Drones aren’t just sleek gadgets for hobbyists or dramatic vacation footage anymore. They’ve become essential military tools—agile, intelligent, and increasingly autonomous. As warfare evolves, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are changing the game on and off the battlefield.
Leading the charge is Draganfly Inc., a Canadian drone company that recently delivered its Flex FPV units to a major U.S. military contractor supporting allied land operations. It’s a significant moment in the expanding role of drones in global defense.
“This delivery marks an important milestone for the Flex FPV platform,” said Cameron Chell, president and CEO of Draganfly. “The system was born out of our work supporting frontline operations in Ukraine and has been refined through rigorous testing by multiple defense partners. We’re incredibly proud to see it deployed by one of the world’s top defense contractors.”
The Flex FPV was launched in 2024 and underwent extensive testing by various military units. It ships with core units and modular parts, and comes in three interchangeable sizes—four, seven and ten inches—each capable of adapting to field conditions. Troops can swap out the arms and propellers in seconds without tools, making it a flexible platform for surveillance, reconnaissance and tactical strikes. The drone supports payloads up to 3 kilograms and can hit top speeds of 90 mph.
Drones are already proving their worth on the front lines. On June 1, more than 100 Ukrainian drones, surreptitiously tucked inside Russian territory, launched simultaneous attacks on five Russian air bases. Nicknamed “Operation Spider’s Web,” the covert strike demonstrated the strategic power of drones, and their stealth—each device was hidden in remote-controlled boxes that opened on cue to release the UAVs.
The war in Ukraine has accelerated the adoption of drones as the Ukrainian military, facing limited manpower and resources, relies on them for reconnaissance and attacks. Similar tactics are emerging elsewhere. On June 13, Iran launched a drone strike against Israel as part of ongoing hostilities in the region. In both theaters, drones are doing what conventional forces cannot: providing reach, speed and adaptability with minimal risk to personnel.
“The increased use of UAVs is fundamentally changing the landscape of warfare,” according to the Wilson Center, a nonpartisan policy think tank chartered by Congress. “It allows for precision strikes at an unprecedented scale, which affects how land forces protect themselves, maneuver, and deploy against adversaries. While some countries like the U.K. and the U.S. are making strides in rethinking warfare with UAVs, there’s a need for collaboration between legislators, military, and industry to adapt quickly to the changing landscape.”
That collaboration includes modernizing military procurement processes to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology. “The procurement process needs to be flexible and agile to meet the evolving needs of modern warfare,” the Wilson Center notes. “Collaboration between lawmakers and military entities is essential to ensure the best return on investment and preparedness for future conflicts.”
Draganfly is also working with Autonome Labs to build out humanitarian applications. Their new MAGIC (Mine and Ground Inert Clearance) drone combines Draganfly’s heavy-lift capabilities with Autonome’s mesh-based demining tech. Autonome Labs specializes in robotic systems built for dangerous environments like war zones and disaster sites.
“This partnership reflects the best of what our technology is capable of—saving lives, rebuilding communities, and bringing hope where it’s needed most,” said Chell. “Working with Autonome Labs allows us to deliver real-world impact in some of the most challenging environments.”
While military and humanitarian uses of drones are on the rise, so too is their use across commercial sectors. Agriculture, infrastructure surveying, and emergency response units are deploying drones to monitor crops, inspect bridges, and locate survivors after natural disasters. The global drone market is expected to surpass $54 billion by 2030, according to industry and market researchers.
As of April 1, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration reports nearly 1 million registered drones in the U.S., including more than 420,000 commercial and 383,000 recreational units. Under the FAA’s Small UAS Rule (Part 107), commercial users must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate to operate.
On June 6, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order aimed at further invigorating the domestic drone industry, accelerating the safe commercialization of drone technologies.
“The time has come to accelerate testing and to enable routine drone operations, scale up domestic production, and expand the export of trusted, American-manufactured drone technologies to global markets,” President Trump stated. “Building a strong and secure domestic drone sector is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources, strengthening critical supply chains, and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are delivered to the American people.”
Additionally, the executive order states, “The Secretary of Commerce shall designate the export of United States-manufactured civil UAS as a priority area within the Department of Commerce’s export promotion efforts and shall coordinate interagency initiatives to expand market access, reduce foreign trade barriers, and promote international interoperability.”
The actionable components of the executive order include directing the Secretary of Transportation to issue a proposed rule enabling routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for UAS for commercial and public safety purposes.
Despite the impressive growth, concerns remain. As drones become more autonomous and accessible, so do fears about misuse, privacy violations, and security threats. But there’s little question that these small flying machines are here to stay.
