“While helicopters are invaluable for their range and payload capabilities, drones complement these assets by offering quicker, more cost-effective deployment,” Skydio, one of the largest U.S. drone manufacturers, told FLYING. “Their ability to operate in challenging conditions—including wind and rain—and their capacity for remote operation from anywhere via a web browser enhances the overall safety and efficiency of the response efforts, ensuring broader and more flexible coverage.”

Since shuttering its consumer drone business to focus on selling to enterprise and public safety customers last year, Skydio has assisted operators with plenty of disaster response and recovery efforts. Even before then, the company said it provided assistance following Hurricane Ian in 2022.

“Skydio team members—many of whom live in the communities their customers serve—closely monitor developing situations such as these, proactively deploying resources to impacted areas and supporting on the ground and in real time,” the company said.

In the wake of Helene, Skydio customers are deploying drones for search and rescue, overwatch, and damage assessment. Since the storm damaged many bridges in the most affected areas, for example, customers are using drone inspections to create digital twins, helping them assess safety and accelerate the repair process.

The company said it surged available personnel, remote connectivity systems, and its X10 and X10D drone models—equipped with spotlight attachments—to regions most in need, including the Florida Panhandle and western North Carolina.

Skydio has been working with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare for and respond to Helene, including the city of Tampa, Punta Gorda Police Department, and Southern Company.

Southern Company, an electric and gas utility provider, enlisted Skydio drones to perform damage assessments with “unprecedented speed and efficiency,” per Jonathan Tinch, an uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) pilot and safety coordinator for the company.

The aircraft collected high-resolution images and real-time video of the damage, transmitting them to a command center. There, they were analyzed by experts who directed ground crews to the areas most in need of repair.

“As a result, we were able to restore power to our customers more quickly than ever before,” said Tinch.

As another major hurricane approaches, Skydio said it will offer further support.

“After what we saw in Asheville and the impact of drones there, we have doubled our efforts to support agencies responding to Milton,” Skydio told FLYING. “We have a team of people holed up in an Airbnb in northern Florida poised to be on the ground in the Tampa area the minute the storm clears and it is safe to travel.”

Also assisting with post-Helene recovery efforts are pilots, engineers, and scientists from Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Raspet Flight Research Laboratory.

Raspet, backed by Project JUSTICE—a program within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate designed to learn about uncrewed systems by sending them on real-world missions—is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) with a massive UAS called Teros.

Built by Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation, Teros has a 44-foot wingspan and can remain aloft for 20 hours, allowing it to perform long-duration missions. Raspet deployed to Georgia on September 29 to assess post-hurricane flooding.

“Once a hurricane has passed over an inland area, the water it leaves behind is constantly moving, and that movement can be difficult to predict, especially in places where trees and other barriers might obscure water from satellite imagery,” said Jamie Dyer, a geosciences professor at Mississippi State and associate director of the university’s Northern Gulf Institute (NGI).

NGI experts tracked Helene through the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Using Teros’ sensors and cameras, they collected real-time data and visuals on the movement of floodwaters, beaming it to federal entities like FEMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“UAS allow us to see in better detail where water is going and which areas will be impacted by flooding, which is vital information to have during a crisis event,” said Dyer. “Additionally, the data we collect will improve the river forecasting models that local, state and federal officials rely on.”

State officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation have also deployed drones to survey roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, flying more than 200 missions in the past week alone.

Over at NOAA, meanwhile, “hurricane hunters” are flying a pair of Lockheed WP-3Ds and a Gulfstream IV-SP—affectionately nicknamed “Kermit,” “Miss Piggy,” and “Gonzo”—directly into the eye of Hurricane Milton. Some of these missions will deploy Blackswift S0 UAS to measure temperature, pressure, wind, and humidity, which can help predict a storm’s path.

The FAA advises individual drone users or hobbyists to be mindful of temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) in place around hurricane-affected regions. Pilots who neglect to coordinate with local emergency services could inadvertently hinder their efforts, so noncommercial operators should exercise caution.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Responders Turn to Drones Amid Hurricane Recovery appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

—Jack Daleo, Modern FLYING staff writer

Now for this week’s top story:

Archer and Wisk: Bitter Rivals Turn Allies in New Agreement

What happened? A bitter, prolonged legal battle between rival electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturers Archer Aviation and Boeing’s Wisk Aero ended in just about the most surprising way imaginable. Not only did the two settle—they entered a partnership that will make Wisk the exclusive provider of autonomy technology for Archer.

Keep your friends close…: Separately, Archer announced it received a $215 million raise led by longtime investors Stellantis and United Airlines, bringing its valuation to an eye-popping $1.1 billion. Like other eVTOL firms, Archer does not yet produce revenue, so the funding from its closest allies will help carry it to entry into service.

Speaking of entry into service, the company took a step closer to that milestone as well, announcing the FAA has green-lit a production prototype of its Midnight eVTOL for flight testing. That’s expected to begin later this year.

…but your enemies closer: Of course, though, the biggest news from Archer was its settlement with Wisk, ending a two-year dispute over (allegedly) stolen trade secrets. Had a settlement not been reached, the case would have gone to trial next month.

But not only did Archer turn its foe into a partner, it will also receive funding from Boeing, part of that $215 million raise, to integrate autonomous systems into a future variant of Midnight. In one fell swoop, the company got a monkey off its back and set itself up for future success.

Quick quote: “This collaboration puts Archer in a unique position—to be able to source autonomy technology from a leader in the industry. Over the long term, autonomy is seen as one of the keys to achieving scale across all AAM applications, from passenger to cargo and beyond,” Archer said in a press release.

My take: All of this sounds like great news for Archer. But, as one commentator noted, the Archer-Wisk collaboration may have lopsided benefits for Wisk and Boeing.

Boeing invested a (presumably and comparably) small amount of capital in its rival for the rights to sell Wisk’s autonomous tech to Archer in the future. So, essentially, the investment should pay for itself down the line. In the short term, Boeing will immediately receive $25 million in Archer shares, an amount which could rise to as high as $48 million in a few years.

Still, at the end of the day, settling now keeps Archer’s certification activities on track. And with the investment from Stellantis and United Airlines and the FAA approval to begin flying, the company is in as good a short-term position as it has ever been.

Deep dive: Archer Aviation Earns Fresh Funding from Bitter Rival-Turned-Ally

In Other News…

Skydio Shutters Consumer Drone Business

What happened? Skydio, one of the world’s largest consumer drone manufacturers, is no longer selling consumer drones. Why? It would instead prefer to focus on its enterprise and public sector customers, which are thought to drive more revenue because they purchase subscriptions rather than off-the-shelf drones.

Bigger opportunities: Skydio’s 2 Plus series was four years in the making, but customers will no longer be able to purchase 2 Plus Starter, Sports, Cinema, or Pro kits. However, Skydio will continue to provide most services, like customer support, and offer replacement parts such as batteries. 2 Plus Enterprise kits will still be available to businesses.

Now, Skydio will primarily serve infrastructure, defense and public safety customers, and federal and state agencies with its X2 series, released in 2020. It currently has over 1,500 enterprise customers. With Skydio’s exit, the consumer market will be left primarily to DJI, which boasts a global market share somewhere between 50 and 70 percent.

Deep Dive: Skydio Just Shuttered its Consumer Drone Business

Alphabet’s Wing to Begin Medical Drone Delivery in Ireland

What happened? Wing, the drone delivery arm of Google parent Alphabet, announced it will soon launch its first medical delivery network in Ireland’s South Dublin county. The service will fly pharmacy items, lab samples, and medical devices and supplies between healthcare providers in partnership with medical logistics firm Apian.

Drone delivery dominance: Wing is already one of the world’s preeminent drone delivery firms, having completed more than 300,000 deliveries. Adding healthcare cargo to its deliveries of hot meals, convenience and grocery items, and e-commerce could extend its dominance even further, though it’ll have to compete with Zipline and its 600,000 medical deliveries.

Wing’s healthcare delivery service won’t launch until later this year. But the company has built its entire business around delivering to urban regions, a market Zipline has hardly touched. That could be the differentiator that allows medical deliveries to be a viable addition to the business.

Deep Dive: Alphabet’s Wing to Begin Medical Drone Deliveries in Ireland

And a Few More Headlines:

• A prototype eVTOL from Vertical Aerospace crashed during an uncrewed test flight, damaging the aircraft and sparking an investigation.

• Embraer eVTOL subsidiary Eve Air Mobility partnered with DHL Supply Chain to develop a logistics system for eVTOL support.

• A2Z Drone Delivery released its next-generation RDST Longtail, which in premium configuration can fly in rain.

• World Drone Racing Championships announced the inaugural “e-Drone” Racing Cup, its first virtual event.

• A collective of eVTOL industry stakeholders united against the FAA’s powered-lift pilot proposal…more on that below.

Spotlight on…

Schubeler Technologies

Besides being fun to say, Schubeler is a name known to many in the turbomachinery industry. The company for decades has produced electric ducted fans for industrial customers. But this week, the German firm released an electric ducted fan built specifically for large eVTOL aircraft. 

The design, called eP05-21, is bulkier and heavier than the company’s other offerings, producing around 680 newtons of status thrust with a sub-60-volt architecture. It can operate at flight speeds between 0 and 148 feet per second. And crucially, the model is expected to produce just 60 dBA of noise at a distance of close to 400 feet during a flyby—-that’s about the volume of an average conversation.

Schubeler won’t be well -known to eVTOL enthusiasts yet, but the company has certainly gained the attention of manufacturers. Already, Lilium and Volocopter, also based in Germany, are listed as customers, as are Boeing, Airbus, General Atomics, Bellwether, and Tupan.

Deep Dive: AAM Industry Gets a New (Electric Ducted) Fan

On the Horizon…

Oh boy, did the FAA poke the bear. The agency last month proposed rules for training and certifying powered-lift (its term for eVTOL) pilots. But industry stakeholders aren’t happy.

A group of them, led by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), penned a strongly worded letter to the FAA recommending several major changes to the proposal. Among these are a greater emphasis on training-based instruction (rather than time-based), expanded use of flight simulators, the removal of a rule that would require training in dual-control aircraft, and a realignment of powered-lift operating rules.

Basically, the industry thinks the FAA is making it too difficult for pilots (and manufacturers) to obtain the necessary powered-lift certifications. And their comments will hold weight—GAMA has plenty of sway on Capitol Hill, and chances are many of its suggestions will make it into the final rule.

Mark Your Calendars

Each week, I’ll be running through a list of upcoming industry events. Here are a few conferences to keep an eye on:

• Defense and Security Equipment International 2023—September 12-15 in London
• DroneX 2023—September 26-27 in London
• World Aviation Festival—September 26-28 in Lisbon, Portugal
• Airtaxi World Congress—October 2-5 in San Francisco
• FAI World Drone Racing Championship—October 6-9 near Seoul, South Korea
• Intergeo 2023—October 10-12 in Berlin
• Dronitaly—October 11-13 in Bologna, Italy
• Commercial UAV Expo—October 23-26 in Las Vegas
• World’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Conference—November 12-14 in Jerusalem

Tweet of the Week

Want to see your tweet here next week? Have comments or feedback? Share your thoughts on Twitter and tag me (@jack_daleo)! Or check out FLYING’s media accounts:

Twitter: FLYING Magazine (@FlyingMagazine) / Twitter

Facebook: FLYING Magazine – Home (facebook.com)

Instagram: FLYING Magazine (@flyingmagazine) • Instagram photos and videos

I want to hear your questions, comments, concerns, and criticisms about everything in the modern flying space, whether they’re about a new drone you just bought or the future of space exploration. Reach out to jack@flying.media or tweet me @jack_daleo with your thoughts.

The post Who Won, Archer Aviation or Wisk Aero? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In a blog post from co-founder and CEO Adam Bry, the company announced it would no longer offer its Skydio 2 Plus model to consumers. Instead, Skydio will now focus entirely on enterprise and public sector customers, who purchase drones through subscriptions rather than buying them off the shelf.

The announcement came just months after Skydio raised $230 million in a Series E round that skyrocketed its valuation to $2.2 billion.

“The impact we’re having with our enterprise and public sector customers has become so compelling that it demands nothing less than our full focus and attention,” Bry wrote. “As a result, I have made the very difficult decision to sunset our consumer business in order to put everything we’ve got into serving our enterprise and public sector customers.”

While Skydio will no longer offer 2 Plus Starter, Sports, Cinema, or Pro Kits, it will still offer the Enterprise Kit to businesses and organizations. It will continue to provide customer support, vehicle repairs, bug fixes, and Skydio Care insurance to existing customers. The firm also plans to keep a stockpile of replacement batteries, propellers, charging cables, and other equipment for as long as possible.

On a frequently asked questions page, the company said it is unable to share updates about its future product roadmap.

“While Skydio 2 has been an incredible success in enabling new kinds of content capture, Skydio drones are also having a transformative impact for over 1,500 enterprise and public sector customers, putting sensors in dangerous and important places to perform inspections, find missing children, and protect our troops around the world,” Bry wrote.

While the decision to shutter the commercial side of the business was unexpected, it wasn’t completely out of left field. Some in the industry even predicted it.

Skydio got its start in the consumer industry in 2018 when it came out with the R1, releasing the first Skydio 2 model a year later. The 2 Plus series followed in 2022. But in 2020, the firm came out with the X2, its first drone designed specifically for military and corporate use.

That year, Bry told The Verge that Skydio would not abandon the consumer segment—to the contrary, it was just getting started. But he also hinted that the enterprise segment might be better for business since it locks customers into a subscription.

Skydio’s consumer business competed primarily with DJI, the largest drone manufacturer in the world. The Chinese company boasts an estimated 50 to 70 percent market share of the world’s consumer drone market. It also owns a massive piece of the pie among U.S. law enforcement and public safety agencies, which deploy its drones for inspection, search and rescue, and other applications.

However, DJI’s core market is the drone hobbyist or recreational flier. Models such as the Mavic 3 are capable of taking high-resolution photo and video in a variety of modes and environments.

Both Skydio and DJI have honed in on that market by producing cheap drones packed with functionality. The key difference is that DJI’s Mavic 3 is considered to have slightly superior capabilities to Skydio’s 2 Plus.

With states and federal agencies slapping bans on DJI products left and right, it would seem Skydio had a window of opportunity to soak up more of the U.S. market. Perhaps the company viewed DJI’s dominance as insurmountable, or perceived its own consumer business as stagnating. According to one source, it was losing money on every consumer sale.

Whatever the case, Skydio will now serve exclusively enterprise customers (of which there are many—over 1,500, according to Bry) with 2 Plus Enterprise and X2. Users include infrastructure, defense, and public safety companies, among others, deploying the aircraft for tasks like autonomous inspections for state transportation departments or documenting war crimes in Ukraine.

The company is expected to unveil its next-generation X3 model next month at Ascend, its first-ever user conference. The new drone is said to have improved obstacle avoidance, swappable payloads, and a longer flight time.

With Skydio out of the picture in the consumer market, the door is open for DJI and other Chinese manufacturers to tighten their stranglehold. U.S. lawmakers won’t be happy about that. As such, some kind of action from the government is possible, either in the form of more bans, subsidies for U.S. companies, or both.

This is a developing story that FLYING continues to follow.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Skydio Just Shuttered Its Consumer Drone Business appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

—Jack Daleo, Modern FLYING staff writer

Now for this week’s top story:

Is the U.S. Government Secretly Harboring UFOs?

(Courtesy: C-SPAN)

What happened? In what was probably the most exciting congressional hearing ever, retired U.S. Air Force major  and former intelligence officer David Grusch told Congress that the Pentagon has been covering up a “multidecade” UFO retrieval and reverse engineering program, misusing congressional funds to do it. Grusch even alleged the government is hiding “nonhuman” spacecraft and biologics.

• DON’T MISS OUT: Subscribe to the Future of FLYING Newsletter

Grusch’s claims: Grusch said that while serving as an intelligence officer, he was told about the secret program but denied access. At the time, he reported to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)—a Department of Defense program that studies unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs)—and served on two Pentagon UAP task forces.

He testified that he interviewed more than 40 witnesses, including some with direct knowledge of the project’s activities. Among other things, he said that the government is experimenting on “nonhuman” UFOs and claimed to know the location of these spacecraft. The Pentagon fiercely denied the allegations.

Searching for answers: Last week’s hearing riled up both political parties, with each calling for transparency from the DOD. Two former fighter pilots who testified alongside Grusch said the government’s system for UAP reporting is inadequate and raised concerns of intimidation and silencing of witnesses.

The DOD has a few programs dedicated to studying UAPs, including the AARO and a UAP Task Force. NASA also has a program to study the phenomenon. Most UFOs have been explained as balloons, drones, optical illusions, or other mundane causes. But a significant amount of them remain unexplained, flying and maneuvering unlike any known technology.

Quick quote: “I urge us to put aside stigma and address the security and safety issue this topic represents. If [UAPs] are foreign drones, it is an urgent national security problem. If it is something else, it is an issue for science. In either case, unidentified objects are a concern for flight safety. The American people deserve to know what is happening in our skies. It is long overdue,” said ex-Navy pilot Ryan Graves.

My take: 2001: A Space Odyssey screenwriter Arthur C. Clarke once said, “Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” Personally, Grusch’s testimony has made me more of a believer. Either it’s one of the biggest hoaxes of all time, or the government really does know more than it’s letting on.

But whether the mysterious objects come from Earth or beyond, pilots should be somewhat concerned. The FAA told FLYING it does not have its own dedicated UAP reporting system, instead deferring reports to the DOD. It has not made any plans to create one. And if Graves’ claim that 95 percent of UAP sightings go unreported is accurate, that’s part of the problem.

The public does not yet know what these unexplained UAP sightings are, and it may never. But we do know there are hundreds of unknown objects permeating U.S. skies, and that’s a concern for airspace safety.

Deep dive: What on Earth (or Beyond) is Going on in U.S. Skies? 

In Other News…

FAA Investigation into SpaceX Starship Stalls

(Courtesy: SpaceX)

What happened? SpaceX didn’t do its homework. The FAA told FLYING the company has yet to submit a final mishap investigation report in the wake of April’s inaugural Starship launch, which concluded with the most powerful rocket ever built exploding into flames. Without it, the company won’t be able to schedule the next Starship test flight.

Behind schedule: SpaceX and Elon Musk have been teasing a second Starship launch for months, sharing updates on testing and improvements to the company’s Boca Chica, Texas, launchpad. But it won’t happen until the FAA completes its investigation into the explosion, and that will require SpaceX to lay out the steps it will take to avoid the same outcome.

At the same time, the FAA is contending with a lawsuit from five environmental groups that allege the agency did not sufficiently plan for the ecological impact of the launch. If it loses, SpaceX and the FAA would need to deliver an environmental impact assessment (EIS)—which could take more than a year—before the next flight is approved.

Deep dive: SpaceX Yet to File Paperwork in Starship Investigation, FAA Says

Archer Extends Air Force Contract for eVTOL Testing

(Courtesy: Archer Aviation)

What happened? Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Archer Aviation secured what looks like one of the largest Air Force contracts for an eVTOL company. The firm will supply the Air Force’s AFWERX Agility Prime program with up to six Midnight air taxis in a deal worth up to $142 million.

The new helicopter: Agility Prime, a program within the AFWERX innovation division focused exclusively on vertical lift technology, plans to deploy Midnight for tasks like personnel transport, logistics support, rescue operations—applications often carried out by a helicopter. But the eVTOL could offer a quieter, safer alternative.

Midnight is likely to see military action before its commercial launch, slated for 2025. Archer will hope its relationship with the Air Force helps it iron out the final kinks in its design before moving to type certification testing with the FAA.

Deep Dive: Air Force Awards Archer $142M Contract for Midnight eVTOL

And a Few More Headlines:

• China is curbing exports of certain drones—including consumer-grade models—amid reports of Chinese technology falling into Russian hands.

• The Biden administration announced that Space Command headquarters will remain in Colorado, thwarting a Donald Trump-era directive that would have moved it to Alabama.

• The U.K.’s Royal Mail launched the country’s first drone delivery service with the potential to become permanent in the Orkney Islands off the Scottish coast.

• The U.S. Agency for International Development is delivering nine drones donated by Skydio to Ukraine to document war crimes.

• Gogo Business Aviation delayed the launch of its nationwide inflight 5G network for the second time in 12 months, pushing back service to mid-2024.

Spotlight on…

Aska

[Courtesy: Aska]

If Aska sounds familiar, it may be because I featured the company in a top story a few weeks back. But the startup, which received FAA special airworthiness certification just days after competitor Alef Aeronautics, may have just leapfrogged its rival.

This week, Aska completed the first test flight of the A5, its car, eVTOL, fixed-wing glider amalgamation, while Alef has yet to announce that milestone. As far as flying cars go, I’m pretty bullish on Aska’s design: While Alef’s Model A will take off directly from the road, the A5 is designed to take off vertically from a helipad or vertiport, so little additional infrastructure is required.

But the vehicle also has short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities from the runway, allowing it to take off and fly like an airplane. That versatility should open up plenty of launch sites and help Aska comply with airspace regulations. So, while the A5 isn’t the prettiest to look at (see photo above) it’s packed with functionality and could be one of the first flying cars on the market.

When exactly that market will form, however, is another story.

Deep Dive: Aska Completes First Test Flight of Its ‘Street Legal eVTOL’

On the Horizon…

There’s only one notable regulatory update this week, and it comes from across the Pacific.

Several Chinese agencies on Monday announced the implementation of new export controls for certain drones. Taking effect in September, the restrictions are expected to last two years and cover both military and civilian models. The measure comes amid reports of Chinese drones ending up in the Russian military, with some civilian models even being converted for military use.

Specifically, the controls will cover drones that can fly beyond the view of the operator or for longer than 40 minutes, carry more than 7 kilograms (about 15 pounds), or throw objects using attachments. Other restrictions relate to onboard equipment like sensors and cameras, engines, communications gear, and even anti-drone systems.

To export their products, drone manufacturers will require approval from the Chinese government and will be responsible for proving their drones won’t be used to support “mass destruction, terrorist activities, or military purposes.” Civilian drones not included in the controls will not be allowed to be shipped out for military purposes.

Mark Your Calendars

Each week, I’ll be running through a list of upcoming industry events. The FAA Drone Symposium and Advanced Air Mobility Summit wrapped up Thursday in Baltimore, but here are a few conferences to keep an eye on:

• Defense and Security Equipment International 2023—September 12-15 in London
• DroneX 2023—September 26-27 in London
• World Aviation Festival—September 26-28 in Lisbon, Portugal
• Airtaxi World Congress—October 2-5 in San Francisco
• FAI World Drone Racing Championship—October 6-9 near Seoul, South Korea
• Intergeo 2023—October 10-12 in Berlin
• Dronitaly—October 11-13 in Bologna, Italy
• Commercial UAV Expo—October 23-26 in Las Vegas
• World’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Conference—November 12-14 in Jerusalem

Tweet of the Week

Want to see your tweet here next week? Have comments or feedback? Share your thoughts on Twitter and tag me (@jack_daleo)! Or check out FLYING’s media accounts:

Twitter: FLYING Magazine (@FlyingMagazine) / Twitter

Facebook: FLYING Magazine – Home (facebook.com)

Instagram: FLYING Magazine (@flyingmagazine) • Instagram photos and videos

I want to hear your questions, comments, concerns, and criticisms about everything in the modern flying space, whether they’re about a new drone you just bought or the future of space exploration. Reach out to jack@flying.media or tweet me @jack_daleo with your thoughts.

The post Is the U.S. Government Secretly Harboring UFOs? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Drones, known to be a major contributor to war crimes themselves, will now be used to gather photo and video evidence of Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. USAID announced the delivery of the nine drones, donated by U.S. manufacturer Skydio, to Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General Thursday.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power tweeted out her support for the agreement, saying the drones will serve as Ukraine’s eye in the sky as it combats war crimes and human rights abuses.

Proud to partner w/ @SkydioHQ, an company, to help document war crimes and pursue accountability. These autonomous camera drones will help Ukraine's Prosecutor General document war crimes and abuses on the front line and in liberated territories. https://t.co/aUPmexgDb4 pic.twitter.com/IWrFhOb4MB

— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) July 27, 2023

The drones in question are Skydio’s 2+, which are each equipped with six 4K cameras. Built for both hobbyists and businesses, the model captures ultra high-definition video and 12 megapixel photos, around the same resolution as the average smartphone camera.

The 2+ can fly for up to 27 minutes, traveling about 3.7 sm (3.2 nm) at 36 mph (31 knots). It uses onboard artificial intelligence to fly fully autonomously with 360-degree object avoidance capabilities. The model is also equipped with Skydio 3D Scan, an inspection software that allows it to generate high-resolution digital twins of both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Skydio and USAID’s hope is that these drones help reverse some of the damage others have caused. According to the FBI, U.S. drone strikes have killed more than 1,500 civilians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen since 2004. Russia has also been accused of using the aircraft in violation of humanitarian law.

In fact, USAID says authorities have so far recorded more than 115,000 instances of destroyed civilian infrastructure in Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict. A pair of USAID-backed human rights coalitions discovered a further 40,000 war crimes since February 2022. Not all of these were committed by drones, but the technology has allowed Russia to conduct a series of highly publicized attacks.

In addition to delivering the Skydio drones, USAID has supplied Ukraine with Starlink data terminals donated by SpaceX, as well as laptops and software for schoolchildren and teachers. It’s also partnered with AGRI-Ukraine, an initiative to support Ukrainian grain production and exports launched in 2022. Power earlier this month announced the agency would provide an additional $250 million in support to the program, raising its total contribution to $350 million.

The post Drones Have Been Used to Commit War Crimes—Now They’re Documenting Them appeared first on FLYING Magazine.