parties have already signed documents allowing various Ukrainian drone systems to undergo testing in the United States.

Those arrangements involve aerial drones, sea-based systems, and other high-technology products before any broader production agreement receives final approval.

Ukraine has also pursued similar defence partnerships with European countries as it attempts to expand its role in defence technology development.

Long-range drone ambitions face technical challenges

The planned range increase would require significant advances in propulsion, communications, navigation systems, and endurance capabilities before becoming operationally realistic.

Flying thousands of kilometres would create new challenges involving reliability, electronic warfare threats, satellite connectivity, and the ability to maintain accurate targeting.

Military analysts have often noted that extending drone range involves more than increasing flight distance because other systems must operate effectively.

A drone capable of travelling up to 10,000 km would require dependable control systems and protection against attempts to disrupt communications.

The development timeline could also depend on access to funding, manufacturing capacity, and successful testing under demanding operational conditions.

While Ukraine has rapidly expanded its unmanned capabilities during the war, achieving the announced range goals would require continued technological progress.

The proposed timeline shows Kyiv’s ambition to develop longer-range strike capabilities, although the final performance of such systems remains dependent on future development outcomes.

Via NV

US Army backs giant surveillance balloons with $447m contract despite growing threat from drones

Efosa Udinmwen — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 22:45:00 +0000

US Army commits $447 million to surveillance balloons despite drone vulnerabilities
Cheap drones continue challenging expensive military surveillance systems across modern battlefields
Hezbollah attacks exposed growing risks facing large airborne surveillance platforms during conflicts

The US Army has awarded TCOM LP a contract worth as much as $447 million to continue producing, deploying, and supporting its Persistent Surveillance Systems-Tethered aerostat fleet.

The award signals continued confidence in large surveillance balloons despite increasing reliance across modern militaries on budget drones, satellites, and autonomous platforms.

Analysts have questioned whether these highly visible systems can remain effective against increasingly sophisticated adversaries capable of detecting and destroying fixed aerial assets.

A costly bet against a cheap threat

The Persistent Surveillance Systems-Tethered program traces back to 2016, when the Army merged two earlier aerostat efforts into one unified initiative.

Those tethered balloons proved valuable in identifying roadside bombs and tracking insurgent movement across Iraq and Afghanistan for over a decade.

TCOM has remained the Army's core partner throughout, having previously won a nearly $979 million contract back in September 2019.

That earlier deal covered engineering, logistics and operations support across facilities in Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Arizona.

Each aerostat can reportedly fly at altitudes up to 16,000 ft (4,880 m) and watch an area continuously for over 30 days straight.

Yet recent battlefield lessons from Lebanon suggest that the same altitude offers little protection against a determined, low-cost adversary.

Hezbollah fighters used a swarm of cheap drones to kill four Israeli soldiers and wound 61 others near Binyamina in October 2024.

Israeli officials later said Hezbollah was launching more than 10 drones daily against troops, alongside rockets and anti-tank fire.

One Israeli commander described the wider campaign bluntly, saying "this is full-scale war," after drones struck an Iron Dome battery on camera.

Al Jazeera reported that Israel's costly defense systems were rendered ineffective by drones costing only a fraction of what they threatened.

Betting on persistence over cheaper alternatives

American defense planners have pushed hard toward cheaper, expendable drone and satellite platforms as a modernization priority in recent years.

A large tethered aerostat is neither cheap nor easily replaced once it comes under serious attack.

It remains fixed in place and clearly visible, making it a plausible objective for any adversary armed with modern strike weapons.

That vulnerability has fueled quiet debate within defense circles about how long aerostat surveillance stays viable against a well-equipped adversary.

Still, the Army solicited bids from ten companies for this contract and received responses from only two, suggesting limited industrial appetite for this niche.

The agreement will run through July 20, 2031, suggesting that the service still values an aerostat's unmatched ability to loiter continuously over one location for weeks.

However, the Army is simultaneously investing in smaller, more distributed drone and satellite alternatives across its wider surveillance architecture.

Via Defence Blog

Ukraine turns $200,000 AN-196 Liutyi kamikaze drone into reusable bomber to launch jet-powered missiles

Efosa Udinmwen — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:05:00 +0000

Ukraine converts long-range kamikaze drones into reusable missile-launching platforms
Liutyi now carries four missiles instead of sacrificing itself during attacks
Germany funds 500 additional Liutyi drones through a $100 million defense package

Ukraine's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom has unveiled a reusable version of its An-196 Liutyi drone at the Farnborough International Airshow.

According to a report from Ukrainian outlet Oboronka the new configuration carries four compact air-to-surface missiles beneath its wings.

Until now, the Liutyi has flown only as a single-use weapon, striking a location once before being destroyed on impact.

A Kamikaze airframe rebuilt to fly home

The standard Liutyi is a propeller-driven, satellite-guided drone with a claimed operational range of nearly 2,000 km per mission today. It carries a 50-to-75 kg warhead and relies on inertial navigation corrected by satellite signals for improved overall strike precision.

Ukraine has used the standard version to strike oil refineries as far as 1,700 km inside Russia, near the Urals region.

Liutyi drones have also struck the Izhevsk military plant deep inside Russia's Udmurtia region, roughly 1,400 km from the border.

Germany is financing 500 additional Liutyi drones at a cost of roughly $100 million, signaling continued Western interest in the program.

Each Liutyi airframe reportedly costs around $200,000 to build, a comparatively low price for a long-range strike platform of its kind.

The reusable variant carries four small missiles reported to have a maximum range of 200 km and speeds above 500 km/h, which is apparently achieved through a small jet engine mounted inside the missile's own fuselage.

No further technical details about either the airframe or the missiles have been disclosed so far.

A commercial statement for foreign buyers

Displaying an armed, reusable Liutyi there functions as a clear commercial statement almost as much as a purely military signal.

Ukraine has displayed naval drones, interceptor drones and strike systems at major international defense exhibitions throughout 2026

A drone combat-tested through hundreds of deep strikes on Russian territory offers foreign buyers a rare, already-proven track record overall.

The reusable Liutyi may also compete with Ukraine's own FP-1 drone, which reportedly offers comparable performance at a lower cost, and in design, the new missiles resemble Anduril's Barracuda-250, an American cruise missile with an 18 kg warhead and 370-plus km range.

Ukraine relied heavily on the Bayraktar TB2 for years before Russian air defenses eventually pushed the drone from contested skies.

The shift could allow the Liutyi to fill the niche once occupied by the Bayraktar TB2, a symbol of Ukraine's early resistance.

Whether the new missiles and airframe hold up under real combat conditions remains to be seen.

Via Defense Express

Which DJI drone should I buy? Your simple guide to the different ranges and our top-rated flyers

Ruth Hamilton — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Fancy taking to the skies? DJI is the brand you're probably looking at — it's the name behind almost all the best drones around right now. If you're new to the world of drones, figuring out your options is tricky. This article is here to guide you through your options. I'll run through the main DJI ranges and who they're aimed at, and then once you've narrowed things down you can hop to the relevant section to read our reviews for each model. Let's get started...

Note: You'll only be able to see product cards for the models currently available to buy in your region. Due to FCC issues, not all DJI drones are available in the US. Hit the More details button to read our main takeaways for each model, and for a link to the full review.

DJI range guide

DJI Mini
DJI's flagship compact drones, and the best-selling range for beginner pilots. These are all sub-250g models, which means they come with little-to-no flight restrictions, depending on where you fly.
• Check out the Mini lineup

DJI Air
A step up from the Mini series, aimed at enthusiasts. These drones fall into the next weight category up, which means they're sturdier and you'll be able to fly for longer, but you'll need your region's equivalent of a certificate of competency before you fly.
• Check out the DJI Air lineup

DJI Mavic
Top-tier consumer drones with industry-leading camera performance. These are another step up from the DJI Air range, and again you'll need a certificate of competency before you fly.
• Check out the DJI Mavic lineup

DJI Neo
The cheapest, smallest, lightest and simplest DJI drone. It comes with single-push take-off from your hand, designed for aerial selfies (this kind of drone is sometimes referred to as a selfie drone).
• Check out the DJI Neo lineup

DJI Avata
FPV (first person view) drones, designed to be used with goggles for immersive high-speed and responsive flight — legally you need a 'spotter' with you when flying drones through goggles.
• Check out the DJI Avata lineup

There are a few standalone options to be aware of. The Lito is a straightforward beginner drone at an extremely wallet-friendly price — it's a step down from the Mini range in both price and capabilities. The DJI Flip is another beginner drone with vlogger-friendly features. At the other end of the scale is the DJI Inspire range, aimed at professionals — the kind of thing that might be hired for productions.

DJI Mini drones

DJI

Mini 5 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

New 1-inch sensor with detail rich 4K HDR video
Versatile camera with a 225 degree roll rotation
Class-leading flight and safety features

Cons

Actual take-off weight could result in being the next class of drone, hit with restrictions
Flight times typically not as long as advertised
Pricier than entry-level models like the Mini 4K

DJI

Mini 4K

Read our full review

Pros

Excellent value
4K video quality beats rivals
Probably your best first drone

Cons

No object-collision sensors
Lacks subject tracking found in pricier models like the Mini 4 Pro

DJI

Mini 4 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

Improved video features
Omnidirectional Vision Sensing
Remains under 250g

Cons

Upgrades may not tempt Mini 3 Pro owners
Not suited to windy conditions
Fixed-aperture camera

DJI

Mini 3

Read our full review

Pros

More affordable than the Mini 3 Pro
Great image quality
Small and lightweight

Cons

No collision avoidance
4K video limited to 30fps
No subject tracking

DJI

Mini 3 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

Impressive low-light performance
Useful obstacle avoidance
Handy automated flight modes

Cons

Pricier than previous Mini models

DJI

Mini 2

Read our full review

Pros

Intuitive navigation
Compact, convenient drone
Great battery life

Cons

Pricier than predecessor
No new camera hardware
No follow mode

DJI Mavic drones

DJI

Mavic 4 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

Excellent price
Feature-packed
Impressive cameras

Cons

Weight just exceeds 2.2lbs / 1kg
More features than many people will need
Subject tracking is not as varied as the DJI Flip or Neo

DJI

Mavic 3

Read our full review

Pros

Four Thirds camera is excellent
Useful adjustable aperture
Improved safety features
Telephoto lens a handy backup

Cons

Pricier than Mavic 2 series
Basic controller lacks info screen
European classification issues

DJI

Mavic 3 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

Three useful cameras
Excellent image quality
Solid safety features

Cons

C2 European rating
Not everyone will need three cameras
Slightly reduced flight times

DJI

Mavic 3 Classic

Read our full review

Pros

Less expensive than other Mavic 3 models
Excellent image quality
Impressive safety features

Cons

Remains expensive despite lower cost
Battery life shorter than claimed
No Apple ProRes video capture

DJI Air drones

DJI

Air 3

Read our full review

Pros

Dual cameras
Excellent wind resistance
Generous 46-minute flight time
Already excellent safety features improved further

Cons

C1 European rating
Fixed aperture is bad news for ND filter users
Large protruding camera likely to suffer in case of accidents

DJI

Air 3S

Read our full review

Pros

Superb battery life
Easy and safe to fly
Great all-round camera performance

Cons

Weight-class restrictions apply
A minor upgrade on the original Air 3

DJI

Air 2S

Read our full review

Pros

1-inch 20 MP sensor
Great image quality
Small and lightweight

Cons

Controller isn’t foldable
Image edges slightly soft
No adjustable aperture

DJI Neo drones

DJI

Neo 2

Read our full review

Pros

Now has obstacle avoidance
Improved camera performance
More storage and faster transfer speed

Cons

Still only shoots JPEG photos
Limited battery life

DJI

Neo

Read our full review

Pros

Small and lightweight
Easy to use
Multiple flight control options

Cons

Only shoots photos in JPEG
4K video fixed at 30fps
Expensive to add on goggles and FPV controller

DJI Avata drones

DJI

Avata 360

Read our full review

Pros

Great 10-bit image quality from dual sensor setup
Choice of control methods
Agile, speedy and safe flyer
Good value for money

Cons

Other DJI drones beat it on image quality
Buying both FPV and standard controllers could push up the price
No manual FPV flight option

DJI

Avata 2

Read our full review

Pros

Long flight time
Incredible image quality with improved dynamic range
Easy to fly out of the box, and packed with safety features

Cons

Unappealing to experienced FPV pilots outside of the DJI ecosystem
Poor ergonomics of the DJI Controller 3 show no improvement over the DJI Controller 2
Awkward handling in manual mode, probably down to inadequate tuning

Outliers

DJI

Lito X1

Read our full review

Pros

Great video quality for the price, especially with Lito X1
Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance included
Better battery life than the Neo 2 and Flip

Cons

Camera doesn't rotate for 9:16 content
Soft digital zoom
No built-in storage on Lito 1 model

DJI

Flip

Read our full review

Pros

Multi-use functionality
Several flight-control options
Sub-250g folding design

Cons

Image quality is good but not great
Not as agile as the Mini 4 Pro
Not great in wind

DJI

Inspire 3

Read our full review

Pros

Excellent image quality
Smooth and precise flight
Interchangeable lenses

Cons

Expensive
Large and heavy
More complicated than consumer models

DJI

FPV

Read our full review

Pros

A huge amount of fun to fly
Easy to fly for an FPV drone
Goggles offer great image quality
Solid transmission

Cons

Front props visible in footage
Stills photography severely limited
'Spotter' needed when flying outdoors

US Navy plans for 'Air Wing of the Future' with next-generation, pilotless carrier-based 1,150-mile-range drones to fly alongside manned aircraft

Efosa Udinmwen — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:20:00 +0000

Pentagon eyes swarms of cheap drones over a handful of expensive fighter jets
Carrier decks may soon be crowded with robots doing eight different combat jobs
US Navy next fighter wing could fly itself from takeoff to target and back

The US Navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking a new family of carrier-based drones which would operate alongside manned aircraft while supporting missions across the full range of naval combat operations.

The service wants these systems to fly from Ford-class and Nimitz-class nuclear carriers, while some designs could operate from smaller vessels.

Its requirements seeking industry proposals for platforms capable of eight missions, including attacks against ships and land targets, anti-submarine warfare, air combat, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Navy seeks autonomous aircraft for eight missions

The aircraft would also support aerial refuelling and resupply missions for naval task forces, creating a broad set of requirements for a single aircraft or connected family of systems.

Strike variants must have a minimum range of 1,000 nautical miles, equivalent to roughly 1,150 miles.

The service also wants advanced autonomy for carrier operations, mission changes and threat avoidance during flight.

Proposed systems must support automated aerial refuelling and remain compatible with existing unmanned aircraft control systems.

The Navy is seeking “affordable mass, risk-tolerant platforms” capable of addressing current and emerging threats, which points toward affordable aircraft designed to be produced in larger numbers than traditional high-cost combat jets.

Future carrier wings could rely on scalable drone fleets

The RFI asks companies to explain how their production methods could expand rapidly during a surge while keeping recurring flight and sustainment costs within sustainable limits.

Manufacturers must also describe ways to reduce maintenance demands and use existing naval supply networks.

The Navy is also open to aircraft that can operate from platforms beyond its largest carriers - vertical-takeoff and landing UAVs could fly from destroyers, expeditionary sea bases and other vessels with suitable aviation facilities.

“The Navy is interested in novel concepts that can operate from any air-capable platform,” the RFI states, including destroyers and mobile sea bases.

This could give naval commanders more options for deploying autonomous aircraft across different maritime environments.

The Air Wing of the Future Family of Systems forms part of the Trump administration’s Golden Fleet expansion plan.

Existing related programmes include the MQ-25A Stingray tanker and Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative.

The RFI also asks companies to explain planned capital investments and internal research commitments needed to mature their designs.

The Navy’s requirements suggest that future carrier aviation could combine advanced manned aircraft with larger fleets of autonomous systems designed for scale and operational risk tolerance.

Via Defense News

Ukraine claims $400 FPV drone destroyed Russia's $19 million 'Apache rival' attack helicopter

Rahimnoorali11@gmail.com (Rahim Amir) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:40:00 +0000

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) struck a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter in flight over the Belgorod region with a SkyFall Shrike 10 FPV drone, hitting the helicopter from above
The attack, which saw a $400 drone strike and 'kill' a $19 million attack helicopter as per Skyfall, represents an impressive 47,500x exchange ratio
The attack isn't isolated: Russia has lost over 20+ Mi-28s in similar attacks since the conflict began in 2022

The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to expand as the latter continues to leverage asymmetric warfare to hold its own against a rival with superior technology and manpower, even as the conflict heads into its fifth year.

Much of this is due to Ukraine's pivot to home-grown drone and bot manufacturing, which helps to counter heavy Russian weaponry such as tanks, helicopters, and APCs using cheap but effective drones and bots to hold the line.

It has also allowed several startups to join the fray, offering low-cost options, often funded by external partners and allies to bolster Ukraine's war effort, and SkyFall's Shrike 10 FPV drone is one of them.

An impressive achievement, albeit with disputed claims

The Shrike 10 FPV drone, which costs less than a mid-range smartphone, flew up alongside a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter, climbed above it, and dove into its tail boom on the morning of the July 17, 2026, in Russia's Belgorod region.

The strike was carried out by operators of the 427th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade "Rarog," and confirmed by Major Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), who published the drone's own final-approach footage on Telegram with the terse caption that the "Night Hunter" had gone "into the ground."

Ukrainian firm SkyFall, whose FPY drone, the Shrike 10, was involved in the attack, stated that it was priced at under $400 per unit. The Mi-28, per the same company, costs $19 million.

While the headline is impressive, the math might not completely check out: other sources put the cost of the Mi-28 at approximately $15 million, while a recent deal with Germany (50,000 SkyFall-built FPV drones for Ukraine, fitted with autonomous targeting software from US firm Auterion in a €90 million (~$103 million) deal) could mean that some liberties may have been taken to get to the $400 figure, though the Shrike 10 that attacked the Mi-28 might be differently configured or on the lower end of the spectrum.

The instance, which sees Ukraine claiming a kill on what is a pricey part of the Russian arsenal, is partially unconfirmed, with independent observers pointing out that there is no aftermath video and that attack helicopters often survive and successfully land after such hits. To Ukraine's credit, a similar kill, however, was reported in 2025 by the Ukrainian armed forces with footage to confirm the crash that followed.

Irrespective of the sum, the fact that a drone that costs a ten-thousandth of an attack helicopter that has been retrofitted to hunt it can be a credible predator of the same is potentially alarming, not only for the Russians but for military planners across the world, even if the damage in question might be open to dispute.

This is further corroborated by unverified sources claiming that the damage was 'minor' and did not affect either of the helicopter's two occupants at the time, thereby disputing much of SkyFall's claims beyond the drone's impact.

Russia's defense ministry, however, has not commented directly on the matter, and no open-source tracker such as Oryx has confirmed imagery of any wreckage either.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said the natiopn is producing 10 million drones a year while vying for a production target of 20 million drones in the future, much of it backed by foreign aid, indicating that the Russian Mi-28, which has 20+ confirmed visual losses since the conflict began, continues to be both, an attacker and defender against drones of all shapes and sizes

An electric drone just set a new world air speed record - 434 mph device could be ideal for anti-aircraft interceptor action

Craig Hale — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:25:00 +0000

Apex Recordhunter drone unofficially set a new air speed record of 434 mph
High-speed demonstrator will help develop next-gen military drones
Company targets further records with interceptor drones soon

Germany’s Quantum Systems Group has broken the world airspeed record for an electric drone, hitting speeds of 699km/h (434mph) during internal testing on June 26, 2026.

Though the company is yet to carry out a formal, independently verified attempt at setting a record under the official measurement rules to be recognized by both Guinness World Records and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the speed far exceeds that of the current record holder – 657.59km/h (409mph).

The latest, unverified record was set in straight and level flight, and would represent a 6.3% increase over the current record. Official testing is expected within the coming weeks, the company said in a press release.

Record-breaker is merely a technology demonstrator

Quantum Systems explained that the Apex Recordhunter drone was developed over the past year, but “serves as a technology demonstrator for next-generation high-speed systems” rather than being a commercially viable product. “Several innovations from the project are expected to support future interceptor drone programs,” the company added.

It is a battery-electric, fixed-wing aircraft developed by the firm’s N3XT advanced development team, benefiting from Porsche-subsidiary-supplied V4Smart battery cells.

Of course, the drone and its successors would not target consumer photographer and hobby markets, instead focusing on high-speed interceptors for modern warfare. Quantum Systems says lessons learned from Apex will directly influence future interceptor platforms for real-world defense scenarios.

“Super proud of the Quantum Systems team, showing our engineering ambition across our Group and reinforcing our commitment to developing world leading technologies,” co-CEO Florian Seibel wrote.

Engineers from Quantum’s Ukrainian WIY Drones division also contributed to the program – a noteworthy inclusion because Russia has increasingly deployed high-speed, jet-powered one-way attack drones. Deploying high-speed drones like the one Quantum Systems has developed could be much cheaper and more accessible than sending off expensive air-defense missiles.

Records continue to be broken as rapid development continues

By mid-July, the company also hopes to have set two other records. The first – the highest speed achieved by an FPV interceptor drone carrying a 500g payload – by its STRILA Interceptor. Second, its SPYS drone, gunning for the highest speed achieved by an anti-aircraft class FPV interceptor drone.

These achievements and potential records reflect an ongoing global race to develop faster military drones, but they also underscore the growing relevance of airborne, remote and autonomous weapons in modern warfare.

That said, other electric drones have technically achieved even higher speeds. Tom’s Hardware recently reported of a New Zealand duo who recorded high speeds of 730km/h (453mph) – that Blackbird drone uses sawtooth carbon fiber prop blades.

Despite lacking official recognition, the duo had previously set a record of 626km/h (388mph) in December 2025 with a separate drone, before quickly being overtaken by another record-holder which achieved a higher 659km/h (408mph). Regardless, an 11.7% increase from December’s first record to today’s unofficial record confirms there’s plenty of scope to continue pushing the boundary.

Quote of the day by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt: 'A $5,000 drone can destroy a $5 million tank' — pithy insights about the future of warfare

Keumars Afifi-Sabet — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Eric Schmidt has enjoyed a long career in the technology industry, including a decade at the helm of Google. Since then, he's been heavily involved in the realm of defense – and has had a thing or two to say about the new reality of conflicts around the globe.

Modern warfare

Schmidt was speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia about the rise of drone-based warfare, contrasting this with the historic prevalence of tanks and armored vehicles.

Quote of the day

This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.

The cost-to-damage ratio is incredibly favorable, as he urged the US and Western allies to transition away from legacy tech in favor of drones and other related technologies at the heart of a new kind of warfare.

His expertise in this realm comes primarily from his role advising the US government and military on technology, with the former Google CEO chairing the Defense Innovation Board from March 2016. This organization primarily connects the tech sector with the Pentagon.

Between 2019 and 2021, Schmidt also co-chaired the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which had a mission to make recommendations to the US president and Congress on the role of AI in the future of defense.

Look to the skies

Schmidt's comments came two-and-a-half years following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, a war that's been defined by next-generation technologies including robotics and drones.

Ukraine has, for example, used AI drones to strike vital Russian supply lines, while in recent weeks, news emerged that Russia has also stepped up use of jet-powered drones that can hit speeds of up to 500 km/h against its adversary.

Drones are incredibly cheap compared with technologies used in the past – and they're also incredibly effective. We also see examples of the way drones have been used in the conflict between the US-Israeli forces and Iran.

Anonymous Wild Hornets spokesperson calls drone swarms 'a fun legend and a scam mechanism' as he defends the critical importance of 3D printers in warfare

Craig Hale — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:20:00 +0000

Wild Hornets expanding use of 3D printing to meet demand
In-house manufacturing reduces reliance on third-party suppliers
The company is focusing on software as drone swarm threats evolve

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets believes 3D printing could be the answer to modern warfare, helping companies like it to reduce costs and boost production.

DOU reports the company is now growing its 3D printing footprint using large numbers of FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) desktop printers, like Bambu Lab and Elegoo devices, rather than using expensive industrial systems.

This allows the company to churn out plastic drone components at high volume, but it also improves the speed of manufacturing allowing the company to iterate design more quickly as enemy tactics evolve.

3D printing’s role in modern warfare

Recent reporting on the company by industry experts at 3D Printing Industry, highlights how desktop 3D printers offer several advantages for quickly evolving digital and aerial warfare, like lower capital costs for manufacturing, quick prototyping support and easier scaling via new printers, rather than having to build new tools and moulds.

This comes as Ukraine continues to face enemy threats – the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) continues to report rising attacks from Russia as the country doubles down on Iranian Shahed-type drones.

In-house, affordable manufacturing also covers battery packs, flight controllers and other electronics and components, all helping to reduce costs and support Ukraine’s efforts. It also reduces reliance on third parties and external supply chains.

Since its inception, Wild Hornets has grown from a volunteer initiative into a manufacturer capable of producing around 100 drones per day – deepening its 3D printing strategy will only help.

Speaking about artificial intelligence, an anonymous spokesperson from Wild Hornets told DOU AI’s use in drone-based warfare is limited but is starting to expand, primarily spanning recognition and navigation. However, Wild Hornets estimates that adding AI functionality currently raises costs by $150 to $500 per drone, making it a costly consideration.

Drones are becoming much more than hardware

Looking ahead, Wild Hornets is seeing defense partner interest moving beyond the drone itself to the entire Hornet Vision package, which includes digital video transmission, remote control, AI and more.

The system itself was originally designed because Chinese digital control systems became unavailable amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts, but with the company recently demonstrating successful remote operation of its Sting interceptor from 2,000km away, from a country outside of Ukraine, partners are increasingly interested in the full hardware and software package.

However, even while aerial, autonomous threats continue to rise, the company’s unnamed speaker told DOU that drone swarms don’t exist in the way they’re made out to exist, describing them as ‘a cool legend and a mechanism for a scam to get money from naive investors.’

The company promises to add drone swarm technology as and when it emerges and evolves, but for now it’s neither an option nor a realistic threat.

“We would like the war to end,” they added. “Then, instead of increasing production volumes, we would focus on technologies, R&D, design solutions and cooperation with foreign partners.”

This vibrant bird’s-eye view of a chili farm in Bangladesh just won a major aerial photography award — and it was captured with a DJI Mavic 4 Pro

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:41:25 +0000

International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026 winners announced
Azim Khan Ronnie and Vitaly Golovatyuk scoop the top 'Photographer' and 'Photograph' prizes
Both winners shoot aerial images with a DJI Mavic 4 Pro

If you love jaw-dropping aerial images, the International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest is well worth checking out — and the contest's 2026 winners have just been announced.

A total of 101 images were shortlisted by the contest's three judges, and Azim Khan Ronnie scooped the top prize with his portfolio of scenes from around the world, including vibrant images of chili pepper harvesters in his home country of Bangladesh.

Ronnie said: “From above, everyday scenes reveal patterns, geometry, textures and relationships that are often invisible from the ground. Aerial photography allows me to tell stories about people, nature and the environment from a perspective that inspires curiosity and offers a deeper understanding of the world."

A minimum of four images are required to be considered for the top 'Photographer' prize won by Ronnie. Vitaly Golovatyuk of the Russian Federation took 1st place for the International Aerial Photograph of the Year, with their individual image of a bird standing in a perfectly still lake in Elk Park, outside Dongtai City in the Zhejiang Province of China.

You can take a look at Azim Khan Ronnie's portfolio below, with the variety of scenes including migratory seagulls in Yamuna Ghat, Delhi, India and a perfectly synchronized rowing team gliding over the mist-covered surface of Lake Zurich in Switzerland.

For a few months of the year, a large number of Siberian seagulls migrate to various parts of India. One of them is Yamuna Ghat in Delhi. The birds start coming in here in November and move out in mid-March. The activity continues all morning.Azim Khan Ronnie / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year

Thousands of bright red chilli peppers are harvested in the hot sun before being sorted ready to be delivered to spice companies in the Sariakandi, Bogura, Bangladesh. More than 2,000 people work in almost 100 chilli farms in Bogura.Azim Khan Ronnie / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year

An aerial view of a rowing team gliding through the pristine waters of Lake Zurich in Switzerland. The team is perfectly synchronized, with oars cutting cleanly into the turquoise, misty surface, leaving subtle ripples in their wake.Azim Khan Ronnie / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year

Hindu devotees gather in Dhaka for Rakher Upobash, fasting and praying with incense and oil lamps to honour Baba Lokenath. Thousands seek blessings for health and protection, recalling the 18th century saint’s life of asceticism and spiritual devotion.Azim Khan Ronnie / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year

'Unique and extraordinary'

I reached out to Azim Khan Ronnie, who described his images as "unique and extraordinary", and the result of much hard work, repeat visits and early starts.

I was particularly drawn to his series of chili pepper harvesters in Bogura, Bangladesh, where more than 2,000 people work on approximately 100 chili farms — you can see more of his images from this particular series at his Instagram page, linked below.

The vibrant colors grabbed my attention first, then the abstract patterns and astute composition kept me engaged.

A post shared by Azim Khan Ronnie (@azimronnie)
A photo posted by on

I also enjoyed his use of manual exposure and a slow shutter speed to blur the motion of the migratory seagulls, in contrast to the still (and sharp) boat they're surrounding, in his image from Yamuna Ghat, Delhi, India.

In the International Aerial Photographer of the Year press release, learn that Ronnie takes his aerial images with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone — a professional triple-camera drone which scored a maximum 5-star rating in our in-depth review.

Ronnie says, “For aerial photography, I use the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and DJI Mavic 3 Classic, allowing me to create images that reveal scale, patterns and perspectives impossible to capture from the ground. I always shoot exclusively in raw to capture the maximum amount of image data, giving me greater flexibility during post-processing while preserving image quality."

Birdie is sitting on the water of a tiny, crystal clear lake with reflection of the sky and surrounded by red grass, somewhere in Dongtai. Vitaly Golovatyuk, DJI Mavic 4 Pro (Image credit: Vitaly Golovatyuk / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year)

Vitaly Golovatyuk also used a Mavic 4 Pro for his winning individual image (above), taken in China, where the still lake appears like an eye, with the bird framed in the center among the reflected clouds and the surrounding rich red landscape.

The winners from the 101 shortlisted entries can be found at The International Aerial Photographer of the Year website, whose founders are on a mission 'to encourage and share the wonders of aerial photography'.

If you scroll to the bottom of the page linked above, there's a flip book containing all of the shortlisted entries — trust me, it's well worth a look.

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it's your shiny new DJI drone thanks to these 35% off savings

amelia.schwanke@futurenet.com (Amelia Schwanke) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:10:46 +0000

My first DJI drone was the flagship DJI Mavic Pro that launched in 2016. At the time, it was the brand's smallest consumer market drone ever made, replacing the bulky DJI Phantom, and that meant it wasn't cheap at $999 / £999.

It didn't take long after unboxing it for me to crash it into a wall. I was excited; the controls were inverted. Back then, there was no way I could simply fork out for a replacement drone — but luckily it just needed a new arm rather than a whole new drone (phew).

Since then, DJI has expanded its consumer drone range considerably, from the ultra-lightweight Mini Series to the more accessible Neo Series for casual flyers. The most beginner-friendly of the lot is the DJI Neo, which you can find at Amazon for as low as $139 (was $199) in the US and £113 (was £169) in the UK for the drone itself.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

I've rounded up the best DJI drone deals, like the DJI Neo, below. Hopefully, you're shopping to upgrade rather than replace, though. Happy flying!

Today's best DJI drone deals in the US

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Weighing just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, the drone itself is less than $140. View Deal

It's not a huge discount on a drone that's now been succeeded by a newer model, but that doesn't mean this DJI drone deal that saves you $150 should be ignored. If you're yet to fly high or want to upgrade from a much older quadcopter, this 249g drone is still pretty darn good. Read our review for the full scoop.View Deal

DJI's latest entry-level drone upgrades the Mini 2 SE with 4K video capture, whereas the Mini 2 SE only shoots in 2.7K. And with this Prime Day deal, it's available for a record-low price, beating the previous low of $255.55. This combo includes DJI's updated remote controller and two batteries for a 62-minute flight time. If you're looking for your first drone equipped with a camera, the Mini 4K Camera Drone Combo is a great starting point. View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Motion Fly More bundle, which includes the RC Motion 3, three batteries, and a charging hub. View Deal

Today's best DJI drone deals in the UK

In our DJI Mini 3 review, we praised it as "an enticing choice for eager drone pilots willing to sacrifice the obvious safety benefits of collision avoidance for a more affordable model". While it has since been succeeded, this 35% saving is still a notable discount worth considering if you want an entry-level drone. View Deal

I've been tracking DJI prices for the last three and a half years, and the current Mini 4K price is the lowest it has ever been. This package includes the drone, controller, and one battery. The camera is mounted to a three-axis gimbal for smooth 4K video capture, offers a handy 2x digital zoom, and boasts 31 minutes of flight time.View Deal

Usually, I recommend Fly More Combos for first-time buyers because you get a controller, extra batteries, and a charging hub, but of any beginner drone, the autonomous Neo is possibly the one where you can get away with the single-battery, drone-only bundle. There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price ever in the UK for a DJI drone that shoots 4K video. View Deal

If you've read our DJI Neo review, you'll already know that it's the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, with one-tap takeoff, subject tracking, and automatic return. Both the drone itself and combo packages are discounted at Amazon right now. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which also includes a controller, three batteries, and a charging hub.View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from £5
Fans: from £20
Fashion: up to 50% off
Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
Laptops: from £149
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

The DJI Mini 4K falls to a scarcely believable low price — here's why it's your best value first drone

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:10:43 +0000

Earlier this week, I recommended a knock-out deal for the DJI Neo — the lowest price for a DJI drone I've ever seen. But if you want a better value drone, especially if you're keen to take control of it yourself and learn to fly, then the DJI Mini 4K is my top pick.

I bought a DJI Mini 4K myself a couple of years ago, and its record-low price right now for Prime Day is less than half of what I paid — the Mini 4K costs $209 at Amazon US / £169 at Amazon UK. And unlike the Neo, a controller is included in the base package.

There are various deals for other bundles too, with additional batteries and so on — I've included links to those deals below. I've also rounded up the best DJI deals for other beginner drones, so you're completely covered for your first drone.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

If you're in the US and not sure about DJI given the current ban, read on for my advice.

The gimbal-stabilized camera shoots smooth 4K video (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Your ideal first drone to learn flight

The DJI Neo is the quickest drone to get started with, with its one-push take-off and automated subject tracking, but if you actually want to learn to fly, then the DJI Mini 4K is a better bet. I've reviewed the Mini 4K, and you can see my YouTube review below.

The base package costs a little more than the Neo, but a controller is included. If you want a controller with the Neo, the price shoots up.

For your money, you get decent aerial photography quality, thanks to a 3-axis gimbal camera, 4K video, and 12MP stills. Flight time is rated up to 31 minutes on a full charge, and there are a host of automated flight moves to quickly level up your aerial videos.

Of course, like all DJI Mini drones, the Mini 4K weighs less than 250g, making it officially a beginner drone that's not hit with the regulations that heavier, pro drones are.

If your budget stretches a little further, I recommend the recent DJI Lito X1, which gives an image quality step up and object sensing, meaning you're less likely to crash it. I've included the best deals for other beginner DJI drones below, but for me, the Mini 4K is the best value.

Today's best DJI Mini 4K deals (US)

DJI's latest entry-level drone upgrades the Mini 2 SE with 4K video capture, whereas the Mini 2 SE only shoots in 2.7K. And with this Prime Day deal, it's available for a record-low price, beating the previous low of $239. This standard combo includes DJI's basic remote controller and a single battery for a 31-minute flight time. If you're looking for your first drone equipped with a camera, the Mini 4K is a great starting point. View Deal

For and extra $46 from the deal above, this Combo adds a second battery and a carry case. I'm not seeing a deal for the Fly More Combo at the time of writing. View Deal

Today's best DJI Mini 4K deals (UK)

The Fly More Combo is the ultimate package, with a carry case, three batteries and a charging hub in addition to the Mini 4K drone. View Deal

More of the best beginner DJI Mini drone deals today

More DJI Mini deals (US)

Usually I would all out recommend the Fly More Combos, but of any beginner drone, the autonomous Neo is possibly the one where you can get away with the single-battery, drone-only bundle.

On the flipside, if you'd like to try immersive FPV flight, the Neo can be purchased with goggles in the pricier Motion Fly Combo for $449 (was $529). View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which includes a controller, three batteries, and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More DJI Mini deals (UK)

There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price ever in the UK for a DJI drone that shoots 4K video. View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, with one-tap takeoff, subject tracking, and automatic return. Weighing just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for well below the list price. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which also includes a controller, three batteries, and a charging hub.

You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its ease of use, beginner-friendly features, and versatile flight options. If you want better quality aerial images, the Mini 4K, Lito X1, and Mini 5 Pro are better picks.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

'Half a million hours of Ukraine conflict drone footage' to be used to train and deploy new AI models for autonomous targeting drone swarms

Craig Hale — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

500k+ hours of Ukraine war drone footage to be used for AI training
Real-world data provides deeper context and higher quality than synthetic data
Ukraine officials believe in a "war of operating systems" where training data matters

Virginia-based AI firm Enabled Intelligence says it's added more than 500,000 hours of Ukraine war drone footage to its EView platform to help train models.

The real-world data is hoped to provide better-quality training to the computer vision and video analysis models, instead of having to rely on synthetic data, in a bid to improve the efficacy of AI-powered drones in modern warfare.

"It’s footage from one of the most complex and dynamic conflicts in modern history," CEO Peter Kant explained (via DefenseScoop), noting that the training data hasn't come from a simulated or controlled environment.

Ukraine war drone footage used to train AI drones

Kant explained that footage will help train models across "aerial object detection, vehicle classification and ground activity," and that it's pre-labeled, validated and ready for training use. It gives the models more experience handling changing conditions like weather, smoke, dust, damaged infrastructure and other dynamic environments.

Artificial intelligence has broadly changed how militaries benchmark weapons, because it's no longer about who has the best drone. Dataset quality is an even bigger differentiator when it comes to autonomous warfare.

As for the Ukraine war's role in the training dataset, it marks one of the most drone-intensive wars to date with thousands of drones operating daily and generating huge amounts of real-world data.

The evolution also highlights an emerging competitive advantage for certain countries – those involved in conflict early on in AI's timeline can generate enormous amounts of real operational data before enemies, putting them one pace ahead.

"The system ⁠that possesses more data and better understands that data, proposes solutions — that system will gain the advantage over the other," head of Ukraine's defense ministry's AI center Danylo Tsvok told Reuters, referring to a future where we could see a "war of operating systems."

I've never seen a DJI drone this cheap — the Neo selfie drone falls to an unfathomably low £113, and I think it's a no-brainer as your first drone

Timothy Coleman — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:01:07 +0000

No other 4K drone is easier to get started with than the DJI Neo. Anyone can be airborne with it in minutes, capturing 4K selfies with smart subject tracking. And the good news is that you really don't need all the costly extras that I usually recommend to first-time pilots — the drone-only package for £113.05 at Amazon UK is a great option to take your first flight.

Yes, the beauty of the Neo is its versatile flight options; it works with or without a controller, and with goggles for FPV flight. However, you really can enjoy its best feature — automated subject tracking — in its simplest controller-free form.

If you're feeling flash, the Fly More Combo is available for below £200 for the first time, now just £198.55 at Amazon UK (was £299), with which you'll get the drone, a controller, three batteries and charging hub, while the price of the Motion Fly Combo, which includes the goggles and motion controller for FPV flight, now costs just £309 at Amazon (was £449).

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

These are excellent prices over Amazon Prime Day for one of the most compelling beginner drones that I've had the pleasure of testing.

With single-push take-off, you don't actually need a controller to use the DJI Neo (Image credit: James Abbott)

A DJI drone at this price?

We gave the DJI Neo 4 stars in our review when it was launched in September 2024 as the cheapest DJI drone that shoots 4K video. It has since been upgraded to the Neo 2 in November 2025 — I've highlighted five key differences in my DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo explainer so you can be sure what you may or may not be missing out on should you opt for the older model.

Yes, the Neo 2 is a decent upgrade and worth the extra outlay for some people, but there are many similarities between the two selfie drones. For first-timers, I think the original model offers the best value, especially at the new low prices.

If aerial photography is your chief concern, however, you might be better off looking at other DJI quadcopters; the Neo has a small 1/2-inch sensor and is limited to 12MP JPEG-only photos and 4K video with standard color profile (no D-Log). The Neo 2 has much the same image quality, but drones such as the recent DJI Lito X1 give an image quality step up. I've included the best deals for other beginner DJI drones below, though none come close to the extraordinarily low price of the Neo.

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle which includes a controller, three batteries and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

Today's best DJI Neo deals

You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its ease of use, beginner-friendly features, and versatile flight options. If you want better quality aerial images, check out the deals listed below for the Mini 4K, Lito X1, and Mini 5 Pro.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More of the best beginner DJI drone deals today

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

The original DJI Neo just got cheaper — should you buy the discounted bundle or spring for the fresher Neo 2? I test drones for a living, and here's the one I'd buy with my own money

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:14:39 +0000

The simplest beginner drone I've ever used is DJI's tiny Neo. It works with or without a controller, with goggles as an FPV drone, and can take off from the palm of your hand, track your movement for aerial 4K selfies, and return to your hand. It's also DJI's cheapest drone that just got even cheaper ahead of the Prime Day sales.

The Fly More Bundle now costs $295 at Amazon US or it's just £198.55 at Amazon UK, and includes the drone, a controller, three batteries and charging hub. You can get the drone-only package for much less, just $169 at Amazon US / £113.05 at Amazon UK.

Other Neo deals

There are two further bundles available; one with additional batteries and no controller for $239 / £175 or, if you fancy immersive FPV flight, there a Motion Fly Combo for $449 / £297 — all available for the same link.

These excellent value deals, for a drone we gave 4 stars in our review on its September 2024 release, would have been a straightforward recommendation but for one thing — the Neo 2 upgrade.

You can see five key differences in my DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo explainer, but I can tell you here that the Neo 2, which came a year later in November 2025 (just six months ago or thereabouts), came with some very welcome improvements and gained 4.5 stars in our Neo 2 in-depth review.

Of course, the Neo 2 costs more, and with the original Neo early Prime Day deal that price gap further grew. The DJI ban is also in the picture for US consumers. So which model, if either at all, do I recommend you buy?

A 'big upgrade', but is the Neo 2 worth the extra money?

Having tested many of the best DJI drones over the last few years, I can tell you that Neos are small, simple and excellent starter drones, especially if aerial selfies top your shot list. Anyone can get started with a Neo in minutes, with no prior experience needed.

It's no exaggeration that the Neo 2 was a big upgrade over the Neo, delivering important improvements in key areas. Chief among those upgrades is that the Neo 2 has obstacle avoidance, so it's much less likely to crash into things than its predecessor.

The Neo 2 camera is supported by a 2-axis gimbal, max flight speeds are improved by up to 50%, there's more internal storage, a built-in screen and better wind resistance, thanks in part to its slightly larger and heavier build. Gesture control has also been added. All solid improvements for an all-round sturdier-in-flight drone.

However, there is also much that's familiar between Neo drones, and autonomous tracking flight is where they both shine. Battery life is still modest, and image quality from the same 1/2-inch sensor is largely similar too, with JPEG-only 12MP photos. The max 4K video frame rates are upped to 60fps (or 100fps when using the controller), but again there's only the standard color profile (no D-Log), nor any way of fitting an ND filter.

In short, both Neos are simple and fun selfie drones, that can be flown multiple ways with or without a controller (and goggles), but not ideal for serious aerial photography. If image quality is a chief concern you might want to look at alternative drones such as the Lito X1, and you won't need to pay extra for the Neo 2 instead of the Neo.

And if you can live without the Neo 2's obstacle avoidance, which for this kind of casual drone is entirely possible, then the original Neo at this low price is arguably the more compelling of the two.

I'm in the US — should I still buy a DJI drone in 2026?

If you’re based in the US and new to flying drones, you might be concerned about how the DJI ban impacts purchasing and using these models.

Currently, the restriction only applies to newly released and imported drones, meaning existing inventory already in the country - including the Neo and Neo 2 - isn’t affected.

Both Neo models are especially lightweight options, too, well below the 249g threshold which effectively defines the difference between beginner and enthusiast / professional models. In the US, sub-250g drones don't need to be pre-registered with the authorities before you fly them.

Today's best DJI Neo deal (US)

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle which includes a controller, three batteries and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

Today's best DJI Neo deal (UK)

There are even better deals for the DJI Neo in the UK than in the US — grab the Neo Fly More bundle for it's lowest ever price and the first it has sunk below £200.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option in the UK, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price for a DJI drone ever in the UK, period. View Deal

More of the best beginner drone deals today

‘A fully secured critical site in 2030 does not look like a single technology’: Why drone visibility and accountability are just as important as security controls

desire.athow@futurenet.com (Desire Athow) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:20:00 +0000

Protecting critical infrastructure has long been a question of securing access from the ground – the assumption was that if you could control who entered a site, you could control most of the threats it faced.

But recent conflicts have proven that highly sensitive sites now face threats from three dimensions spanning both physical and digital.

One of the biggest threats is the rapid rise of commercially available drones – cheap and accessible devices that can easily bypass the traditional checkpoints historically employed at these secure sites.

Newer drones are playing an increasing role in warfare, now that they’re able to fly farther, stay airborne longer and carry sophisticated payloads.

World governments are getting ready to tackle these changing risks and the rules are becoming ever more stringent. China, for example, recently tightened controls on drone ownership. Other governments have imposed more identification requirements, geofencing measures and new operational categories.

Futureproofing infrastructure against drone strikes

But I worry that regulation alone might not solve the problem, and many of the same questions we’ve been asking about telecoms equipment now apply to the drone industry. Who built the technology, where does the data go, who can access it…?

As we move from basic camera-equipped consumer drones to fully autonomous commercial fleets spanning critical infrastructure, logistics, emergency response and more, I think more needs to be done to secure both sensitive physical locations and the data that these drones now possess.

To better understand how governments, operators and infrastructure owners should prepare for this shifting landscape, I turned to MyDefence UK Director Liam Hutcheson, who shares his thoughts on regulation, security and infrastructure protection.

China has recently moved towards more restrictions on drone usage and ownership. Given the dual use of the technology, does the move surprise you and do you think others will follow the example of China and roll out more strict drone control?

Not entirely. China's move reflects a tension every drone-mature nation is grappling with: the same technology enabling precision agriculture and emergency response can equally be used for surveillance, smuggling or targeted disruption. Longer endurance, better cameras and swarm coordination only intensify that challenge.

What it signals is that governments are becoming less comfortable leaving drone activity largely unregulated. We are already seeing the same direction in Europe and the US with Remote ID mandates, geofencing requirements, granular operational categories. The UK reinforced its class-marking regime for 2026.

Whether others match China's specific restrictions will depend on their security posture, economic reliance on the sector and enforcement appetite. But the broader trend is consistent: tighter oversight, stronger identity requirements, more defined exclusion zones.

From our perspective, regulation is necessary but only half the answer. Rules work when operators comply. COTS drones can easily be, and are being, modified to circumvent restrictions on usage and ownership, undermining even well-designed frameworks. Remote ID is a good example: meaningful, but only if receiver infrastructure exists to read it. Without detection capability running alongside the regulatory framework, you get rules that look credible on paper but cannot be enforced in practice.

The US rolled out a blanket ban on Chinese drones (and non-US routers). Before that they targeted ZTE, Huawei and a slew of Chinese tech manufacturers citing security reasons. Can (and should) drones and by extension unmanned vehicles and in the near future robots be vetted to ensure that systems meant to protect the nation are not double-agents?

Yes and the pattern with ZTE, Huawei and now DJI tells us something important. The concern goes beyond the device itself to what it is connected to and who can reach it. A drone is not just a flying camera. It records location, footage, flight history and operator identity. All of that data has to go somewhere, and knowing where is not always straightforward.

That risk does not stop at drones. Autonomous ground vehicles, logistics robots, inspection platforms - anything networked in a sensitive environment poses the same question.

The supply chain adds further complexity. A system assembled in one country may still depend on software, components or cloud infrastructure originating elsewhere.

Vetting at the point of purchase is not enough. These systems can be updated after deployment, which means their behaviour can change. What is needed is persistent visibility into what is actually happening around a facility; detecting unexpected signals, unauthorised transmissions or activity that does not match what a system is supposed to be doing. That is exactly the kind of awareness that RF-based detection provides, and it applies equally to hostile third-party drones and to your own fleet.

How far are we from the day one human operator will be able to safely manage fleets of autonomous drones for civilian or defense purposes? What are the bottlenecks that need to be removed in order for this to materialise?

A single operator can already manage small fleets for infrastructure inspection and logistics, and that capability is maturing quickly. The gap is widest in urban or contested airspace where conditions change fast and the cost of error is high.

From our perspective, the missing foundation is airspace awareness. The same detection infrastructure that protects a site from hostile drones is what gives a fleet operator the picture they need to operate safely. Those two requirements are not separate problems. Sites that build airspace awareness in from the start will be the ones where one-to-many operation becomes viable first, for security and for operations alike.

Data centres are rapidly becoming a target of choice, as we've seen in the Iran conflict a few months ago. From your vantage point, what does a fully secured airport or power station or data centre look like in 2030? Is that even possible given the near endless vectors enemies can use?

A fully secured critical site in 2030 does not look like a single technology. It looks like a layered system with a clear chain of detection, assessment and response. For drone threats that means persistent airspace monitoring through radio frequency detection, radar, acoustic and optical sensors working together, feeding a common operating picture that security teams can act on in real time.

At an airport or power station you would expect geofenced enforcement zones, direct alert integration into control room systems and pre-authorised response protocols. Equally important is what happens after an incident. Evidence collection, chain of custody and the ability to reconstruct exactly what occurred when a drone appeared. This information must include what the drone did and how the site responded. Regulators and prosecutors need a clear evidential record, and that has to be built into the system architecture, not added as an afterthought.

What the recent Iran conflict and incidents like Gatwick show is that the gap between a capable adversary and an unprepared defender is still dangerously wide. The sites investing in detection infrastructure now are the ones that will be credibly protected by 2030.

What are the main concerns when you port military anti-drone capabilities to a civilian setup? What are the challenges of deploying 'active mitigation' (like jamming or intercepting) in densely populated or commercially active environments?

Military counter-drone systems are built for environments where neutralising the threat is the primary objective. Civilian environments have a different set of constraints entirely: spectrum co-existence and the risk of disrupting legitimate activity nearby.

A further challenge is the lack of a clear line of responsibility and the absence of a common, centralised overview of airspace activity. Questions of jurisdiction become particularly complex in a non-military context. That said, detection in a civilian setting can actually be more reliable and effective: denser infrastructure, fixed sensor placement and the ability to correlate multiple data sources mean that understanding what is happening in your airspace is often more achievable than in a battlefield environment.

Take jamming as an example. In a civilian context, jamming will disrupt emergency services communications, aviation systems or medical equipment within range. A jammer does not distinguish between the drone it is targeting and everything else sharing that spectrum.

The answer is not to rule out active mitigation, it is to build the framework that makes it usable responsibly. High-risk sites should have access to proportionate responses, but only within a clear and accountable structure. That starts with operators being able to show they understood what was happening in their airspace before they acted; what they saw, how they read the situation and why they responded the way they did. Without that foundation, the argument for stronger powers will not land with regulators or in court. You have to be able to see and evidence what is happening before you can justify doing anything about it.

This California city just approved the use of Flock drones as first responders, but residents are worried about 'militarization and surveillance'

David Nield — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Stockton has approved a $3.15 investment in Flock drones
The drones will act as airborne first responders
Residents have raised privacy and surveillance concerns

Surveillance and privacy are huge concerns for individuals across the world right now, and municipal leaders in the California city of Stockton are the latest to attract criticism for a controversial drone expansion program that's ostensibly being undertaken in the interests of public safety.

As reported by Stocktonia, the city council recently gave the thumbs up to a $3.15 million investment in drones manufactured by Flock, on top of the automatic license readers the company already supplies. These drones can act as airborne first responders, giving police eyes on a 911 call situation in as little as 30 seconds.

The sales pitch is that officers will be better informed when they arrive, and that some incidents could be handled remotely. "It'll really enhance what we already have, in that we get quick deployments, real time updates for officers on scene," said Police Lt. David Padula when the deal was approved.

However, while city leaders all liked the drone program, there has been massive public opposition against it. Issues around privacy, immigration enforcement, and mass surveillance have been raised by residents — not just in regards to how the drones are used, but how the data they collect is stored and shared.

These drones aren't widely used in the US, but there are active programs in some cities in states, including Texas, Indiana, and Connecticut. The license plate readers are far more widespread, with more than 100,000 now in use.

Data collection and privacy

Flock drones are designed to respond to incidents in minutes (Image credit: Flock)

"It sends the wrong message," said local activist group The Stockton Community Check-In Booth in a statement after the council decision. "While our residents continue to struggle under the financial impacts of this administration and economy, Stockton continues to invest in militarization and surveillance."

"Private organizations can control your data from those Flock cameras, and because they're privately owned, you can't even use freedom of information to find out what they have about you," said Stockton Republican congressional candidate John McBride, calling the use of the drones "a total invasion of privacy".

According to Flock, local agencies remain in control of the data. It states that it doesn't work with ICE, and that federal agencies are blocked from discovering or requesting data held by Stockton. Drone flights are logged on a public-facing dashboard, and Stockton police will own 100% of the data they collect.

However, Flock has run into trouble elsewhere: It has previously been found to be sharing access with US Customs and Border Protection in Colorado and Illinois, though it says these practices have now been stopped. In Texas, police used a Flock camera network to track the movements of a woman who had an abortion.

In other areas, authorities haven't been so welcoming to Flock and its systems. In Mountain View, California, a Flock network of cameras was recently scrapped over concerns about unauthorized access.

Potensic just took on the DJI Lito X1 with its new and upgraded Atom 3 beginner drone — but the same US barriers to entry currently apply

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:50:00 +0000

Potensic's new Atom 3 replaces the Atom 2 beginner drone
It adds a bigger sensor, higher 4K frame rates, better battery life, and more
The Fly More Bundle includes an upgraded controller with a 5.5-inch display

You don't need me to tell you that DJI dominates the consumer drone space, despite its current difficulties entering the US market with a current ban on all foreign-made drones. But there's a viable beginner drone alternative, and that's Potensic.

Sadly for US consumers, Potensic also faces the same barriers to entry as DJI, given that the drone manufacturer is also Chinese. But for the rest of us, the shiny new Atom 3 looks like an excellent value option.

It upgrades the already excellent Atom 2 in several key ways, with a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor, 4K video recording at up to 60 fps with a Log color profile, 50 MP photos in JPEG and RAW, 7x slow motion in Full HD, plus a host of improved flight features.

Battery life has seen a boost, now up to 40 minutes on a single charge, as has transmission range, which now extends to 16km, not that I'd ever expect to fly that far away!

And the usual Fly More Combo, which includes three batteries and a charging hub, also comes with an upgraded controller that has a brighter 5.5-inch Full HD display than Potensic's previous offering, rated at 900 nits.

Potensic has upped its drone's tracking capabilities with AI Tracking 2.0, which can now operate down to a low altitude of 4 meters and recognize and follow hiking and vehicles.

Naturally, there are a range of flight moves too, one of which includes Waypoint (that's a pre-planned flight path that the drone follows).

All of these features point to the Atom 3 being a solid alternative to the new DJI Lito X1 — even if that drone also includes omnidirectional object avoidance — especially with its competitive pricing. The Atom 3 standard kit (with no controller) costs $429.99 / £319.99, while the bundle with the new 'RC PTD 2' controller costs $549.99 / £429.99 at Amazon and the Potensic store with pre-orders now live — I'll update this page with Australia pricing when that info is available.

(Image credit: Potensic)

In the US? No dice

US pricing for the Atom 3 is positive news for US consumers, but we don't actually know if or when the Atom 3 will land in the US. After all, the drone ban in the US doesn't just apply to DJI, but to all foreign-made drones, including those by Potensic.

Potensic is another drone manufacturer based in China, and so it faces the same barrier to entry as DJI. So for now, the Atom 3 looks like another feature-packed and affordable drone for aerial photography that drone fans in the US could miss out on.

For the rest of us, the Atom 3 is easily the best drone by Potensic yet, with a feature set that rivals the Mini 4 Pro / Lito X1, minus object avoidance. I will share my in-depth Atom 3 review once I've had more time with it.

Are you a drone user based in the US? What do you make of the drone ban currently? Make sure you vote in our poll, above.

'More than any other country in the world' - Ukraine wants to be the biggest drone and robot producer worldwide, outstripping China, Russia, and the US combined —Kyiv claims it could build more than 30 million units annually within years

Efosa Udinmwen — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 23:40:00 +0000

Ukraine wants to flood future battlefields with millions of combat drones annually
Kyiv says its drone factories could dwarf Russian and Chinese military production
Ukrainian drones are now reaching military and energy targets deep inside Russia

Ukraine’s defense ministry has laid out a startling industrial vision which could reshape global military manufacturing.

Deputy Defense Minister Mstislav Banik recently told NATO lawmakers that his country could produce 20 million military drones each year if allied nations commit sufficient resources to Ukrainian production lines.

This figure already exceeds the current combined output from China and Russia, yet Kyiv’s ambitions stretch even further.

Kyiv seeks massive expansion of military drone production

Some Ukrainian officials have hinted that annual manufacturing could surpass 30 million units within just a few years, a scale that would outpace every other nation on earth.

Independent military analysts estimate that Ukraine built roughly 4 million unmanned aircraft and naval drones during 2025.

The industry appears on track to expand that number to 5 or 6 million units in 2026, representing a 50% year-over-year growth rate.

For comparison, Chinese drone output is typically estimated at around 2 million annually, though the vast majority of those are civilian beginner drones rather than military systems.

Russian industry, now locked into a war that has lasted 12 years, likely produces between 1.2 and 1.8 million drones per year according to Ukrainian intelligence assessments.

Banik argued before the NATO Parliamentary Assembly that Ukraine’s drone fleet has proven decisive to battlefield success against Russian forces.

He called on international partners to strengthen support for Ukrainian manufacturing and to assist with acquiring other weapons listed on the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List.

According to the deputy minister, Ukraine has already achieved a technological advantage over Russia in drone systems and several other critical sectors.

To maintain this edge, Kyiv is requesting military support and direct investment totalling $60 billion in 2026.

Practical returns for partner nations

Ukraine claims to offer a tangible return for allied investment rather than simply requesting charitable assistance.

The country pledges to test new weapons in real combat conditions and share all technological advances and operational data with partner states.

More than 50 nations currently support Ukraine bilaterally, with Germany leading contributions at an estimated $5.8 billion in 2026, followed by Norway at roughly $2.8 billion and the UK at about $1.9 billion.

The European Union has also approved a support scheme providing up to $104 billion in loans to Ukraine.

Since early 2026, Ukraine has stepped up a strike campaign using long-range drones primarily targeting Russian energy infrastructure.

These attacks also aim at advanced weapons supply chain nodes and logistic routes connecting occupied Crimea to Russian territory.

Ukrainian drones have struck targets more than 2,000 km inside Russia, including an oil terminal fire in St. Petersburg and a guided missile frigate in drydock at the nearby Kronshtadt naval base.

Additional strike packages reportedly hit an arms manufacturing facility in the central city of Tambov and a Russian-operated military air base in occupied Crimea.

Despite these strikes, the gap between Ukraine’s stated ambitions and current verified production remains substantial.

No country has ever sustained drone manufacturing at the scale Kyiv now proposes, and supply chains for components like guidance chips and optical sensors could become severe bottlenecks.

Whether allied nations will be willing to supply $60 billion in 2026 is far from certain, and the strike successes against Russia may not be enough to convince allied nations.

Via Kyiv Post

'Built around volcanic materials' — Turkish startup wants to make billion-dollar radar systems near obsolete with cheap spray-in-a-can tech that claims to bring stealth capabilities to low-cost drones

Efosa Udinmwen — Fri, 29 May 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Volcanic minerals may allow ordinary drones to evade advanced radar detection systems
Spray-on stealth coatings could eliminate expensive composite panels from military drone manufacturing
Radar networks become less effective when drones return with dramatically weaker electronic signatures

A small Turkish defense research company claims it developed a spray-applied radar-absorbing coating capable of reducing drone visibility against modern detection systems.

The project, led by Turkish researcher Yunus İnce, centers around a material called Kürşat 3.0, developed during a seven-year engineering effort.

According to technical details, the coating applies directly onto aircraft surfaces instead of relying upon expensive composite stealth panels or complex structural modifications.

Volcanic materials may change how low-cost drones avoid radar detection

Kürşat 3.0 uses basalt and pumice, both volcanic rocks, as its core ingredients rather than exotic synthetic compounds.

Recent testing reportedly produced an attenuation of 43.2 decibels (dB), a dramatic reduction in the strength of a radar signal reflected to the receiver.

In practical terms, this means the radar echo from the coated drone is approximately 20,000 to 40,000 times weaker than that from an uncoated object of the same size and shape.

An attenuation figure of 43.2 decibels would place this material in genuinely competitive territory if confirmed independently.

Academic literature typically reports effective broadband radar absorption in the range of 20 to 30 decibels under standardized conditions.

Pushing substantially beyond that threshold while maintaining the simplicity of a spray application would represent a meaningful advance over commercially available products.

With 43.2dB, a drone that should be visible at several kilometers with a strong, trackable return signature would either disappear entirely from the radar screen or appear only at such close range that the defending system has virtually no time to react.

In military terms, this shrinks the detection and engagement envelope from a comfortable buffer zone down to a frantic last-second warning.

Radar stealth conventionally requires either carefully shaped airframes or expensive composite panels bonded by specialists.

This material works differently by exploiting the microscopic pore structures found in basalt and pumice.

Those natural cavities trap incoming electromagnetic waves and convert them into heat instead of reflecting energy toward the radar receiver.

The underlying scientific principle has attracted academic attention for over a decade, making the approach plausible rather than fanciful.

A sprayable formula eliminates the seams and coverage gaps that plague traditional composite panel installations on complex curved surfaces.

Why do we need drones with very low detection?

The war in Ukraine has shown that drones costing a few thousand dollars can destroy armored vehicles and disrupt supply lines at scale.

Defenders have responded by expanding radar networks and electronic warfare systems specifically designed to find and kill those drones.

Reducing a drone's radar signature complicates every stage of that detection chain, and doing so with a coating that adds negligible weight would make stealth accessible to operators using commercial hardware.

Turkey's defense industry has already proved with the Bayraktar TB2 that affordable unmanned systems can reshape battlefields before Western analysts fully appreciate the shift.

However, at the time of writing, no independent testing verified this technology, and the relevant radar frequency bands for operational use remain unspecified.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and a single attenuation figure from unpublished testing does not yet meet that standard.

The volcanic materials themselves are inexpensive and abundant, which is scientifically reasonable.

But laboratory measurements rarely survive translation to field conditions with vibration, weather, and real-world radar frequency variations.

Until independent verification appears across operationally relevant bands, Kürşat 3.0 remains an intriguing research outcome rather than a military breakthrough.

Via Defence Blog

The DJI Mini 4K is 'the most capable drone for beginners for the money' — and it's now back to a record-low price on Amazon

paulo.n.hatton@gmail.com (Paul Hatton) — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:37:45 +0000

If you're buying your first drone, you'll want a beginner-friendly model that includes everything you need to get flying straight away. One drone that ticks all those boxes is this DJI Mini 4K at Amazon for £189 (was £242). That discount drops the four-and-a-half-star-rated drone back to its lowest price ever.

This particular bundle includes the drone, an RC-N1C controller, and one battery. That means you'll be up and flying in no time at all, capturing breathtaking 4K video.

One of the best things about the DJI Mini 4K is how portable it is. At less than 249g, you can throw it into a camera bag or rucksack and take it anywhere you want. The fact that it's now discounted by so much only sweetens the deal more.

Today's best DJI drone deal

This drone continues to hold the title of the best budget option in our best drones guide. With decent 4K video image quality, a 31-minute flight time, and downward obstacle sensing, you're getting a great collection of features for the price. And it's an even better buy now that you can get it for a record-low price once again.View Deal

Take a read of our in-depth DJI Mini 4K review, where our cameras editor, Timothy Coleman, took the popular drone out for a test spin. It didn't take long for him to be impressed by the high-resolution 4K video, the set of features that are perfect for beginners, and its excellent value. And don't forget, that was at full price.

Beyond this, the drone offers level 5 wind resistance, dynamic movement presets, and a battery that will last for a maximum of 31 minutes. This will be enough for most flights, but if that's going to be an issue, then we recommend investing in additional batteries.

To give you a complete picture, the Mini 4K lacks object-collision sensors and subject tracking, which will make it difficult to fly through tight spaces. If you require this feature, then the DJI Mini 4 Pro would be a viable alternative. But this Mini 4K has all the essential features you would need for your first drone at a much more reasonable price.

The Mini 4K is ideal for beginners, but if you're looking for something more advanced, then our guide to the best drones is a great place to start. And if you're set on DJI, then we have a dedicated best DJI drones buying guide just for you.

War, drones, and the energy reckoning: How the Iran war is reshaping tech investment

Daiva Rakauskaitė — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:59:33 +0000

The Iran war has driven up fuel and freight costs, exposed vulnerabilities in critical supply chains, and forced investors to rethink which technologies matter most in a more volatile world.

Two themes stand out: low-cost autonomous defense systems and energy technologies that reduce exposure to fossil-fuel shocks.

Evolution of drones

The war in Ukraine has already shown what that first trend looks like in practice. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, one of Ukraine’s main defenses against the larger and better-resourced Russian army were Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, which reportedly cost several million dollars.

Now, a few years later, Ukraine increasingly relies on domestically produced and locally assembled drones. For example, Vyriy, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer, says that it has localized production of frames, controllers, and radio control systems, while other components, like cameras, are provided by local companies.

Some of the company’s first-person-view drones reportedly cost as little as $500.

Another Ukrainian company, Wild Hornets, recently said a Ukrainian operator used its Sting interceptor system to shoot down two Russian drones located 500 km away, highlighting the increasing capabilities of low-cost defense systems.

Beyond the ability to test and improve drones in real-world conditions, the main reason companies can make drones cheaper and more effective is the ability to produce them at scale.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced plans to manufacture around 7 million drones this year alone, after producing more than 4 million in 2025. According to the ministry, currently, there are more than 200 Ukrainian companies involved in producing AI-powered drones.

Technological capabilities also play a significant role in making them widespread and effective. AI systems are being used on the front lines for target detection, obstacle avoidance, and battlefield data analysis.

Benefits beyond military

The Iran war was another reminder that warfare is changing, showing how cheap systems can make a difference. Iranian drones and missiles have targeted or threatened regional energy infrastructure, while the US, for the first time, used low-cost one-way attack drones modeled after Iranian designs.

Even before the war, investors had already ramped up investments in defense. Last year, venture capital investments in defense startups, including those that include dual-use technologies used by civilians, grew to $49.1 billion from $27.2 billion a year earlier, according to PitchBook calculations.

PitchBook also claims that autonomous systems were among the most funded startups, while counter-unmanned aerial systems and autonomous manufacturing are rapidly emerging as priorities.

I expect the Iran war also to drive even more investments in defense, particularly in drones and anti-drone systems. Oil-rich Middle Eastern countries are already looking for ways to defend themselves against Iranian threats, which will likely spur further investment.

Advances in military technology, together with falling production costs, could accelerate the development of civilian drone applications in package delivery, agriculture, aerial surveying and public-safety operations.

This can mean medicine arriving faster in remote areas, small household items delivered in minutes, and lower delivery costs. Recently, Barclays estimated that autonomous delivery costs could fall from $5–$7 per order to $1 in the long term, Reuters reported.

Energy security

Another area where the war is going to have a significant footprint is energy security. Rising oil prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a route that normally carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, prompted the International Energy Agency (IEA) to call it the biggest energy crisis in history.

The head of IEA has warned that some European airlines have only six weeks of fuel left.

Even if the Iran war ends soon, it would be naive to expect such oil shocks to never happen again. This is another major energy shock within four years. The last one, which followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, accelerated the push into renewables, grid infrastructure, storage, and electrification, especially in Europe.

We are likely to see a similar pattern now, and the more negatively the war affects the economy, the stronger the incentive to reduce oil exposure becomes. This should accelerate the adoption of transport powered by alternative fuels, as well as the expansion of the infrastructure needed to support it.

Advances in technology can also help reduce dependency on oil. AI tools can help forecast electricity demand, making grids more efficient and reducing unnecessary fossil-fuel backup. It can improve the integration of solar and wind by predicting generation patterns more accurately.

AI can also optimize battery storage, deciding when to store power and when to release it to the grid. And in buildings, AI can help manage heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation in real time, cutting energy waste.

For investors, that makes the takeaway from Iran much broader than a short-term spike in oil. It is a reminder that resilience is becoming a core investment theme.

In a world of cheap drones and expensive energy insecurity, the winners are likely to be the companies that can make protection cheaper and energy systems less exposed to geopolitical shocks.

We've featured the best business plan software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

DJI drone ban still in full-force — but the US government has issued a small software reprieve, and is letting you have your say

hamish.hector@futurenet.com (Hamish Hector) — Mon, 11 May 2026 13:38:30 +0000

The FCC has extended its waiver on software updates for DJI drones
The latest extension ends on January 1, 2029
You can also have your say on the DJI ban

The US Federal Communications Commission’s ban on new DJI drones and its other technology has been a frustrating one for camera enthusiasts and professionals alike — as they’re set to miss out on 25 launches this year alone — but we finally have a silver lining, even if it is a small one.

Your older DJI drones should stay reliable for a little while longer.

That’s because the FCC has announced that it’s extending the waiver for certain drones to receive software updates in the US. Previously, it was set to expire on January 1, 2027, but now it will last until at least January 1, 2029 — foreign internet routers have also had their software access extended until this date (via Tom’s Hardware).

In terms of hardware access, nothing has changed, but it means that manufacturers shouldn't get blocked from releasing essential security or bug fix patches to already sold tech (at least not until 2029). Previously, this was a fear once the waiver ran out, and could have left some tech unable to function if it encountered a glitch, or turn your drone into the sort of security risk that the FCC’s ban is meant to avoid.

Meanwhile, DJI is attempting to appeal the FCC’s ruling in US courts. The ban came about when DJI was put on the 'Covered List' — a list of entities thought to be a threat to national security — though neither the FCC nor the US government has explained exactly what DJI has done to deserve this designation.

At the same time, these entities refused to perform a security audit of DJI, despite the company submitting to one.

The whole process has been a frustrating one to watch play out — especially given the excellent quality of DJI’s camera and drone tech. Hopefully, this waiver extension will help alleviate some issues, but we’ll have to wait and see how the DJI appeal goes for a more definitive verdict on the drone brand’s US fate.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Have your say

If you’re frustrated with the DJI ban, the FCC is currently giving the public a chance to submit comments on its measures — though the form closes today (May 11), so you don’t have much time left.

As highlighted on the r/drones subreddit, you just need to go to the FCC’s Submit an Express Comment page and fill in the short form; in the first box, type "26-22" to find the DJI ruling where you'll want to comment.

You will need to provide some personal information (such as your name and address), and then provide your comment on the ban. You can highlight how DJI drones have positively impacted your life, and/or you could question the confusing implementation of the ban — how it affects all of DJI’s tech rather than just its drones, or how the ban doesn’t seem to be applied fairly to other similar drone makers.

Equally, if you think the ban has had a positive impact (though we here at TechRadar wouldn’t agree), you can also leave a comment explaining why you hope the ban stays in place.

Just remember to keep your comments civil, the FCC likely won’t appreciate being bombarded with rude or hateful comments — and harsher words wouldn’t help either side’s arguments in this technology debate.

'Straight out of a fairyland' — winner of the 11th DJI and SkyPixel photo and video contest stunned judges with 'unique and otherworldly landscape' to bag the grand prize in the $200,000 pot, and it was captured with a Mavic 3 Pro

Timothy Coleman — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:13:44 +0000

Want a glimpse of the world's best aerial photography? DJI and SkyPixel's annual photo and video contest is the place to go, and this year's winners have just been announced after the early contenders were teased a couple of months ago.

The stunning winning photos and videos of the 11th edition of the contest were selected from over 95,000 entries and 96 countries and regions — and drone pilot Filip Hrebenda scooped the grand prize in the contest's $200,000 pot with his aerial image The Gate (see below).

Contest judge Zhu Jiong described the scene as "straight out of a fairyland — layered mountains wrapped in mist.

"The image feels calm on the outside, yet somehow breathtaking."

I must admit I haven't seen such a composition before, so it is a unique and fresh shot
Daniel Kordan, contest judge

Four judges praised the grand prize winner, saying: "The location and conditions feel rare, especially with the fog and elevation, making the scene stand out."

Judge Daniel Kordan goes on to say: "I must admit I haven't seen such a composition before, so it is a unique and fresh shot."

The remote aerial scene was taken in Buskerud, Norway, with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro — a pro triple camera drone which we gave a five-star rating, and which has since been updated with the Mavic 4 Pro. We rank the Pro series as the best camera drones for consumers.

The winning The Gate image in full (Image credit: © Filip Hrebenda)

Details on the SkyPixel contest's site suggest Hrebenda used the main 24mm camera with variable aperture, which utilizes a micro four thirds sensor – that's bigger than those used in DJI's sub-250g drones.

Hrebenda had this to say about his winning image:

"Captured in the far north of Norway during the autumn of 2025, this photograph was taken in a remote and extremely difficult-to-reach location. At sunrise, the landscape was covered by dense fog that filled the valleys and concealed the dramatic terrain.

"After a demanding ascent, we finally rose above the cloud layer, revealing this surreal and almost otherworldly view. The natural stone arch, resembling a monumental gate carved by time, stands suspended above a deep valley, surrounded by rugged cliffs and distant mountain silhouettes emerging from the sea of mist. The lone figure on the rock emphasizes the scale and raw beauty of the landscape.

"To capture this composition, finding the perfect perspective was essential. This was made possible with the help of a DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone, which allowed me to position the camera precisely and reveal the full geometry of this extraordinary natural formation."

All the winning images can be seen at the SkyPixel site and also include the early front-runner Carpet Fields, which ended up being a finalist and was captured with the older Mavic 2 Pro.

It's truly amazing the standard of photography that camera drone pilots are creating with what is relatively affordable gear.

‘Poultry in motion’: South Korea tests fried chicken delivery to remote island using a drone and four-wheel robot in the world’s most elaborate takeaway operation

David Nield — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:28:30 +0000

Drone deliveries are becoming more ambitious
A new South Korean trial delivered fried chicken to a remote island
It's one of 80 test runs over the past month

Delivery drone programs are getting smarter and more ambitious: a trial scheme in South Korea has successfully delivered an order of fried chicken to a customer on the remote Biyang Island, via both a drone and an autonomous four-wheel robot.

The delivery drone traveled over three kilometers (1.86 miles) of ocean to reach its destination and transfer its delicious cargo, The Korea Times reports. There's no indication of how the takeaway meal actually tasted, but the "local resident" involved didn't lodge any complaints.

This is part of an extensive test by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), backed by the government in South Korea. Around 80 such deliveries have been completed in the past month.

And Biyang Island is a particularly suitable challenge for this autonomous delivery technology. Not only is the location remote, it also features narrow alleys winding through the volcanic island, which traditional delivery vehicles would struggle with.

Ready to replace existing logistics

✔️드론과 자율주행 로봇 협업의‘문 앞 배송 서비스’ 제주 금능포구~비양도 일대에서 현장 테스트 수행!📦 최대 40kg 화물을 실은 드론이배송지 인근까지 비행하면,🤖 로봇이 물품을 전달받아문 앞까지 직접 배송합니다.#KASA #우주항공청 #한국전자통신연구원 #드론배송 #로봇배송 #제주도 pic.twitter.com/fXaV4e3LDlApril 24, 2026

While commercial drones typically carry payloads of around three kilograms in weight, the flying machines tested here can hold up to 40 kilograms, which means a lot of items can be packed together in a single delivery and sent off.

"It is rare to repeatedly test high-payload deliveries under such varied conditions," said KASA, as per the report in The Korea Times. "This technology is reaching a level where it can replace everyday logistics operations."

There's still plenty of work to do, however: commercial services won't be ready for another five years, as the technology is developed further, and concerns over privacy and safety are worked out with regulators.

Even if it's not ready for the masses yet, it's an exciting glimpse into the future of drone-robot deliveries, with the tech advancing rapidly — and it's those in the most remote, difficult-to-reach locations that are set to benefit the most.

The best DJI Lito alternatives — including 'your best first drone', and one serious curve-ball option

Ruth Hamilton — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:30:00 +0000

There's a winning new affordable drone on the market. But while the outstanding DJI Lito has winged its way to the UK and Australia, thanks to that pesky DJI ban, US shoppers are currently missing out. If you live in the US and are looking for a budget-friendly drone to buy now (or even if you're in the UK and want to explore all your options), I've rounded up the best Lito alternatives below.

The main model to consider is the Lito's predecessor, the DJI Mini 4K, which at time of writing holds the #2 spot in TechRadar's best drone ranking. It packs some impressive specs for an affordable price, and is an especially strong choice for beginners (we crowned it "your best first drone"). You can see exactly how it matches up against its replacement in our DJI Lito X1 vs DJI Mini 4K comparison.

For content creators looking to capture short selfie video clips and photos for social media, the obvious choice is the DJI Neo 2. It's compact, simple and wallet-friendly. And if you're looking to steer clear of DJI altogether, the Potensic Atom 2 is well worth a look.

Finally, there's a curve-ball option from TechRadar's Cameras editor Tim Coleman. "A left-field alternative is a 360 camera with a long selfie stick — you can get drone-like effects with those," he explains. You could pick any option from TechRadar's best 360 cameras guide, but for those seeking to keep the price down, Tim suggests the Insta360 Invisible selfie stick paired with the Insta360 X3 camera — this model has been upgraded twice over (with the X4 and X5) but it's still available, capable, and at this point very affordable. Who needs a Lito anyway?

DJI Lito alternatives

DJI

Mini 4K

DJI

Mini 4k Fly More Combo

Very nearly lowest ever price, only very briefly cheaper once

DJI

Mini 3

DJI

Mini 3 Fly More Combo

DJI

Neo 2

Potensic

Atom 2

Insta360

X3 360 Action Camera

Insta360

Invisible Selfie Stick

'The death of Top Gun' — Ukraine becomes the first to scale remotely operated interceptors that can score aerial kills from "thousands of kilometers" away while staying in bunkers as era of pilotless dogfighting and zero crew casualties takes to the sky

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:05:00 +0000

Ukraine scales remote interceptor drones capable of destroying aerial targets from distant protected locations
Operators control aerial interceptors from bunkers thousands of kilometers away instead of front lines
Demonstrations prove long-distance drone interception works across more than 1,240 miles

Ukraine has become the first country to scale remotely operated interceptor drones capable of destroying aerial targets over vast distances, opening the door to air combat carried out far from the battlefield itself.

Operators can now guide interceptor drones from secure bunkers hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away, allowing aerial targets to be destroyed without pilots or launch crews exposed to direct danger.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the capability is already working in combat conditions, with confirmed interceptions taking place across long distances.

Government-backed Brave1 platform

"A year ago, through Brave1, we initiated the development and testing of remote control technology for interceptor drones. Today, we have a confirmed result — shooting down targets at distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometers," Fedorov wrote on social media.

Brave1 is a government-backed platform created to speed up development of new defense technologies through coordination between engineers and manufacturers.

Fedorov added that Ukraine is the first country to scale the remote control of interceptor drones at a systematic level, describing the effort as the creation of a new standard in air defense.

"The pilot is no longer tied to a position. The drone is in the sky — control comes from a protected environment in Kyiv, Lviv, or even abroad," he wrote.

Those changes mean interceptor operators no longer need to sit close to launch positions, allowing operations to be controlled from protected locations far from the battlefield.

"This increases interception efficiency, minimizes risks for operators, and allows capabilities to scale without being tied to the front," Fedorov wrote.

He also said that more than 10 defense manufacturers have already integrated the remote-control capability into their interceptor systems.

One recent demonstration pushed the concept into long-distance territory when Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets flew its Sting interceptor drone across roughly 1,240 miles, or about 2,000 kilometers, while the operator remained based in northern Ukraine, according to reporting from The Kyiv Independent.

That flight relied on the company’s Hornet Vision Ctrl system to maintain continuous control across the entire route, with the system now being deployed across interceptor platforms, the news site reported.

Traditional interception missions placed pilots or crews directly into contested airspace, forcing aircraft and personnel into positions where reaction time and survival depended on seconds.

Remote interceptor systems replace those risks with long-distance command links and hardened shelters, allowing aerial engagements to take place without crews entering the sky at all.

If production continues expanding across manufacturers, interception missions could increasingly move toward remote operation rather than cockpit-based combat, reducing the number of personnel exposed during aerial defense.

"Push them to the limit": MIT researchers almost double SSD performance 'for free' but only for data centers

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:27:59 +0000

Sandook software coordinates many SSDs to avoid slowdowns from garbage collection
Two-tier control system reroutes workloads across pooled drives in real time
Performance gains approach theoretical limits but depend on large clustered storage environments

Researchers at MIT and Tufts University have built a storage management system called Sandook that pushes pooled SSDs closer to their theoretical limits. The project, targets a long-standing issue inside large storage clusters where identical drives rarely perform in identical ways.

Solid-state drives slow down for a number of reasons, including internal garbage collection cycles and the slower nature of write operations compared with reads. Those slowdowns can ripple across workloads when multiple applications share the same storage pool.

Rather than leaving each SSD to handle performance issues on its own, the system splits control duties across two coordinated layers that manage activity across the full drive pool.

Unleashing the potential of data center SSDs

As Blocks & Files reports, a central controller collects performance telemetry from each large SSD and revises scheduling choices about 5x per second.

Local agents inside storage servers pass along performance signals and congestion warnings as workloads change.

When a drive begins housekeeping duties such as garbage collection, the system lowers its priority and transfers traffic to healthier drives in the pool. That rerouting happens without requiring changes to applications accessing the storage.

The method builds on techniques already used in enterprise storage, including block replication for reads and log-structured writes that can land on any available device.

Trials included database processing, neural network training, large-scale image compression, and latency-critical storage services, and the system reportedly delivered between 30 and 82 percent higher raw input and output throughput compared with earlier approaches that targeted single bottlenecks.

Across pooled workloads, application performance gains ranged from 12 to 94 percent, with latency reductions reaching up to 88 percent. In some cases, storage throughput reached roughly 1.7x previous levels.

The gains come entirely from software, which means commodity off-the-shelf SSDs remain unchanged. CPU and memory overhead for monitoring dozens of drives per server was described as being minimal.

The research paper, titled “Unleashing The Potential of Datacenter SSDs by Taming Performance Variability,” is available to view here.

Despite the headline numbers, this isn’t something most consumers could run at home. The design depends on large groups of SSDs working together, along with Linux-based infrastructure and enterprise networking setups common in data centers.

That pooling effect is where most of the performance improvement comes from. Without spare drives to shift workloads onto, a single-drive system would see little benefit.

Blocks & Files notes the work will be discussed at the USENIX NSDI 2026 event in May, where the researchers plan to show how coordinated scheduling helps solve unpredictable SSD behavior across large clusters.

The $5 Drone Killer: The Navy’s new 20kW LOCUST laser just proved its "unlimited magazine depth" on the USS George H.W. Bush — it neutralized multiple UAVs for a fraction of the cost of a missile, protecting the fleet from cheap enemy drone swarms

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:40:00 +0000

LOCUST laser tested aboard USS George H.W. Bush during live drone engagement
Palletized system deployed without permanent ship modification during demonstration
Newer Locust versions introduce AI-assisted tracking and higher power output

Drone warfare has expanded rapidly in recent years, with large numbers of low-cost systems used across conflicts such as Ukraine and in operations linked to Iran.

Defending against repeated drone attacks has exposed the limits of traditional interceptors, leading the US military (and others) to explore laser weapons that can fire repeatedly without running out of ammunition.

AeroVironment says it has successfully demonstrated its LOCUST laser weapon system aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during a live-fire exercise carried out with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.

Intended to counter smaller drones

The palletized LOCUST Laser Weapon System was deployed onto the carrier and tracked, engaged, and neutralized multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, showing that the system could operate from a moving carrier environment.

The high-energy laser is mounted in a turret that can be rolled onto different platforms. This design allows the system to operate from either its own battery bank or draw power directly from a ship, reducing the need for permanent installation work.

“LOCUST delivers effective, all-domain protection against emerging drone threats at the speed of light — on any platform, in any domain, for any mission,” said John Garrity, Vice President of Directed Energy Systems at AV.

“Rolling LOCUST onto a ship and quickly initiating operations facilitates the expanded use of high-energy lasers across the Fleet without the need for costly, time-consuming ship modifications. This is a game-changer for the Navy and for our national security.”

AeroVironment said the system demonstrated target tracking and beam control while operating aboard the carrier, and the same core system architecture is shared across multiple military services, so the technology can be used on land-based vehicles as well as ships.

The War Zone says this appears to be the first time a laser weapon of this type has been installed on a U.S. aircraft carrier, and that systems like LOCUST typically operate in the roughly 20kW power range. This places them in the category of weapons intended primarily to counter smaller drones.

TWZ also points out that lasers still face practical limits in operational settings. Beam effectiveness decreases over distance, and weather conditions such as dust, smoke, or moisture can reduce performance before the beam reaches its target.

Defense Express notes that AeroVironment has continued developing newer versions of the system, including an updated model known as Locust X3.

This version supports power levels between 20kW and 35kW and includes AI-assisted detection and tracking tools.

Defense Express also reports that shooting down one drone using Locust X3 laser system only costs five dollars, without the need for reloading, making it useful over extended periods.

Robots are fighting wars and helping to quash riots — China is arming riot police with squads of AI controlled drones and Ukraine wants to man the frontlines with 25,000 robots

benedict.collins@futurenet.com (Benedict Collins) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:05:00 +0000

China and Ukraine are testing new robotic capabilities
Robots are being deployed to the frontlines of the war with Russia
Protests in China could soon be policed using squads of robots and drones

Robots can’t surrender, don’t suffer issues with morale, and won’t refuse an order. That’s why militaries and law enforcement see them as the future.

Ukraine has already employed robots in multiple roles across its armed forces - from seaborne and airborne drones, to CASEVAC and logistics vehicles - and now wants to deploy 25,000 more in frontline positions.

China is also flirting with the idea of kitting out its armed police and riot units with squads entirely made of robots, controlled by a central AI, with remote human input only to prevent the bots from being too heavy handed.

Ukraine to deploy 25,000 ground robots

In order to supplement its existing capabilities, the Ukraine Ministry of Defense has announced that it will seek to deploy an additional 25,000 robots in the first half of 2026. “Our goal — 100% of frontline logistics should be performed by robotic systems,” said Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine’s industry for robots and drones has exploded with over 280 companies now actively producing systems and solutions to help the war effort.

Ukraine has already claimed to have taken a trench system using a team made entirely of robots, in what could be a first of its kind engagement. There are also novel deployments of drones and robots with mounted weapons, including machine guns and rocket launchers.

The government is also setting up a center to help the Armed Forces, General Staff, and robotics manufacturers cooperate, ensuring smooth manufacturing and deployment.

China testing riot robots

The People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) theorized a scenario where it a protest is quelled in an urban environment using a riot squad made entirely of robots.

The squad, made up of reconnaissance drones, armored vehicles, and robot dogs would isolate and detain instigators, removing the protest’s organizational backbone. The rest of the protest, cut off from the internet and lacking leadership, would then disperse on its own.

Aerial drones would use pattern recognition to identify agitators, before ‘kettling’ the protest with robotic barriers. Arrests are then made, using nets and tasers to neutralize threats.

The system would require very little human input, instead using AI as its center of command. Arrests would remain a human decision, albeit a remote one.

The scenario, set in “New City”, bears a striking resemblance to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, which China has claimed to be an inalienable part of the mainland since the Kuomintang-led Republic of China government lost the Chinese civil war and fled to the island nation.

Chasing a 'slightly ridiculous' 250mph goal: Engineer behind the world’s fastest 3D-printed, drone-powered RC car pushes for a new record

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Record-setting RC car reached 234.7mph in February using drone-powered drivetrain
Project 250 redesign focuses on narrowing chassis and increasing electrical power
Engineer aims to exceed current world record with upgraded motors and higher voltage

Stephen Wallis, a part-time motorcycle engineer from Rugby, UK, set a Guinness World Record in February 2026 when his remote control car reached 234.7mph, and he is already working on a redesigned machine built to push beyond 250mph.

The record-setting vehicle, known as The Beast, measures 3ft 2in long, about 1m, and took more than a year to design and build using 3D-printed components and high-powered drone motors.

Four motors are bolted directly to the wheels, which connect straight to the chassis to reduce mechanical losses and keep the drivetrain simple at very high speeds.

A slightly ridiculous goal: 250mph

Wallis said his interest in radio-controlled cars stems from his childhood. "It goes back to when I was eight years old and got my first radio controlled car," Wallis told the BBC.

The final recorded speed of The Beast placed the small vehicle ahead of the top speed of a production McLaren F1, offering a useful comparison with a well-known performance benchmark.

Reaching 240mph had been a private goal during the original project, although his attention has now shifted to an even more demanding target.

In a recent video update, Wallis explained how he is rebuilding the car to chase higher speeds and break his own record.

“Today, I'm going to show you exactly how I'm evolving my RC car to beat my Guinness World Record of 234.7 mph and chase a slightly ridiculous goal: 250,” he said.

The new build, known as Project 250, keeps the general layout of The Beast while introducing several mechanical and electrical upgrades.

Reducing overall width is a key change, as narrower bodywork cuts drag and helps maintain stability at higher speeds.

Larger 5215 motors are also being introduced to deliver more torque and manage heat more effectively under heavy loads. Battery capacity is increasing as well, with an additional two-cell unit raising the system to a 20-cell, 84V setup.

“I've got ideas: make it narrower, fit bigger motors, and run more voltage. Now, I need to turn those ideas into a real design,” he said.

Changes to wheel mounting and steering components were required to achieve the narrower layout, including revised adapters that place the wheel closer to the motor face.

Weight balance is another challenge, as shifting batteries and electronics can change how the car behaves at extreme speeds.

“I need to design a car capable of 250 mph and build it in time for the next speedrun season, which starts in 8 weeks,” he said.

Prototype parts have already been produced using 3D printing to confirm fit and layout and the final components will be manufactured from aluminum and carbon fiber.

'No onboard pilot needed': Massive 2-ton VTOL “mega drone” just hauled fresh tea leaves over 75 miles autonomously

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:05:00 +0000

Autonomous cargo aircraft completed 120km mountain delivery in just 37 minutes
Hybrid air and rail transport enabled fresh tea delivery within 24 hours
CarryAll drone carries up to 400kg with 200km operational range

Chinese-founded aerospace company AutoFlight has carried out a 2-ton-class eVTOL transport trial moving fresh spring tea across mountainous terrain in Guizhou province.

The test used its CarryAll (V2000CG), an unmanned electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, to move freshly harvested tea between the cities of Anshun and Guiyang, roughly 120km apart.

That flight crossed rugged mountain terrain in 37 minutes, a trip that typically takes far longer by road due to winding routes and elevation changes common in the region.

Maximum payload of 400kg

Once the aircraft delivered the tea to Guiyang, the shipment continued by high-speed rail to Shanghai, covering close to 2,000km in total distance.

The combined use of aircraft and rail allowed the tea to reach consumers within 24 hours of harvesting, offering a different way to move time-sensitive agricultural products from remote regions.

Unlike conventional cargo aircraft, the CarryAll operates without an onboard pilot, relying on autonomous flight systems to handle navigation and route execution.

The aircraft supports a maximum payload of 400kg and has a range of up to 200km, with a cruise speed of about 180km/h, making it suited to medium-distance cargo routes where roads are slow or unreliable.

Vertical takeoff and landing capability removes the need for runways, allowing operations from compact pads near farms or logistics hubs, which could simplify deployment in mountainous or isolated areas.

AutoFlight said the CarryAll (V2000CG) holds Type, Production, and Airworthiness Certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, making it one of the earliest large cargo eVTOL platforms to reach that stage of regulatory approval.

“This innovative ‘autonomous eVTOL air transfer + high-speed rail trunk line’ model breaks logistics bottlenecks in high-altitude mountainous areas. AutoFlight will join hands with more partners to extend this efficient, green autonomous cargo model to more specialty agricultural producing areas," said Li Yun, CCO of AutoFlight.

"This will help more high-quality local agricultural products reach national markets quickly, driving regional industrial upgrading and rural revitalization.”

AutoFlight's cargo aircraft have previously flown missions involving offshore platforms, intercity freight, and emergency fire-fighting support, showing how the technology is being tested beyond controlled demonstrations.

The company is also working on a six-seat passenger version, identified as the V2000EM Prosperity, which is undergoing airworthiness certification under Chinese aviation authorities.

A Starlink outage left dozens of unmanned US Navy vessels stranded off the California coast — and exposed the Pentagon's worrying reliance on Elon Musk

Darren Allan — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:57 +0000

A Starlink outage meant 24 unmanned vessels were left bobbing in the water for almost an hour, according to a report
Reuters claims previous incidents with flaky network connectivity highlight concerns with Starlink and controlling drones
However, an autonomous warfare expert observed: "You accept those vulnerabilities because of the benefits you get from the ubiquity [Starlink] provides."

Tests of US Navy drone vessels have seemingly exposed weaknesses in terms of the reliance on Starlink for network connectivity with these unmanned craft.

Reuters reports that in testing that took place in August of last year, some 24 of these drone vessels – which resemble speedboats without seats – were left floating listlessly in the water off the California coast for the best part of an hour, due to a global outage that hit the Starlink broadband network.

This worrying incident, and others where flaky network connectivity had proved problematic for US operations with drones, were highlighted by an anonymous source, and in internal documents from the Navy which Reuters gained access to.

An intermittent network connection had proved problematic in tests in the weeks running up to the outage in August. Further to that, we're told that in April 2025, Navy tests involving these unmanned boats (and also airborne drones) were disrupted as Starlink "struggled to provide a solid network connection" given the high bandwidth needed due to the number of craft involved.

Reuters observed that the Navy report stated: "Starlink reliance exposed limitations under multiple-vehicle load." (Starlink wasn't the sole point of failure here, though, as there were other issues with the radios used, and a network system provided by Viasat).

The Pentagon wouldn't be drawn to respond to questions on the drone tests, and the US Navy and SpaceX declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Analysis: spacing out

(Image credit: dodochem/Satellite Streak Watcher/Anecdata.org)

Clearly, this is a concerning report, and it raises questions as to whether the US military should be looking at alternatives to using Starlink for controlling drones (or indeed for missile tracking). The trouble is – what are those alternatives? Nothing on the scale of what Elon Musk's SpaceX can offer, of course.

Starlink is, as Reuters points out, a cheap and commercially available service, one bristling with an array of some 10,000 low-earth orbit satellites. The report quotes Clayton Swope, a deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who said: "If there was no Starlink, the US government wouldn't have access to a global constellation of low earth orbit communications."

Regarding the network flakiness observed, Bryan Clark, an autonomous warfare expert at the Hudson Institute, added: "You accept those vulnerabilities because of the benefits you get from the ubiquity it [Starlink] provides."

The online arguments then run along the lines of: well, the US government should be building its own satellite system. Of course, that's a lot easier said than done, and not just from a financial perspective, because SpaceX has a key logistical advantage in terms of its capabilities to get satellites launched into orbit in a timely manner.

Just look at Amazon, which is currently engaged in building its Starlink rival, Leo. This satellite internet service was supposed to be available at the end of 2025, but it won't be until mid-2026 now (it's not yet clear if that means consumers or not, either).

As Engadget recently reported, Amazon was aiming to have 1,600 satellites in orbit by July 2026, and now it expects that Leo will comprise less than half that — around 700 — by that time. Currently, it has 241 satellites operational, a drop in a drone-filled ocean compared to Starlink – and of course it remains to be seen if that downwardly-revised 700 target for the middle of 2026 is hit.

You get the point, then, about the limited options here. Although that doesn't mean the US government couldn't investigate other ways forward in terms of much longer-term planning, mind, because clearly these kinds of systems must be robust and reliable when it comes to using them outside of testing.

'Jesus!': 10,000 drones flock in Texas to tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth — and crush four world records

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:14:23 +0000

Texas drone show retells the story of Jesus using 10,000 synchronized aerial units
Event earns four Guinness World Records including largest QR code formation
Global drone displays continue growing in scale with creative record attempts

One of the largest drone light shows staged in the United States has broken four Guinness World Records while retelling the life of Jesus Christ in the Texas night sky.

The production combined religious storytelling with large-scale aerial visuals, pushing drone choreography to numbers rarely attempted at public events.

The Easter event was staged by Aerial Illuminations Drone Light Shows and was recognized for creating the world’s largest QR code, logo, word and flying LED screen formed entirely by drones.

From birth to resurrection

The drone show took place in Manvel, Texas, across nine nights, beginning with 5,000 drones and building to a peak of 10,000 units.

Scenes followed the life of Jesus from his birth through to the resurrection, with drones forming figures and symbols tied to key moments.

AV Magazine reports the images included Jesus with his disciples, the word Jesus spelled out in the sky, Christ riding a horse, sitting on a large throne, and a crucifixion scene presented on Good Friday.

Organizers spent more than two months preparing the show, coordinating flight paths, animation timing and safety systems across a team of more than 100 crew members.

Large formations required careful synchronization so thousands of drones could act as a single animated surface without collisions or loss of signal.

Large-scale drone displays have been growing in scale over recent years, with several attempts to push numbers higher or introduce new visual concepts.

In May 2025, more than 10,000 drones flew in Ho Chi Minh City to mark the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

China pushed the numbers even higher in November when nearly 16,000 drones formed a synchronized display in Liuyang, a city often called the fireworks capital of the world.

While not as impressive numbers-wise, in December 2025, 2,800 drones formed a playable version of Tetris in the skies of Dubai, and earlier this year, Apple used 3,000 drones to create a roughly 500-foot Godzilla figure above Hollywood to promote Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season two.

Drone-killing laser weapons greenlit for use in US airspace – FAA and Defense Department say high-energy weapons are ‘ready to protect all air travelers from illicit drone use’ despite airspace restrictions and friendly-fire incidents

benedict.collins@futurenet.com (Benedict Collins) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:05:00 +0000

FAA approves laser weapons for anti-drone operations in US airspace
High-energy weapons "do not present an increased risk"
Approval follows multiple airspace closures due to unapproved weapons firing

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the use of drone-killing high-energy lasers in US airspace, according to the New York Times.

The decision came on Friday after a two-month deliberation on the potential dangers the weapons could cause to aircraft in airspace protected by lasers.

Despite airspace closures to shoot down balloons and a friendly-fire incident involving a Customs and Border Protection drone, FAA testing has “determined that these systems do not present an increased risk to the flying public.”

Anti-drone laser weapons approved for US airspace

The FAA approval doesn’t note any determinations on if the weapons posed zero risk to aircraft, but instead stated that if the weapons did happen to come into contact with an aircraft, the damage would be minimal - which is hardly reassuring.

Additionally, pilots flying within airspaces protected by laser weapons will be issued an advisory by the FAA.

The FAA has had several moments of conflict with the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security after high-energy lasers were used without FAA approval, leading to two airspace shutdowns over El Paso and Fort Hancock in Texas.

The first incident, on February 10 2026, saw Customs and Border Protection shoot down a metallic balloon using a high-energy laser weapon on loan from the Pentagon. The FAA immediately put into place an airspace closure up to 18,000 feet over El Paso for 10 days, but the restrictions were lifted just a few hours later under pressure from the White House. A senior aide to President Donald Trump labelled the incident as an FAA “f**k-up”.

Then, on February 26, a second incident saw high-energy laser weapons fired at a “seemingly threatening” drone flying within the vicinity of the US-Mexico border, which resulted in the FAA having to close the airspace around Fort Hancock. The drone was successfully brought down, but was later found to have been flown by the Customs and Border Protection.

Both incidents brought to light a lack of concern for the regulations surrounding the new laser deployments. The Pentagon is required by federal law to coordinate with the Transportation Department and the FAA before using new anti-drone technology.

Following the agreement between the FAA and the Defense Department, US Army Brigadier General Matt Ross said, “By working hand-in-hand with the FAA and our interagency partners, the Department of War is proving that these cutting-edge capabilities are safe, effective, and ready to protect all air travelers from illicit drone use in the national airspace.”

Sensing that the FAA may have been pressured into approving the technology for use, Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, who is one of the heads on the committee that oversees aviation, has requested that both the Pentagon and FFA present a briefing on how the agreement was made.

The DJI Mini 4K is the 'best first drone' for most people — and it's now even cheaper than Black Friday

alex.whitelock@futurenet.com (Alex Whitelock) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:48:54 +0000

I've been tirelessly scanning through today's 'Spring Deal Days' sale at Amazon, and I don't think there's a better deal going right now than the DJI Mini 4K drone for £189 (was £269).

This drone was already a great value, but today's price smashes the previous record-low (£229) by quite a wide margin. It's a great opportunity to pick up a model that we still rank at number one on our best budget drone buyer's guide.

In short, if you’re looking for an easy way to get started with drones, the Mini 4K is a great place to begin. Weighing just 249g, it’s incredibly lightweight and portable, yet still manages to offer up to 31 minutes of flight time, a control range of around 10km, and crisp 4K video capture. Features like Level 5 wind resistance and a three-axis gimbal also help keep your footage smooth and stable, even when conditions aren’t perfect.

The drone is particularly approachable for newcomers thanks to the DJI Fly app, which includes handy tools such as one-tap takeoff and an automatic return-to-home function. One thing to note, however, is that the Mini 4K doesn’t feature obstacle avoidance, so it’s best to fly cautiously (especially while you’re still getting used to the controls).

DJI Mini 4K drone deal at Amazon

The excellent DJI Mini 4K has just hit its lowest ever price over at Amazon, giving beginner drone pilots the perfect opportunity to pick up one of our favourite models. Alongside excellent 4K footage, the Mini 4K also boasts 31 minutes of flight time, a useful 2x digital zoom, and a three-axis gimbal for smooth video capture. View Deal

See more: check out all of today's drone deals at Amazon

A powerful drone, despite its size and price

The price included above is for the standard DJI Mini 4K package, which includes the drone, one battery, and a controller. If you're looking to maximise flight time (and value), you could also consider getting the 2-battery combo for £229 (was £329). That tends to be cheaper than buying the accessories separately, so it's definitely a good option overall. Annoyingly, the two-battery Fly More combo is already all sold out, so it's probably worth picking this one up sooner rather than later if you're interested.

For more information, check out our full DJI 4K Mini review for a detailed breakdown of this model, including sample pictures and footage from our testing.

More of today's Amazon Spring Sale highlights

Amazon Devices: Fire TV & Blink from £13.99
Apple: AirPods & Apple Watch from £139
Appliances: up to 30% off Ninja & De'Longhi
Clothing: up to 50% off Sketchers & Crocs
Essentials: from £5
Gaming: up to 50% off PS5 & Switch games
Headphones: Sony & Shokz from £59
Health & Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Laptops: from £149.99
Smart home: up to 50% off cameras & doorbells
Smartwatches: Apple & Huawei from £99
Tablets: Fire & Galaxy Tabs from £59.99
Toys: up to 30% off Lego
TVs: from £139.99
Vacuums: up to 30% off Shark & Vax

DJI’s Avata 360 will land this month — here’s what we know about DJI’s first 360 drone, and 3 reasons I’m psyched for its arrival

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:05:14 +0000

DJI teases its 'flagship' Avata 360 drone
It will shoot 8K 360 degree video
Launch is set for March 26 at 5am PT / 8am ET / 12pm GMT / 10pm AEST

After months of rumors and speculation, the DJI Avata 360 is official, after DJI shared the clearest teaser of them all — revealing the drone's name, core specs, and launch date.

The Avata 360 is set to be DJI's first-ever 360-degree drone, equipped with 8K video recording. It'll take on the excellent Antigravity A1, which was the world's first true 360-degree drone.

'Above It All, See It All' says the trailer, confirming the 'flagship' Avata 360's upcoming unveil on March 26 at 5am PT / 8am ET / 12pm GMT / 10pm AEST, which is a little over two weeks to go as I type these words.

There's little else to go on from the teaser. Still, I'm excited about the Avata 360, especially after all the recent rumors. For example, I've seen leaked pictures and even a mysterious DJI teaser last week that contained aerial footage, including the tiny planet effect made with a 360-degree camera.

Above It All, See It All26 March 2026 | 12 PM (GMT)Notify Me: https://t.co/VRsG25xjzz#DJIAvata360 pic.twitter.com/7h9IpiPUd9March 10, 2026

The Avata 360 could share many similarities with the Avata 2, above, but with a rotating camera unit that can switch between 360 degree and single lens modes. (Image credit: DJI)

Why the Avata 360 excites me

I've personally tested the Antigravity A1, which is the only true 360-degree consumer drone. It's an excellent first 8K drone from the Insta360-incubated start up, that is further improving with firmware updates. However, it's about to be joined by the Avata 360.

DJI's Avata 360 has a leg up in that it settles into an already formidable DJI drone ecosystem, with established accessories including motion controllers, goggles, and batteries.

And rather than being a 360 drone first and foremost, it looks more versatile, like one of DJI's FPV drones from the Avata line, which also shoots 360-degree video (see some clips below, which we can only assume are shot with the Avata 360).

An all-new dimension.Discover what's beyond.#DJI #Drone pic.twitter.com/HY4htHaSlnMarch 3, 2026

That's if previous leaks are anything to go by. One such rumor suggests that one trick up the Avata 360's sleeve will be a single lens mode, meaning the gimbal-mounted camera unit can rotate from a 360 degree mode — that's twin lenses with one pointing directly up and the other directly down for complete coverage — to a single lens mode with the camera pointing straight forward, much like in the Avata 2.

I would also expect the Avata 360's list price to sit a little lower than the Antigravity A1's, because DJI is typically aggressive with its pricing. And there could be good news for DJI fans in the US. Rumors suggest the Avata 360 could be a DJI product that was registered before the December 2025 cut-off for FCC approval, meaning it could hit stores in the US. Many will hope that's the case, and we'll find out soon enough on March 26.

DJI teases its next 'all-new dimension' drone — while a Pro version of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 leaks online

David Nield — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:36:14 +0000

DJI officially teases a new drone launch, coming soon
Based on the teaser video, it's likely to be the rumored DJI Avata 360
A Pro version of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 has leaked too

DJI has confirmed that another drone launch is imminent, and based on the video it's included in the launch teaser, it looks very much like it'll be the rumored DJI Avata 360 — while the leaks around DJI's next vlogging camera have taken another twist.

The drone teaser comes straight from the @DJIGlobal account on X, which means we're hopeful of a global launch for the upcoming drone. Despite new DJI products now being banned in the US, it's possible that DJI was able to get regulatory approval before the ban came into force in December.

An all-new dimension.Discover what's beyond.#DJI #Drone pic.twitter.com/HY4htHaSlnMarch 3, 2026

And given the shots in the teaser video — including a classic 'tiny planet' shot — it's almost certain that this is a drone with 360-degree imaging skills, most likely the rumored DJI Avata 360, though it's not mentioned by name.

The 360-degree drone has leaked extensively over the last few weeks, and is rumored to be coming with a single-lens mode too, that should help it stand out from its main rival, the Antigravity A1.

Only a few days ago, Notebookcheck reported on hands-on footage of the DJI Avata 360 appearing online, so it seems a launch is now very close. DJI hasn't given us a date or a time, but we should get an official reveal any day now.

The Pocket goes Pro

In the meantime, there are yet more leaks around the DJI Osmo Pocket vlogging camera. Veteran tipster Igor Bogdanov has posted some new shots purportedly showing off the device — and they give us our first look at a potential Pro model.

Most previous leaks around this camera have shown off a device very much like the current DJI Osmo Pocket 3 in terms of its design, albeit with a couple of extra console buttons. However, this new Pro leak shows the addition of an extra camera on top, together with a protective hood.

👉The best Osmo Pocket 4 Pro photo you haven't seen yet...🫣Yes, @DJIGlobal ? I wish we could meet with @insta360 Luna sooner.)#osmopocket4pro pic.twitter.com/hfurh6dWI6March 3, 2026

While there had been talk of a dual-camera setup in earlier rumors, the most recent leaks just mentioned one standard model. It would seem that when this next generation of DJI's pocket vlogging camera does break cover, there'll be two models to choose between — with the Pro edition no doubt coming with a higher price tag.

Like the DJI Avata 360, it's plausible that the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 was registered just in time to avoid being banned in the US. As soon as DJI makes either of these products official, we will of course let you know.

DJI takes its US ban to the Supreme Court, claiming the rulings 'violate the Constitution' – but it may be fighting a losing battle

David Nield — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:07:14 +0000

DJI has filed a petition with the US Supreme Court
It claims the recent FCC ban on its products is unlawful
New DJI products can no longer be launched in the US

A ban on new DJI products in the US kicked in last December, but the issue isn't closed yet: DJI has taken its case to the US Supreme Court, arguing that government authorities haven't actually found any evidence of security issues.

The ban came into force almost by default – not through any new discoveries about DJI, but because a security audit of the Chinese company wasn't carried out in advance of a December 23 deadline imposed by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Without getting fresh security clearance, DJI was automatically shunted to the FCC's Covered Entity List, a record of companies believed to pose "an unacceptable risk" to national security (it's the same list that Huawei is on). That course of events is unconstitutional and unlawful, DJI argues.

"Despite repeated efforts to engage with the government, DJI has never been given the chance to provide information to address or refute any concerns," the company said in a statement to the press. "These procedural and substantive deficiencies violate the Constitution and federal law."

Does DJI stand a chance?

The ban covers all new DJI gadgets – including cameras (Image credit: DJI)

As DJI points out in the petition that it has filed with the US Court of Appeals, for a company to be added to the Covered Entity List, the FCC needs to identify a national security threat from the company or the products it makes – something that the FCC has so far failed to do with DJI.

From the side of the US authorities, there are concerns about allowing any Chinese company widespread access to telecommunications networks. DJI's drones spend a lot of time connecting to the internet, and capturing a lot of footage through cameras and microphones, and that's something the FCC is worried about.

While we wait for the US courts to decide what's next, new DJI launches in the US are in limbo. Existing DJI tech can continue to be used in the country however, and it may be that there are still new DJI products to come that got FCC approval before December, such as the rumored Osmo Pocket 4.

Unfortunately for US consumers wanting access to some of the best drones on the market, DJI could be fighting a losing battle here. Its requests to be audited before December fell on deaf ears, and it's unlikely that the FCC will suddenly become proactive now.

Forget billboards – Apple just used 3,000 drones to build a 500-foot Godzilla over Hollywood for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2

David Nield — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:43:32 +0000

Apple TV has been promoting Monarch: Legacy of Monsters S2
A huge 3,000 drone show has set a new world record
The first episode of S2 arrives on the streaming platform on Friday

Apple TV certainly hasn't held back in its promotion of season 2 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (premiering this Friday, February 27), putting on a record-breaking drone light show in the skies of Los Angeles.

The 12-minute spectacular involved 3,000 drones, flying up to 500 feet (152 meters) in the area, and covering an area the equivalent of three American football pitches, according to details released by Apple TV.

These drones and their on-board lights, together with the occasional firework, were used to depict the giant monsters from the show: Godzilla, King Kong, and Titan X. Titan X is set to be the main antagonist of the second season of the show.

It was enough to claim a world record, albeit a somewhat niche one. The drone extravaganza is officially the tallest aerial display of a fictional character formed by drones ever, beating out Marvel's Wolverine display from 2024.

Recommended viewing

Some of the stars of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters were on hand to watch the demonstration, organized by creative agency Heads in the Sky, including Mari Yamamoto and Kurt Russell (who definitely seemed impressed by what he was seeing).

The Apple TV show made its debut in 2023, and was mostly well received – so anticipation is high for the sophomore season. Earlier this month we got a trailer teasing what was to come, and showing off the new Titan X monster.

Based on Legendary's Monsterverse, Monarch has all the ingredients for a compelling TV drama: shady, secretive organizations, ordinary heroes, high stakes, emotional bonds, alternative worlds, and of course giant creatures crashing into each other.

The Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 premiere on Friday will be the first of 10 episodes airing on Apple TV through to May, and looks likely to consolidate its place on our comprehensive list of the best Apple TV shows.

'The drones can buzz off' — noisy FPV drones at the Winter Olympics are capturing stunning action, but dividing opinion

Timothy Coleman — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:33:13 +0000

I spent much of the weekend curled up on the sofa with my family, hooked on the action from the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The sheer speed, skill and courage of the athletes never fails to amaze, and this time around the action is being brought to us armchair viewers from new and immersive angles, thanks to custom-made FPV drones.

Tracking the luge – the fastest sport on ice – down narrow channels, and whizzing down mountainsides in pursuit of downhill skiers exceeding 80mph, drones are capturing a sense of speed and drama like never before at the Winter Games.

Sure, there are a few teething issues as broadcasters figure out when to cut between aerial and other angles, but overall drones are adding another dimension to coverage, and I reckon they're here to stay.

What they're also adding – much to the chagrin of many viewers (and potentially athletes) – is a distracting buzzing noise. Yes, FPV drones sure can be noisy, and they're drowning out the sounds of metal, fiberglass and wood on ice (and cowbell) to become the soundtrack of the event.

Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom / Stringer / Getty Images

Dustin Satloff / Stringer / Getty Images

Drones at the Winter Olympics are polarizing viewers; "the drones can buzz off" chimes one; "the 90mph drone follow cam in downhill skiing has been insane! Best POV" says another.

For me, this Reddit thread comment summarizes the situation perfectly: "I try to ignore the sound as much as I can, but it’s worth [sic] the amazing POV it provides. As long as the athletes don’t find it distracting, all good."

In general, the new camera angles tracking athletes are being welcomed; the noise of the tech capturing those shots, not so much.

And then there are the athletes – how are they coping with the nearby presence of drones as they channel years of training in a bid to deliver on the big stage? Are they a distraction?

The big question already on everyone's lips, then, is: is it possible to enjoy the benefits of drone footage, without the drawbacks associated with the hardware?

An evolution in Olympics coverage

The IOC was quizzed about how athletes are responding to drones, and the measures taken to ensure that drones are not affecting their performance, at its daily briefing on February 9, which is on YouTube.

Pierre Ducrey, IOC Sports Director said: "When you prepare the broadcasting of a competition like this, you spend quite a lot of time practicing to test, including with some of the highest level athletes, to make sure that the distances are right, to make sure that the noise level is right, to make sure that there is the minimum level of disturbance.

"It is an evolution, for sure – people are not used to seeing maybe the shadows on the field of play, or to hear the noise – it's different. But the integration of the performance and this seems something we can absolutely manage, and gives the results we have seen over the weekend, so we are very happy with it."

Indeed, Games organizers claim that they've received no complaints about drones from athletes thus far.

The technology was used in the 2024 Olympics, and further trialled at the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Milan, November 2025. (Image credit: Mattia Ozbot / Stringer / Getty Images)

For athletes, the noise of drones, their nearby presence (trusting in the skill of those controlling the drones to fly them a safe distance), and potential shadows cast is something they're likely going to have to get used to throughout these Olympics and in those to come.

In her work for the BBC, two-time Olympic gold medallist Lizzie Yarnold said, "I spoke to a USA skeleton and luge coach and he said that the athletes can't hear it and aren't affected by it, but I think if I was competing with a drone I would be super aware of it". We haven't heard any feedback yet from athletes in other disciplines, such as skiing.

For viewers, the question of the possibility of removing the noise of the drones for live coverage is less clear. It could be possible to isolate frequencies to remove the high pitched buzzing noise, but likely at the cost of other authentic sounds, such as skis and boards carving ice.

The IOC said in its daily briefing that Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), will be addressing the press on February 18, when we'll likely found out more about the technical aspect of incorporating custom-made drones into live footage.

What do you think? Are you enjoying the drone footage? Is it worth it the annoyance of the buzzing noise during live footage? Let me know in the comments below.

Digital technology, the solution to U.K. manufacturing’s workforce challenges

Ruchir Budhwar — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:25:18 +0000

A skills shortage continues to plague the United Kingdom’s manufacturing sector, where about 49,000 jobs lay vacant at the end of April 2025.

In a mid 2024 survey of U.K. manufacturers, 97.5 percent of respondents said that finding and retaining skilled workers was a significant business challenge.

Hiring digital talent is especially problematic, because manufacturing companies must compete against other sectors that are perceived as more technologically advanced.

This means that even as they invest in robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and other digital solutions, manufacturers are unable to provision the specialized skills required to unlock the full value of those technologies.

Ironically, digital technology, which has contributed to the manufacturing skills crisis, could also provide a way out.

Addressing training needs through digitally enabled continuous learning

Training is the most important way of enhancing skills amongst the existing workforce.

With digital technologies evolving and becoming outdated at an unprecedented pace (their half-life is five years) manufacturers need to continually refresh workforce knowledge.

Standardized classroom-based teaching cannot meet the new expectations for highly personalized training delivered on the job in micro-modules, often exactly when needed, throughout an employee’s career.

Instead, manufacturers need AI-powered learning platforms that allow employees to decide the content, pace, and hours of learning.

Such platforms also democratize knowledge by making it easily accessible across the enterprise.

To prevent the tribal knowledge and expertise of retiring workers leaving the enterprise, manufacturers should capture it within knowledge management systems (or learning platforms), to be shared with others, including incoming employees.

Data gathered from connected operations can produce new insights, such as a shop floor best practice, which should be used to refresh training content.

Digital platforms also enable manufacturers to schedule and track training for new and existing employees.

Next, digital twins, which are optimizing operations and driving innovation in manufacturing companies, can also be used to enhance training.

Virtual replicas of physical infrastructure and processes offer a safe and interactive environment to train workers, especially those engaged in hazardous operations.

The use of virtual and mixed reality makes for immersive training, enhancing both learner engagement and knowledge retention.

Automating routine tasks to free employees from unproductive work

Even today, manufacturing workers spend significant time and effort on repetitive, low value adding tasks, such manual data entry, repeated material handling, redundant inspections, double-checking work, etc.

Automating these tasks can free up time that workers can devote to more important activities, such as innovating new solutions or solving complex shop floor issues.

It also allows employees to be upskilled and redeployed in other areas where there are crucial capability gaps.

For tasks that cannot be automated, digital workflow solutions can suggest ways to streamline processes, enabling them to be performed and monitored more efficiently.

Yet another way to free up precious employee bandwidth is predictive maintenance.

Advanced machine learning and predictive analytics solutions gather and process data from production assets and processes in real-time to identify equipment failure, bottlenecks, or other issues before they occur to not only improve equipment health and uptime, but also save employee time.

Adopting advanced technologies to attract next-generation workers

Talent acquisition and retention challenges are exacerbating the manufacturing industry’s skills crisis.

A 2023 survey found that 36 percent of manufacturers suffered attrition rates in excess of 10 percent among frontline workers during the preceding six months.

Safety was a top expectation of frontline employees, who also sought better work conditions by way of flexible scheduling, work-life balance, and ease of use in systems and technology.

The latest digital technologies can support all these requirements (recall how digital twins and automated maintenance improve worker safety) to improve employee satisfaction and loyalty.

What’s more, they can also give the manufacturing image a makeover, replacing visions of dirty, hazardous factories with clean, highly connected and smart operations to attract valuable next-gen talent.

A 2023 survey of American Gen Z workers illustrates this beautifully, while only 14 percent of respondents said they would choose to pursue a career in industrial work, 27 percent said they wanted to work for a company that used the latest technologies, including drones, AI, connected devices and virtual reality.

So, to acquire the best digital talent, U.K. manufacturers must provide a modern, digital environment and the opportunity to work with cutting edge tools and solutions.

Summing up

Three out of four U.K. manufacturers cite skills shortage as the top barrier to growth. Before fighting for fresh talent in a highly competitive market, organizations should optimize existing resources by reskilling and upskilling employees, and automating routine functions to reduce the demand for labor.

Technologies, ranging from AI to digital twins to analytics, can play a critical role here; they can also project manufacturing companies as digitally advanced workplaces to attract next-generation employees.

We've featured the best business plan software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The 'best drone for beginners' just became even better value for money with this stacked bundle offer

paulo.n.hatton@gmail.com (Paul Hatton) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:32:12 +0000

If you're new to the world of the best drones, then you should start with a bundle package. These combos include the drone, extra batteries, a controller, and a handy carry case for keeping all your kit organised. One of the best around is the DJI Mini 4K bundle on sale at Amazon for £259 (was £329).

In our DJI Mini 4K review, we rated the drone an impressive four-and-a-half stars, and at this record-low price, there really is nothing better at this price point. Snap it up before the deal ends on February 15.

The drone itself features an outstanding 4K UHD resolution support, a 31-minute maximum flight time, and excellent three-axis gimbal stabilisation. You really are getting a whole lot of drone for not a lot of money.

Today's best DJI drone deal

This is the dream drone deal for beginners. You get everything you need to be up and running immediately for the super-low price of £259. That £70 saving is not to be sniffed at, especially because we rated the drone four-and-a-half stars out of five. The bundle includes the drone, controller, spare batteries, and a carry case.View Deal

When our cameras editor, Timothy Coleman, got his hands on the DJI Mini 4K, he was quickly impressed by the 4K video quality, fantastic feature set for beginners, and the value for money. The drone boasts 4K resolution support, 2x video support, and Level 5 wind resistance. Additionally, the inclusion of dynamic movements such as Helix, Circle and Boomerang is guaranteed to set your shots apart from the rest.

There are some trade-offs to buying a budget drone, though, and for this particular model, that comes in the form of no object-collision sensors or subject tracking. If you're more keen on flying and capturing aerial photography, then the absence of these won't be an issue.

If you're looking for something more advanced, then have a look at our guide to all the best drones. We also have a best DJI drones buying guide if you're certain about the brand.

'Incredible' photo of children studying on a frozen lake is an early front-runner for DJI and SkyPixel's $200,000 drone contest

Peter Fenech — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:09:56 +0000

SkyPixel’s 11th Annual Photo and Video Awards has attracted more than 45,000 entries so far
Both photos and video content can be entered, with judges including Emmy-winning directors and social media influencers.
Closing date for the contest is March 10, 2026, 23:59 (CST)

DJI remains the global leader in consumer drones, dominating the best drones and even best action cameras. And DJI's involvement in aerial photography extends to competitions; it has once more teamed up SkyPixel, one the world's most popular online communities for aerial content enthusiasts and professionals, to create the annual photo and video contest for the industry.

The scale of the contest is impressive – midway through its 11th season it has attracted more than 45,000 entries. And, in an effort to tease out more entries, DJI and SkyPixel unveiled some of the best shots and early contenders for the $200,000 prize fund so far. Among them are seven standout stills and five celebrated video entries.

One of the themes for this year's competition is called “Frame Your World,” for which hopeful content creators are encouraged to submit still and moving images that observe the world and express their personality.

This year has drawn interest from aspiring enthusiast photographers and filmmakers, plus contributions from industry influencers and heavyweight professionals. The hosts of the competition are only too happy to point out that this fraternity includes Emmy winners and world-renowned directors. On this list of elite artists is judge Ryan Hosking, the Aerial Director of Photography for the hit series Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, and Emmy-winning Director Alen Tkalčec.

SkyPixel calls the 11th Annual Photo & Video Contest more than a simple aerial photography competition, referring to it as a "global creative hub", and "one of the world’s most influential imaging events". With the number of images and videos submitted so far, and with several weeks still left to enter (closing on March 10), a lot of other creatives obviously agree.

(Image credit: İsmail Kaplan)

Take Education on the Ice of Lake Çıldır by İsmail Kaplan (above), which captures children studying on a frozen lake from above, during harsh winter conditions. One of the judges of the competition, Judge Jiang Ping, was Chief Photographer of Chinese National Geography and highlighted the color contrast as a successful element that made the image stand out. Meanwhile, the shot was praised for capturing a moment in "nature classroom" by Professor Zhu Jiong of the Beijing Film Academy’s School of Visual Media and Communications, who called the frame "incredible".

The other judges' top choices

This image, entitled 'Labor' by Boring filming, makes fantastic use of color and angle to make the scene almost feel like a flat-lay table product shotBoring filming

"Gate to the North" by Filip Hrebenda shows a stunning aerial view of Iceland’s alien-like landscape. Instagram star and Judge, Daniel Kordan praised the shot's unique perspective and emphasized it as "patience paying off". Filip Hrebenda

Nguyen Khanh Vu Khoa uses a drone to capture buffalo during a seasonal floodNguyen Khanh Vu Khoa

Grass Ring by the Waterside by 小象比个6小象比个6(Xiaoxiangbige6)

"Earth in Motion" by Andrea Caruso. Daniel Kordan highlighted that aerial photography isn't always about height but about capturing patterns not visible from ground levelAndrea Caruso

"Confluence of Elements" by Jabi Sanz. It was the color palette that caught the judge's eye in this shotJabi Sanz

The fact that the content hosts a category for video places it in a unique position for attracting the content creators of today. With so many artists working across multiple media, it's a perfect opportunity for amateurs and pros to show off their filmmaking skills.

Ryan Hosking highlighted that the composition of "Iceland's Highlands from a Puffin's View" by Dennis Schmelz made the most of the contrast between the blue-green water and dark lava, calling it "exquisite."

(Image credit: Dennis Schmelz:)

As the contest is yet to close, there's still a chance to enter. SkyPixel and DJI will, together, award three grand prizes and give away more than 53 prizes in total, adding up to an impressive $200,000 kitty. The grand prize includes packages made up of products like the DJI Inspire 3, DJI Mavic 4 Pro, Ronin 4D-8K, and Hasselblad X2D II 100C. Winners will also be offered a direct SkyPixel Creator Contract.

Meanwhile, the Top 10 video/photos and People’s Choice winners will win prizes such as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, DJI Avata 2, DJI Air 3S, and Osmo Pocket 3. Finally, all entrants are eligible to win DJI Credits for purchases on store.dji.com. In other words, you are rewarded just for entering.

You can submit entries directly through the SkyPixel site or via social media by tagging DJI Official on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, or X and using the hashtags #skypixel and #djiosmo. Participants can compete in multiple categories and you can enter as many works as you'd like. But be quick if you want to be involved, the deadline for closure is March 10, 2026, 23:59 (CST).

Road markers are a new target for hackers - experts find self-driving cars and autonomous drones can be misled by malicious instructions written on road signs

Efosa Udinmwen — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Printed words can override sensors and context inside autonomous decision systems
Vision language models treat public text as commands without verifying intent
Road signs become attack vectors when AI reads language too literally

Autonomous vehicles and drones rely on vision systems that combine image recognition with language processing to interpret their surroundings, helping them read road signs, labels, and markings as contextual information that supports navigation and identification.

Researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Johns Hopkins set out to test whether that assumption holds when written language is deliberately manipulated.

The experiment focused on whether text visible to autonomous vehicle cameras could be misread as an instruction rather than simple environmental data, and found large vision language models could be coerced into following commands embedded in road signs.

What the experiments revealed

In simulated driving scenarios, a self-driving car initially behaved correctly when approaching a stop signal and an active crosswalk.

When a modified sign entered the camera’s view, the same system interpreted the text as a directive and attempted a left turn despite pedestrians being present.

This shift occurred without any change to traffic lights, road layout, or human activity, indicating that written language alone influenced the decision.

This class of attack relies on indirect prompt injection, where input data is processed as a command.

The team altered words such as “proceed” or “turn left” using AI tools to increase the likelihood of compliance.

Language choice mattered less than expected, as commands written in English, Chinese, Spanish, and mixed-language forms were all effective.

Visual presentation also played a role, with color contrast, font style, and placement affecting outcomes.

In several cases, green backgrounds with yellow text produced consistent results across models.

The experiments compared two vision language models across driving and drone scenarios.

While many results were similar, self-driving car tests showed a large gap in success rates between models.

Drone systems proved even more predictable in their responses.

In one test, a drone correctly identified a police vehicle based on appearance alone.

Adding specific words to a generic vehicle caused the system to misidentify it as a police car belonging to a specific department, despite no physical indicators supporting that claim.

All testing took place in simulated or controlled environments to avoid real-world harm.

Even so, the findings raise concerns about how autonomous systems validate visual input.

Traditional safeguards, such as a firewall or endpoint protection, do not address instructions embedded in physical spaces.

Malware removal are irrelevant when the attack requires only printed text, leaving responsibility with system designers and regulators rather than end users.

Manufacturers must ensure that autonomous systems treat environmental text as contextual information instead of executable instructions.

Until those controls exist, users can protect themselves by limiting reliance on autonomous features and maintaining manual oversight whenever possible.

Via The Register

Two new affordable DJI drones have leaked – and it looks like they might even escape the US ban

David Nield — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:09:04 +0000

Two new DJI drones have appeared at the FCC in the US
These drones are the DJI Lito 1 and the DJI Lito X1
They may replace the DJI Mini 4K and the DJI Mini 5 Pro

While DJI devices are now officially banned in the US, it looks as though two new drones may have been registered early enough to sneak on to retailer shelves – and they are set to replace two of the best DJI drones currently available.

As spotted by The New Camera, the drones in question are the DJI Lito 1 and the DJI Lito X1, which have both turned up at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US. FCC approval is required before any tech gadget can be sold in the United States.

It seems as though these two models will replace the DJI Mini 4K and the DJI Mini 5 Pro respectively, so we're very much at the entry-level, beginner end of the market. Considering these drones were approved in November and early December, it looks as though they were just in time to beat the US ban that came in on December 23, 2025.

According to The New Camera, an actual announcement about these drones could happen any time from the end of February to early April, with the devices then going on sale shortly after that – presumably in the US and all the other markets DJI operates in.

Predicted specs and pricing

The DJI Mini 5 Pro (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Quite why we're getting a new product name from DJI at this stage isn't clear, but the DJI Lito 1 appears to be the more basic and affordable of the two drones, with the DJI Lito X1 catering to a higher end section of the market.

As per the rumors that have surfaced so far, there will be slight design tweaks compared to the DJI Mini 4K and the DJI Mini 5 Pro. That's based primarily on a leaked image of a drone landing leg that carries the Lito branding – the FCC documents don't include any pictures, or much in the way of specs either.

These drones are likely to come with 360-degree obstacle avoidance, according to everything we've heard so far, and should also offer a range of more than 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from a single battery charge.

Starting prices are predicted to be around $330 (roughly £240 / AU$475) for the Lito 1 and $759 (£555 / AU$1,090) for the Lito X1, which is roughly in line with the current Mini models. As soon as DJI makes any of this official, we'll let you know.

2025's most interesting drone – the Antigravity A1 – just got its first-ever price cut and an intriguing feature for new pilots

alex.whitelock@futurenet.com (Alex Whitelock) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:44:59 +0000

You may have heard of the Antigravity A1. It's the world's first 8K, 360-degree FPV drone, and it was certainly one of 2025's most interesting product launches. We're pleased to note that there have been a few developments in the world of the Antigravity A1. Firstly, this fantastic drone is currently 15% off at Amazon and the official Antigravity site – that's the first price cut on the model.

When we reviewed the Antigravity AI, we loved its ease-of-use and stunning footage, but the price was a real sticking point. Today's deal goes a long way in addressing that criticism and makes the drone a much more compelling package.

Secondly, Antigravity has also released a new Flight Simulator mode, which is a welcome addition for new pilots. With this feature, users can don the A1's Vision Googles and practice in a virtual flying environment before taking their first flight. FPV drones are notoriously tricky to pilot for newbies, so this is definitely another interesting feature – and one that pairs nicely with the freshly discounted price.

The Antigravity A1 is now 15% off

Here it is, folks: the first-ever price cut on the Antigravity A1. This superb drone lays claim to being the world's first 360 FPV drone capable of capturing 8K footage, and we really liked it when we reviewed it late last year. Not only is it easy to fly, with an exceptionally immersive flying experience, but it's capable of capturing absolutely mind-bending footage in up to 8K. Yes, it's pricey, but today's discount knocks an impressive 15% off the standard bundle and other accessory-laden combos.

See this same deal at the official Antigravity site View Deal

In the UK? Check out this deal at Amazon UK

We love this drone's mind-bending footage

The Antigravity A1 is quite a niche product, being both a 360 drone and an FPV drone, but it's definitely a model that has no rivals in this regard. It's a very unique drone indeed, and one that's a good choice if you're looking to capture wide (extremely wide, in fact) footage.

In terms of bundles, if you go for the standard combo linked above, you get the drone, a pair of FPV goggles, and one battery. Each battery equates to roughly 24 minutes of flight time, so you may want to stock up. Or, opt for the Explorer Bundle, which also includes three batteries, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag, and spare propellers.

There's also the Infinity Bundle with higher-capacity batteries, but that makes the A1 exceed 250g, which means it requires additional registration with authorities.

DJI Avata 360 leak shows versatile drone could beat Insta360 with one unique feature

David Nield — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:41:54 +0000

Images of the DJI Avata 360 have leaked again online
This will be the first 360-degree drone from DJI
It may feature a single-lens mode for standard filming

A fresh leak for the DJI Avata 360 has shown up online – this will be DJI's first 360-degree camera drone, expected in the very near future – and it points to an advantage that the flying machine may have over its Antigravity A1 rival from Insta360.

The leak is courtesy of seasoned tipster @Quadro_News, and shows a couple of unofficial pictures of the DJI Avata 360 (see below), together with a selection of accessories. We can see the standard DJI RC controller, for example.

There is a shot of the DJI RC showing live footage from the drone, which suggests it's going to come with a single-lens mode. In other words, you'll be able to use just one of the lenses to shoot standard, non-360-degree photos and videos.

This trick will seemingly come courtesy of a rotating camera unit. Upward and downward facing lenses will capture 360 degree videos, and it looks like the unit itself will rotate 90 degrees to front-face one of those lenses for single lens video.

That's something the Antigravity A1 doesn't have – its lenses are fixed and it can only shoot in 360 degrees. If you're trying to make a decision between these two drones then that's worth considering, though of course nothing is confirmed about the DJI Avata 360 yet.

The Avata 360 being part of DJI's FPV drone family could also mean that its flying speeds and aerial manouvers trump those of the somewhat pedestrian Antigravity A1.

An aerial DJI Osmo 360

👉An acquaintance dropped by for a cup of tea.😋 It's been a while since we last met, DJI Avata 360.🤭#djiavata360 pic.twitter.com/l2c2jKBsy4January 7, 2026

One of the two leaked pictures also shows a battery charging hub of the sort typically included in Fly More Combo packs, with three batteries loaded in. We've previously heard about some of the bundles that might be available with this drone.

We've heard plenty of rumors around the DJI Avata 360 to date, and it seems as though it will be heavily based on the DJI Avata 2 that launched in April 2024. Given how many leaks we've seen already, a launch for this drone can't be far off now.

We're expecting to see 8K video recording capabilities, with dual 1/1.1-inch CMOS sensors – presumably the same used by the DJI Osmo 360 action camera – and a battery boost over the DJI Avata 2 predicted. Obstacle avoidance and a follow mode have also been tipped by those in the know.

Of course in the background of all this there's the ban on new DJI products that's just come into force in the US – so the DJI Avata 360 won't be available there. For the rest of us, it seems as though the wait is almost over.

Snap up your first drone for less with this big saving on the DJI Mini 4K

paulo.n.hatton@gmail.com (Paul Hatton) — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:55:21 +0000

If you've been planning on upgrading to 4K drone videography, then you're probably expecting it to be well out of your budget. Think again. Thanks to a New Year's deal, you can grab the highly rated DJI Mini 4K at Amazon for £215 (was £269).

The DJI Mini 4K continues to be our favourite budget option when it comes to the best drones. For the money, you'll get 4K UHD resolution support and a 31-minute maximum flight time. And if it's slow-mo footage you love, then you can capture up to 60fps at 2.7K resolution.

This is a fantastic low price for an excellent beginner drone. In fact, it's only ever been £6 cheaper, so this is extremely close to a record-low price. Snap it up while you can.

Today's best DJI drone deal

An awesome price for an excellent 4K drone, one battery, and an RC-N1C controller. That's everything you need to be up and running in no time at all. If you've been thinking of buying a drone for a while but never taking the leap, now is the best time to go all in.View Deal

Budget 4K drones don't get much better than the DJI Mini 4K. We love it so much that we rated it 4.5 out of five stars. Considering five-star ratings are only very rarely given out, this number of stars shows how good it is. Our cameras editor, Timothy Coleman, loves the excellent value and 4K video quality that beats rivals.

It's worth pointing out that the drone doesn't feature object collision sensors or subject tracking, but at this price, that's no surprise. If you plan on being in the open air with simple flight routes, then you won't be missing out.

That being said, there's a lot to commend about the DJI Mini 4K, including 2x video support, Level 5 wind resistance and dynamic movements such as Helix, Circle and Boomerang. You'll look like a pro without having to pay for the privilege.

This is a seriously good deal, but if you'd like to explore other options, then we recommend checking out our comprehensive best drones guide. We also have a dedicated guide to the best DJI drones if you're set on the DJI brand.

UK drone laws just changed — here’s how to get your Flier ID and Remote ID so you can get back in the air

hamish.hector@futurenet.com (Hamish Hector) — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 16:58:58 +0000

As of yesterday (January 1, 2026), UK drone laws just changed in three significant ways, and I wouldn’t blame you for not realizing – I have a drone, and I didn’t know the rules changed either.

We reported on the changes when they dropped, but as a recap: the first change is to how drones are classified – it’s no longer based simply on weight as some safety features will be considered too, but weight still plays an important part – and the second change is that you’ll need to turn on your drone’s remote ID, while the third is that most of you will now need to get your Flyer ID – which means you’ll need to pass a test.

It’s all well and good to know what changes have occurred, but it's also important to understand what you have to do. So here’s a handy guide to finding your Remote ID and taking your Flier ID test so you can make your drone compliant with the new rules.

Many drones now need a Flier ID (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

How to turn on Remote ID

You can imagine Remote ID as a sort of drone license plate; it digitally broadcasts your aircraft’s serial number, real-time position data, and your operator ID – though it won’t share more personal info or a live video feed if your drone has a camera.

Many drone classes must have their Remote ID attached as of January 1, 2026, for several categories, including some drones grandfathered in under the old system. You won’t need to sort out Remote ID until January 1, 2028. Still, I’m a cautious person, and I’d just get it sorted for all your drones now if you can.

You can view your Remote ID number in the ‘My registration area’ on the CAA website. You’ll then need to look up the exact instructions for your drone on how to enter your remote ID into your device. However, it should be an option in your settings – usually under the Security, About, or dedicated Remote ID section.

(Image credit: DJI)

How to get your Flyer ID

If you were already flying a drone that is 250g or heavier, you should already have a Flyer ID – that is, unless you like breaking laws. Now, the rules have changed, so you’ll need a Flyer ID for drones 100g or heavier, which will be anything other than simpler toys. I.e. your DJI drone.

The good news is a Flyer ID is completely free, and lasts for five years after you receive it – a much better deal than the Operator ID which you need to renew annually and pay £11.79 for. The bad news, you’ll need to pass a test to get a Flyer ID.

To access it, you can head to the CAA’s Get a Flyer ID page and press the big “Take the test and get a Flyer ID.” You’ll need an email address and a payment card on hand if you plan to renew your Operator ID at the same time.

The test should take you around 30 minutes, but there’s no time limit, and you can have the UK CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code open in another tab to help you answer questions. You’ll need to get at least 30 out of the 40 questions correct, and you can always try again if you fail.