Experience the magic of Istanbul at night with this breathtaking aerial view! Watch as the freeway winds through the city, leading to the iconic Bosphorus Bridge in the distance. A mesmerizing blend of lights, movement, and urban energy!
Perfect for travel vlogs, documentaries, or your next creative project.
The Sony Airpeak S1 is one of the most powerful professional drones on the market today. It stands out for its compatibility with Sony’s Alpha Series and FX3 Cameras. Flying these high-end cameras through the air is critical for a range of uses, from making Hollywood films to detailed map-making. It’s also got a high-performance flight system built for commercial applications that’s capable of withstanding harsh conditions.
For a limited time through March 7, B&H is sweetening the deal on the Sony Airpeak S1 ($8,999). It’s doing so by bundling it with the Amimon CONNEX Mini Transmitter (Air Unit). This device is the heart of the CONNEX Mini video downlink system. It delivers zero-latency 1080p60 performance with a line-of-sight range of up to 1,600 feet. At just 2.1 ounces, it’s ideal for drones carrying compact mirrorless cameras like the Panasonic GH4 or high-end cinema rigs like the Sony FX3.
Included in the free gift:
CONNEX Mini Transmitter (Air Unit)
Two antennas
Power cable
Micro-HDMI cable
Note: The receiver (Ground Unit) is sold separately.
What makes this drone so special?
The Airpeak S1 is Sony’s bold entry into the professional drone market. It’s been positioned as a top-tier alternative to Chinese-made drones like those from DJI. Given the increasing push to restrict Chinese-made drones, particularly for government and industrial use, the Airpeak S1 is more relevant than ever.
Key Sony Airpeak S1 specs
Max Speed: 55.9 mph (fastest in its class)
Max Angular Velocity: 180°/s
Max Tilt Angle: 55°
Obstacle Avoidance: Vision sensors and LiDAR for stability
This drone, which first was announced in 2021 at CES, initially targeted professional photography and video production. But it didn’t take long for the surveying and industrial application side of the drone industry to pick up on the drone. Besides not being made in China, it stands out for its robust flight control, advanced obstacle sensing and seamless integration with Sony’s high-end cameras.
In April 2023, Sony rolled out even more upgrades which addressed some early issues with the initial drone, like short flight times. That was by way of the new LBP-HM1 Battery, which can now fly for up to 30 minutes without a payload (up from 22 minutes). Sony also launched the Gremsy Gimbal PX1 for Airpeak, which is 40% lighter than the initial GBL-T3 from Gremsy, which is also key in reducing flight times).
Sony’s April relaunch also rolled out even more features to appeal to industrial applications like mapping or inspections. That included a RTK GNSS system for Airpeak S1 with high-precision positioning capability.
The full cost breakdown
If you’re considering purchasing the Sony Airpeak S1, here’s what you’ll need:
That means the base setup — before adding a camera and lenses — is already at $11,198. Given the investment, the free CONNEX Mini Transmitter is a welcome bonus, adding professional-grade video downlink capabilities without additional cost.
Why this Sony Airpeak S1 deal matters
Photo courtesy of Sony.
With the U.S. government increasingly scrutinizing the use of Chinese-made drones, the demand for American-made and allied-nation drones has never been higher. While DJI still dominates the market, the Airpeak S1 is a powerful alternative, offering a secure, professional-grade option for filmmakers, surveyors and enterprise users who need to future-proof their operations against potential bans.
There are a number of pieces of legislation floating around there that seek to ban DJI drones. For example, there’s Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s Drones for First Responders (DFR) Act. That act would impose a new, 30% tariff specifically on drones made in China in its first year. The tariffs would grow in size until 2030, upon which the DFR Act would completely ban the importation of drones that contain critical components made in China.
The Sony Airpeak S1 is made by, well, Sony, which is a Japanese company. It’s not subject to those tariffs and restrictions. Companies hiring you for a job might demand you use a non-Chinese made drone, which makes the Sony Airpeak S1 an attractive pick to fly for high-paying contracts. That’s alongside other enterprise drones from American drone companies such as Freefly, Inspired Flight and Ascent Aerosystems.
But for those considering making the jump to the Sony Airpeak S1 in particular, now is an excellent time to buy given the B&H deal. The promo period runs through March 7.
Learn more about the Sony Airpeak S1 deal over at B&H Photo, and score your free CONNEX Mini Transmitter.
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A military reconnaissance drone with a 26-meter wingspan has completed its first long-distance flight in Europe’s busy airspace. The 3-hour, 10-minute flight was designed to test how uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and civilian aviation can coexist in a challenging environment. The drone used in the experiment was the Israeli-made Heron TP, a turboprop UAV “customized” […]
Unleashing a storm from the decks of aircraft carriers, the MiG-29K Fulcrum roars into the sky, a symbol of naval air power that’s not confined to Russian waters. With arresting hooks and reinforced landing gear, this fighter jet defies the challenges of sea-based operations, mastering the art of catapult launches and deck landings. Soaring over […]
Switzerland should do more to stop Swiss components ending up in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine, says Russian chess grandmaster and dissident Garry Kasparov. “Russians always find a way to get the components,” Kasparov said on February 18 in Geneva while attending the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. “Ukrainians present new evidence […]
Expanding its Matrice 4 Series, DJI introduces the Dock 3—enhancing public safety, emergency response, and infrastructure inspections with innovative 24/7 aerial solutions. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Global drone giant DJI today recently announced the launch of their DJI Dock 3, the company’s first “Drone in a Box” solution that supports vehicle mounting. […]
In another sign that first response-oriented drones are a huge focus area for the drone industry in 2025, the world’s largest drone maker has unveiled its latest advancement in the field of DFR drones. DJI today released its DJI Dock 3, a “drone-in-a-box” solution designed for 24/7 remote operations. With the ability to support vehicle-mounted deployments, this next-generation system marks a new chapter in enterprise drone capabilities — and DJI’s focus on creating drones for more than just taking photos.
DJI Dock 3 signals shift toward enterprise automation
The DJI Dock 3. (Image courtesy of DJI)
While consumer drones have in some ways hit a plateau in terms of innovation and adoption, enterprise drones continue to advance rapidly, as seen by what is now the third generation in DJI’s Dock lineup.
Among the biggest standout features of DJI Dock 3 is its ability to be vehicle-mounted — a first for the company. That feature is critical in allowing for flexible, on-the-go deployments. Clearly DJI Dock 3 stems from the need for automated, remote operations, particularly in areas including public safety, emergency response, surveying and infrastructure inspections.
Emergency responders, for instance, can now deploy drones directly from their vehicles, ensuring faster response times in critical situations. Similarly, infrastructure inspectors can use the system to monitor long stretches of power lines, railways, or pipelines without needing to manually launch and land drones at every stop.
DJI Dock 3 and the Matrice 4D
The DJI Dock 3 with the Matrice 4D Series. (Image courtesy of DJI)
DJI Dock 3 is paired with the relatively new DJI Matrice 4D and 4TD drones, which launched in early 2025. The Matrice 4 series is designed with first responders in mind, meant to offer improved flight and protection performance. The series consists of two different drones: The Matrice 4T‘s key selling point is its thermal imaging. It starts at $7,299. Meanwhile, the 4E excels in high-speed aerial mapping and starts at $4,799.
Both drones include features such as IP55-rated dust and water resistance, a flight time of up to 54 minutes and advanced imaging capabilities, including full-color night vision and infrared sensors.
For fixed-mounted deployments, a new D-RTK 3 Relay Fixed Deployment Version can be added to enhance the dock’s anti-interference performance for video transmission and satellite acquisition. (Image courtesy of DJI)
Here are some other key features when using Matrice 4D with the DJI Dock 3:
Ability to withstand harsh environments
For operations in harsh environments, DJI Dock 3 has been designed to function in extreme temperatures ranging from -30°C (-22°F) to 50°C (122°F). This rugged design makes it ideal for use in locations where weather conditions might otherwise limit drone operations (again critical for first response).
Airborne Relay
The DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise remote controller. (Image courtesy of DJI)
One of the most groundbreaking features of the Matrice 4D series is its ability to act as an airborne relay. Using the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise remote controller, one drone can serve as a signal relay, extending the operational range of another drone. This is particularly valuable for search-and-rescue missions or inspections in obstructed environments, such as mountainous regions where traditional radio signals might struggle to maintain connectivity.
Smarter automation and data collection
Pairing DJI Dock 3 with DJI FlightHub 2 enables automated flight routes, allowing drones to autonomously detect and document changes in their environment. The system can capture images of vehicles and vessels and detect infrared temperature anomalies. It can even provide periodic environmental change analysis, which is a game-changer for disaster response teams and conservationists.
Furthermore, new features like intelligent change detection streamline the process of monitoring large-scale projects, ensuring operators receive timely updates on alterations in a given area. These advancements push enterprise drone operations further into the realm of autonomous, intelligent aerial surveillance.
Enterprise drone adoption accelerates
The introduction of DJI Dock 3 underscores a broader trend: the enterprise drone market is evolving at a much faster pace than the consumer drone sector. While consumer drone technology has stabilized, enterprise applications continue to demand greater autonomy, reliability and real-time data processing.
Industries such as energy, agriculture, law enforcement, and environmental protection are increasingly integrating drones into their daily workflows. As regulations evolve to accommodate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, solutions like DJI Dock 3 will become even more critical in enabling hands-free, fully automated drone deployments.
And it’s not just DJI leaning into “drone in a box” technology. In September 2024, American drone company Skydio launched its Skydio Dock for the X10 drone — effectively its version of the DJI Dock 3 released today.
With products like the DJI Dock 3, the potential for autonomous drone operations has never been greater. The ability to deploy drones remotely, conduct automated inspections, and maintain real-time situational awareness will continue to drive enterprise drone adoption forward.
As 2025 unfolds, it is clear that enterprise drones are not just supplementing existing workflows—they are redefining how industries operate. DJI Dock 3 is not just an incremental improvement; it represents the next step in fully autonomous drone solutions, setting the stage for a future where drones seamlessly integrate into everyday operations across multiple industries.
The DJI Dock 3 is available today through enterprise dealers including my preferred store, Drone Nerds.
Watch as the freeway winds through the city, leading to the iconic Bosphorus Bridge in the distance. A mesmerizing blend of lights, movement, and urban energy! 
