DroneDJ

• US Army awards Elroy Air $46M for heavy-lift drone

  

  Heavy-lift drone developer Elroy Air has secured a major vote of confidence from the US Army. The California-based company announced it has been awarded a $46 million multi-year contract to further develop its autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) cargo drone, with the goal of making it more capable of supporting troops in some of the military’s toughest operating environments.

• Court gives DJI new hope in Pentagon blacklist battle

  

  Could DJI actually escape the Pentagon’s blacklist? A new court ruling suggests it’s no longer out of the question.

• Trump hits imported drones with tariffs up to 100%

  

  Buying an imported drone in the US could soon become much more expensive. The Trump administration has announced sweeping new tariffs on imported drones and drone components, with duties reaching as high as 100% for certain products. While the move is aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing US dependence on foreign suppliers, it could also have ripple effects for businesses, public safety agencies, and even recreational drone pilots.

• Uber Eats adds Zipline drones for ultra-fast deliveries

  

  Uber Eats users could soon have another delivery option alongside human drivers. Uber and drone delivery leader Zipline have announced a long-term partnership that aims to bring autonomous drone deliveries to millions of Americans, with an ambitious goal of reaching one million deliveries per day by the end of 2029.

• DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone gets new firmware update for smoother flights

  

  DJI’s Mavic 4 Pro is one of the few consumer drones that can shoot stunning 6K HDR video, switch between three cameras mid-flight, and even rotate its camera a full 360 degrees. Now, DJI is making that flagship experience a little smoother with a fresh firmware update for the drone, DJI RC Pro 2, DJI RC 2, and the DJI Fly app.