Global Scans · Drones · Weekly Summary

• [New] AMPX is selling to the drone and aerospace industries and hopes to develop its defence business in 2026. Strategic Wave Trading
• [New] In the US, continued UTM development will likely play a key role in the next phases of FAA drone regulations. AeroVision Global
• [New] Whether finalized in early 2026 or later in the year, updated FAA drone regulations around BVLOS will mark a turning point. AeroVision Global
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Expect similar offensive drone companies to proliferate across U.S. Army divisions within 18-24 months as the organizational model proves effective, with increasing emphasis on AI-enabled autonomous targeting and swarm coordination. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Expect DroneShield to announce additional Asia Pacific contracts in Q1-Q2 2026 as regional militaries accelerate counter-UAS procurement in response to demonstrated drone effectiveness in Ukraine and Middle East conflicts. Drone Warfare
• [New] The Europa combat jet drone is slated to be ready by 2029. MIT Technology Review
• [New] If DJI releases a cool new drone globally in 2026 or 2027, U.S. hobbyists might be unable to legally obtain it. ABJ Drone Academy
• [New] The FCC will not grant the authorization required to operate within the U.S. to any newly introduced model of drone if it's manufactured outside the U.S. Popular Mechanics
• [New] In 2026, terrorist groups in conflict hotspots will continue refining and learning how best to deploy drones for their missions and how to circumvent drone countermeasures implemented by overstretched security institutions across the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The Soufan Center
• [New] 2026 could see an unprecedented rate of drone adoption by foreign and domestic terrorist actors. The Soufan Center
• [New] 2026 could be the year when drone expertise migrates to a Western country, where terrorists seek to incorporate unmanned aerial systems into their operational planning, either for surveillance and reconnaissance or for an attack on a densely populated gathering or soft target. / USA The Soufan Center
• [New] China's largest weapon manufacturer has unveiled a small but ultra-long range kamikaze drone that could significantly outperform its main American competitor. Caliber.az
• [New] Even if not destroyed, partial damage might still be greater than the total cost of the submerged drone used by Ukraine. Strafasia | Strategy, analysis, News and insight of Eme
• [New] The drone package delivery industry is projected to grow from USD 692.60 million in 2024 to USD 8572.49 million by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate of 37% during the forecast period. Polaris
• [New] For now, Kiev will keep refining its seven-step dance, Moscow will keep probing for weaknesses and NATO officers will study every drone feed they can lay hands on. EU Perspectives
• [New] Ukraine's achievement of 95% domestic long-range drone production eliminates foreign dependency and establishes an indigenous deep-strike capability that will fundamentally reshape the 2026 battlefield dynamics against Russia. Drone Warfare
• [New] Ukraine will likely continue deep-strike drone operations against legitimate military targets while Western intelligence agencies face pressure to rapidly declassify assessments to counter disinformation in real-time. Drone Warfare
• [New] Red Team Assessment: From Beijing's perspective, Taiwan-Ukraine drone cooperation represents a dual threat: it strengthens Taiwan's asymmetric defence capabilities while potentially diverting advanced semiconductor technology to a conflict zone where reverse-engineering risks are high. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Taiwan will likely leverage its semiconductor advantage to become the primary non-Chinese supplier for critical drone components (flight controllers, communications chips, power management systems) to Ukraine and NATO allies by 2027-2028. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Expect Russia to maintain 100+ drone nightly operations through winter 2025-2026, forcing Ukraine into unsustainable interceptor expenditure while Moscow refines multi-axis swarm coordination. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Expect rapid proliferation of incendiary-equipped drone tactics to other theaters, particularly Middle East and African conflicts where non-state actors seek maximum psychological impact with minimal technical sophistication. Drone Warfare
• [New] The Pentagon's $1.1 billion Drone Dominance Program targeting 30,000 small UAS at $5,000 per unit signals strategic pivot toward mass procurement, yet implementation timelines extend into 2026-2027. / Ukraine Drone Warfare

Last updated: 18 January 2026