Drone Technology Daily: UAV News & Reviews

This is you Drone Technology Daily: UAV News & Reviews podcast.

Wing and Walmart are scaling up drone deliveries to reach 40 million Americans, as reported in recent Drone News on YouTube, while Airev unveiled its Air One cargo drone boasting 250 kilograms payload and 160 kilometers range, ideal for cold operations down to minus 25 degrees Celsius with heated batteries. The US Air Force's Point Defense Battle Lab is ramping up counter-drone exercises throughout 2026, seeking tech to detect Group 1 drones at two kilometers, per Air and Space Forces Magazine.

Diving into enterprise trends, Precision Engineering Supply highlights AI-driven autonomy enabling...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration published FDC NOTAM 6/2824, replacing the controversial ICE NOTAM with softer language, shifting from prohibited to advised no-fly zones near federal assets and adding Department of Justice oversight, according to UAS News Update on YouTube. The Pentagon filed a memo opposing DJI's removal from the FCC Covered List, citing classified intelligence beyond supply chain risks. Meanwhile, DJI teased its entry-level Lito drone launch on April 23, featuring sub-250-gram design, 22 gigabytes storage, and...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily, your source for the latest in UAV news and reviews. In the past 24 hours, DJI has teased its upcoming Lito drone launch on April 23, featuring the entry-level Lito 1 as a sub-250-gram model with 22 gigabytes of internal storage and a price around $330, according to recent YouTube drone news updates. Meanwhile, ZenaTech announced its ZenaDrone will showcase AI-enabled defense drones at Sea-Air-Space in National Harbor, Maryland, starting April 19, engaging U.S. defense stakeholders, as reported by Stock Titan.

Diving into products, Talon...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, Ukraine's Swarmer made headlines with its explosive Nasdaq debut, shares soaring over 700 percent to $31, as Wall Street bets big on software letting one pilot control hundreds of drones, according to WDEF reports. Meanwhile, Iran announced a tenfold ramp-up in kamikaze drone production, heightening Middle East tensions, per recent YouTube defense briefings from QUAD Drone Lab.

Shifting to enterprise UAVs, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List, deeming four more unmanned...

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Good morning, listeners. Welcome to Drone Technology Daily. We're tracking three major developments reshaping the unmanned systems landscape this week.

The United States Air Force is making significant moves toward operational deployment of artificial intelligence piloted drone fighters. According to reporting from military procurement sources, the Air Force has requested one billion dollars in procurement funding for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCAs, with plans to begin fielding these systems operationally next year. This represents a major transition from testing to real-world deployment. The service intends to...

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The drone industry has reached a critical maturity point as we move deeper into 2026. According to industry analysis, the best unmanned aerial vehicle companies are no longer defined solely by flight endurance, but by who offers the most integrated ecosystems including advanced sensing, anti-jamming communication links, and AI-driven data processing.

Starting with commercial developments, Wing and Walmart are scaling up drone delivery operations together, soon reaching forty million Americans according to recent drone news coverage. Beyond the consumer space, the Air EV Air One passenger eVTOL...

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VisionWave Holdings made waves yesterday by acquiring xClibre, an AI video intelligence platform for 60 million dollars, as reported by PR Newswire. This bolsters their Argus counter-unmanned aerial system with visual confirmation alongside radio-frequency detection, addressing gaps in distinguishing drones from birds or aircraft. Proof-of-concept tests are slated for later this year.

In defense news, Australia's government announced a 12 to 15 billion dollar investment in uncrewed systems through 2036, per Newsreel, emphasizing drones in their new National Defence Strategy. Meanwhile, the Pentagon eyes Ukrainian interceptor drones for their unmatched...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the U.S. military announced continued deployment of counter-drone systems to the Middle East, with Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Task Force 401 committing $350 million in capabilities like early-warning sensors and mitigation systems, as stated by Lieutenant Colonel Adam Scher in DefenseScoop. Meanwhile, Digital Force Technologies partnered with Powerus on an integrated counter-unmanned aircraft systems kill-chain for Group 1 through 3 drones, according to Dronelife.

Diving into products, Malaysia's Royal Malaysian Air Force completed the...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, Red Cat Holdings secured a NATO contract for Black Widow small unmanned aircraft systems to support tactical intelligence missions throughout 2026, as reported by Unmanned Systems Technology. Meanwhile, Teledyne FLIR Defense won a 17.5 million dollar contract from armasuisse for Black Hornet 4 nano-drones, enhancing dismounted soldier capabilities, according to their press release. And Wonder launched a food delivery drone program in New Jersey, expanding consumer applications, per Fox Business.

Turning to products, the EHang 216 series...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily, your source for the latest in UAV news and reviews. In the past 24 hours, Oneindia News reports a U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone, valued at over $200 million, vanished over the Strait of Hormuz after issuing an emergency signal during a maritime intelligence mission. This high-endurance UAV, capable of 24-plus hour flights at extreme altitudes for ocean monitoring, raises questions about technical failure or interception amid regional tensions. Times of India notes it lost radar contact after hours of Persian Gulf...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Pentagon fast-tracked a 49.7 million dollar contract to Texas startup Darkhive, scaling production of rugged drones for troops adapting to modern warfare, as reported by NewsNation. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Brave1 announced Defense Tech Valley 2026 in Lviv, showcasing interceptor drones now protecting skies from the Middle East to Europe, positioning the nation as a global drone superpower per United24 Media. And Fox Business highlighted Anduril's Trae Stephens noting a paradigm shift to mass-produced, low-cost autonomous drones.
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U.S. Air Forces Central has ordered over nine million dollars worth of Skydio Dock and X10 systems to secure airbases across the Middle East, according to a PR Newswire release from yesterday. These autonomous drones launch in under twenty seconds, stream high-definition and thermal video to base defense centers, and allow one operator to manage multiple units, marking the largest such deployment overseas by the Air Force. PR Newswire reports Skydio as the leading U.S. drone manufacturer, trusted by over three thousand eight hundred agencies.
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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily, your source for UAV news and reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Summit kicked off in Washington, D.C., spotlighting autonomy for modern battlefields and counter-unmanned aerial system defenses, according to summit organizers. Meanwhile, the Village of Howard deployed the Paladin drone system via Watchtower for emergency response, delivering real-time video and thermal imaging to first responders.

Shifting to products, Xer Technologies validated its X8 multicopter with independent tests showing 2.5-hour endurance and 7 kilogram payload capacity, ideal...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily, your source for the latest in unmanned aerial vehicle news and reviews. In the past 24 hours, defense companies at AUSA Global Force unveiled the Leonitis autonomous mobile system from General Dynamics Land Systems and Kodiak AI, designed to counter drone swarms with rapid deployment, as reported by Military Times on April 6. Meanwhile, AeroVironment revealed an upgraded Locust counter-unmanned aerial system, building on its proven tech for swarm defense, according to C4ISRNet.

Shifting to products, Xer Technologies just validated its X8...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Communications Commission issued a public notice seeking input on regulatory reforms, spectrum access, and innovation zones to bolster the U.S. drone industry, as reported by Dronelife. Meanwhile, Xer Technologies validated its X8 multicopter with 2.5-hour endurance and 7-kilogram payload for infrastructure inspections, according to Unmanned Systems Technology.

For today's in-depth review, consider AeroVironment's Red Dragon, a long-range one-way attack drone with over 400 kilometers range—nearly four times that of the Sw...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Communications Commission issued a public notice seeking input to accelerate United States drone dominance, proposing reforms to spectrum access and device certification for faster beyond visual line of sight operations, as reported by DroneDJ and Broadband Breakfast. Meanwhile, TEKEVER completed flight trials integrating Quadsat’s SpectraLoc electronic warfare payload on its AR3 EVO unmanned aerial system, enhancing airborne radio frequency detection, according to Unmanned Systems Technology.

For an in-depth look, consider th...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Communications Commission released its Drone Dominance public notice, seeking input on regulatory reforms to boost domestic drone production, spectrum access, and innovation zones, as reported by Dronelife and Broadband Breakfast. Meanwhile, TEKEVER completed flight trials integrating Quadsat’s SpectraLoc electronic warfare payload on its AR3 EVO unmanned aerial system, enhancing airborne radio frequency detection, according to Unmanned Systems Technology.

Turning to products, ChinaMoneypro UAV stands out with its fiber optic-controlled drones, of...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily, your source for the latest in unmanned aerial vehicle news and reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Communications Commission released a public notice seeking input on reforms to boost United States drone power, including spectrum access in bands like 5030 to 5091 megahertz for reliable control links and expanded innovation zones for testing, as reported by DroneDJ and DroneLife. Meanwhile, DJI launched firmware updates for its new Avata 360 drone, enhancing immersive first-person view capabilities with 360-degree recording right out of the box.

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In the past 24 hours, the Federal Communications Commission issued a public notice seeking input on rules to bolster the United States drone industry, focusing on spectrum access in bands like 5030 to 5091 megahertz for reliable control links, as reported by DroneLife. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense warned of severe consequences for operators flying in restricted airspace, emphasizing detection tech that pinpoints pilots instantly, per DefenseScoop.

Shifting to products, Honeywells HGuide i700 inertial measurement unit stands out for autonomous platforms, delivering near-navigation-grade accuracy without licensing fees, ideal for...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Pentagon's counter-unmanned aerial systems marketplace has launched initial operations, offering over 1,600 anti-drone items to streamline military procurement, as reported by DefenseScoop. Meanwhile, Alpine Eagle announced expanded production of its Sentinel counter-drone system amid rising threats, according to Defense Post on March 24. And Fortem Technologies secured a multimillion-dollar deal from the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard 2026 FIFA World Cup venues, per National Defense Magazine.

Turning to regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration's Part 108...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration announced finalization of Part 108 rules, enabling routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations without individual waivers, as reported by DroneTrust, dramatically expanding commercial drone use in inspections and deliveries. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission upheld its ban on new Chinese-made drones like DJI models for federal projects under the NDAA 2023, per UCANR updates, pushing domestic manufacturing forward.

Shifting to products, Verity's lightweight inventory drones, weighing under two pounds, deliver 99.9...

This is you Drone Technology Daily: UAV News & Reviews podcast.

Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration announced progress on proposed Part 108 rules, enabling standardized Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations without per-flight waivers, as reported by DroneTrust, potentially revolutionizing inspections and deliveries. IGIS notes the FCC's Covered List now restricts new foreign-made drones and components post-December 2025, though existing models like DJI remain usable. Meanwhile, Extreme Aerial Productions highlighted top professional picks, praising Skydio's X10 for its 64-megapixel camera, 40-minute flight time, and AI obstacle avoidance, outperforming competitors...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration updated its recreational flyers page, emphasizing Remote ID enforcement with no grace period, as reported by the FAA website. Meanwhile, Aerovision Global notes progress on a standardized Beyond Visual Line of Sight framework under proposed Part 108 rules, enabling scalable operations for inspections and deliveries. And UAV Coach clarifies no blanket DJI ban exists; existing models like the Mavic 4 Pro remain importable, though new ones face restrictions per FCC updates.

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This is you Drone Technology Daily: UAV News & Reviews podcast.

Good morning, and welcome to Drone Technology Daily. I'm your host, bringing you the week's most critical developments in unmanned aircraft systems.

We're witnessing unprecedented momentum in commercial drone deployment. According to research from IDTechEx, the global drone market is projected to reach 147.8 billion dollars by 2036, growing from 69 billion this year, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.9 percent. More importantly for operators, inspection and maintenance applications are emerging as the fastest-growing segment, expected to exceed 25 percent of all commercial drone revenue by 2030.

This...

This is you Drone Technology Daily: UAV News & Reviews podcast.

Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration announced progress on Part 108 rules, paving the way for standardized Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations without per-flight waivers, as reported by Drone Trust. Meanwhile, IGIS highlighted the expiration of the grace period under the NDAA 2023 American Drone Security Act, now banning new Chinese-made drones like DJI models for federal projects due to national security risks.

Shifting to products, Extreme Aerial Productions recommends professional drones with at least 20-megapixel...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, Commercial UAV News reports anticipation builds for the FAA's Part 108 BVLOS rules, expected soon to enable scalable commercial flights without waivers. DroneLife highlights a surge in defense drone funding amid global tensions, while TheDroneU notes a new AI-enhanced inspection drone launch for energy sectors.

Shifting to products, the senseFly eBee VISION stands out for enterprise use with 90-minute endurance and 12-mile encrypted range, ideal for BVLOS infrastructure checks. It outperforms rivals in LiDAR...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration ramped up Remote ID enforcement, issuing fines via new digital verification for non-compliant drones over 250 grams, as reported by Extreme Aerial Productions. Meanwhile, the FCC's ban on new Chinese-made drones like future DJI models took full effect after the NDAA grace period ended December 22, 2025, per UCANR updates, pushing operators toward U.S.-made alternatives.

Shifting to products, ZenaTech's hybrid VTOL drones stand out for inspection tasks, boasting 10-15 sensors...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily. As we head deeper into 2026, the drone industry is experiencing transformative regulatory and commercial momentum that's reshaping how operators conduct business worldwide.

The Federal Aviation Administration is finalizing its most significant regulatory overhaul in nearly a decade. According to dronetrust.com, Part 108 regulations enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations without individual waivers are expected finalized by early to mid-2026, fundamentally expanding commercial drone capabilities. The new framework introduces Operations Supervisors and Flight Coordinators as primary roles, replacing traditional remote pilot...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration advanced its Part 108 rules for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, set for finalization this year, enabling scalable commercial flights without per-mission waivers, as reported by DroneTrust. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission upheld its ban on new foreign-made drones like upcoming DJI models, while grandfathering existing ones, per UAVCoach, sparking debates on supply chains.

Shifting to products, IDTechEx forecasts the global drone market hitting 69 billion dollars in 2026, surging to 147.8...

This is you Drone Technology Daily: UAV News & Reviews podcast.

Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration advanced its Part 108 rules for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, expected to finalize by mid-2026, enabling scalable commercial flights without per-mission waivers, according to Dronetrust.com. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission upheld its ban on new foreign-made drones like upcoming DJI models after December 2025, while grandfathering existing ones, as reported by Ucanr.edu. Delair's UX11 drone also made waves with a solar farm mapping project in Arizona, cutting site visits...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the US Department of Defense announced its Drone Dominance program, investing over one billion dollars to procure 200,000 drones, with officials praising Ukraine's scalable, combat-ready production as the global benchmark, according to Defense Express. Meanwhile, mystery drones hovered over Barksdale Air Force Base for a week, displaying jamming resistance and forcing flight line shutdowns, as reported by Times of India.

Turning to regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed Part 108 rules, set for finalization in...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, Fox News reports that drone technology has transformed modern warfare, with Swarmer Inc.'s Erik Prince highlighting battle-tested systems that outpace traditional defenses. Meanwhile, a U.S. military base in Washington D.C. went into lockdown after spotting an unauthorized drone, as covered by Times of India, underscoring rising security threats. CBS News details emerging laser weapons tested against Iran's low-cost drones, offering cost-effective countermeasures in ongoing conflicts.

Shifting to regulations, the Federal...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, Aviation Week reports the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command is seeking short-range, one-way attack drones for special tactics units, while NATO's Innovation Range in Latvia just wrapped its first counter-drone technology tests from March 9 to 13, evaluating high-speed interceptors and electronic warfare solutions. Separately, a Ukrainian drone firm, Swarmer, saw its Nasdaq debut soar over 700 percent, fueled by software letting one pilot control hundreds of drones, as noted by CBS News.

Shifting...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, Swarm Aero, a California firm, secured 59 million dollars in funding to develop Legion, a unified command-and-control software enabling swarms of large drones with superhuman dexterity for major missions, according to The Defense Post. Meanwhile, reports from Anadolu Agency reveal Russia is sharing satellite imagery and modified Shahed drone technology with Iran to enhance targeting, drawing from Ukraine war tactics.

Shifting to regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed Part 108 rules, nearing finalization this year...

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Welcome back to Drone Technology Daily. We're tracking significant developments shaping the unmanned aircraft industry as regulatory frameworks continue their major evolution.

The Federal Aviation Administration is in the final stages of implementing Part 108 regulations, with finalization expected imminently following the 240-day mandate from a presidential executive order. According to industry sources tracking the rulemaking process, these rules represent the most substantial regulatory transformation in nearly a decade. Part 108 establishes operating standards for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, fundamentally changing how commercial operators structure their...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily, your source for UAV news and reviews. In the past 24 hours, reports from Times of India highlight intense drone and missile defenses activated by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE amid escalating regional tensions, showcasing real-world combat applications of unmanned systems. Meanwhile, Captain Steeeve's Drone Stuff This Week notes U.S. advancements in affordable Shahid drones, now cheaper and more efficient, alongside breakthroughs in solid-state batteries enabling practical drone deliveries and urban air taxis.

Turning to regulations, Extreme Aerial Productions reports...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration announced tighter enforcement for high-risk drone operations, with fines potentially reaching $75,000 per violation, as reported by Extreme Aerial Productions. Commercial UAV News highlights the anticipated spring release of Part 108 rules, enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights without individual waivers, a game-changer for public safety and deliveries. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense extended one-year authorizations for certain foreign drones like DJI models until late 2026, per UC ANR updates, though no new...

This is you Drone Technology Daily: UAV News & Reviews podcast.

Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Aviation Administration announced tighter enforcement for high-risk drone operations, with fines now reaching $75,000 per violation, as reported by Extreme Aerial Productions. Separately, the Department of Defense extended a one-year authorization for certain foreign drones like DJI models until December 2026, per UCANR's IGIS update, while banning new imports of unauthorized foreign components for national security.

Shifting to products, Flyability's Elios 3 stands out for confined space inspections, featuring a collision-tolerant cage, LiDAR mapping...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily: UAV News and Reviews. In the past 24 hours, QUAD Drone Lab reports Korean firm Acurasar unveiled the AIXR V6X flight controller at Drone Show Korea 2026, a domestic breakthrough reducing reliance on foreign parts for enhanced security. Meanwhile, Parsons Corporation delivered DroneArmor to the US Army, an AI-driven counter-unmanned aerial system fusing multi-sensors to neutralize rogue drones at borders, reaching Technology Readiness Level 9.

Shifting to regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration advances Part 108 rules, finalizing by mid-2026 to enable Beyond Visual Line...

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Welcome to Drone Technology Daily, your source for unmanned aerial vehicle news and reviews. In the past 24 hours, ABC News reports the FBI has warned California authorities of a potential Iranian drone attack from an offshore vessel, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East war now in its 12th day. Cornell professor James Patton Rogers notes Iran's Shahed 136 drone can fly over a thousand miles with a warhead, though experts deem a U.S. strike unlikely due to advanced Navy interceptors like high-intensity lasers. Separately, U.S. intelligence...