Embedded Manufacturing Brings Manufacturing Nearer to Operations
Draganfly Inc. has been chosen by the U.S. Military to produce its Flex FPV drone programs, marking an necessary step in bringing drone manufacturing and sustainment nearer to the purpose of want. Beneath the preliminary order, the corporate is not going to solely present Flex FPV programs but additionally help the institution of on-site manufacturing capabilities at abroad U.S. Forces amenities.
This embedded manufacturing course of is designed to scale back logistical delays, guarantee safe provide chains, and allow troops to take care of tools within the subject. By coaching Military personnel in each drone operation and manufacturing, Draganfly goals to assist items maintain drone deployments with out counting on prolonged provide strains. This method represents a shift towards decentralized innovation, guaranteeing crucial applied sciences stay obtainable beneath dynamic battlefield situations.
“By combining superior Flex FPV Drone programs, embedded manufacturing, coaching and safe logistics, we’re serving to reinforce operational agility and sustainment for forward-deployed forces,” mentioned Cameron Chell, Draganfly President and CEO.
FPV Drones in Trendy Battle
First Individual View (FPV) drones have quickly emerged as a disruptive know-how in trendy warfare. These small, agile plane, sometimes piloted by way of onboard cameras and headsets, present operators with a direct view of the battlefield. Their velocity, maneuverability, and comparatively low value have made them a central characteristic of Ukraine’s protection technique for the reason that begin of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
In Ukraine, FPV drones have been weaponized for precision strikes, usually carrying small explosives in opposition to tanks, autos, and fortified positions. Their effectiveness stems from their potential to evade conventional defenses and function in contested environments. Items steadily adapt industrial off-the-shelf {hardware}, supported by native workshops able to designing, assembling, and repairing drones on brief timelines.
The U.S. Military has been learning these developments intently. Current workout routines, together with Swift Response 2025 in Lithuania, noticed American paratroopers function in-house-built FPV drones in opposition to vehicle-sized targets. In August 2025, the Military reported its first air-to-air kill utilizing an armed FPV platform, demonstrating how these programs are evolving past floor assault roles.
Significance of Embedded Manufacturing
By integrating embedded manufacturing into ahead bases, the Military is adopting classes discovered from Ukraine’s method—prioritizing adaptability, native manufacturing, and fast turnaround. As a substitute of relying solely on conventional procurement and distribution, U.S. forces can have the power to design, modify, and restore drones on-site.
This shift addresses one of many central challenges of drone warfare: supply-chain vulnerability. FPV drones are sometimes consumed at excessive charges in battle, and delays in resupply can cut back fight effectiveness. Embedding manufacturing immediately into operational environments reduces these dangers whereas additionally permitting frontline items to tailor programs for particular missions.
Draganfly’s Position
With greater than 25 years within the drone sector, Draganfly has constructed options for public security, agriculture, industrial inspection, and protection. Its choice by the U.S. Military highlights a rising pattern of leveraging industrial drone experience for navy purposes. The Flex FPV system, mixed with an embedded manufacturing mannequin, positions the corporate on the heart of efforts to make drone operations extra agile and sustainable.
As drone warfare continues to evolve, the power to provide, adapt, and deploy FPV programs near the combat might turn into as crucial because the drones themselves. Draganfly’s work with the Military illustrates how classes from Ukraine are shaping U.S. protection methods and accelerating the decentralization of drone innovation.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory surroundings for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the industrial drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, Electronic mail Miriam.
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