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Russia Attacks Ukraine with 470 mph Drone

Russia launched a new type of jet-powered attack UAV called the Dan-M against Ukraine on the morning of 29 May. The drones were launched in a group from Crimea. Source: Serhii “Flesh” Beskrestnov, a consultant specialised in military radio technologies, on social media Details: Beskrestnov explained that the Dan-M is originally a target drone used […]

Ukraine Arms Soldiers with Domestic Anti-Drone Pistol

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has approved a domestically made anti-drone pistol for the armed forces in a move to enhance individual soldier survivability against hostile drones. Constructed as a single, unified piece instead of assembled from different components, the compact anti-drone pistol weighs just over 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) with a 60-minute battery life. Acting […]

SPH Engineering Launches Free Drone Show Software Lite License

New License Tier Makes Drone Light Shows More Accessible to Creators, Educators, and Hobbyist SPH Engineering, the developer of Drone Show Software, has announced a new free software tier designed to bring drone-based entertainment to a broader audience. The Drone Show Software (DSS) Lite License allows users to create and run synchronized light shows with […]

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Michigan Launches First-Ever Uncrewed Triple Challenge

Groundbreaking competition tests autonomous drones across air, land, and water Michigan Debuts Landmark Autonomous Drone Event Governor Gretchen Whitmer officially launched the Uncrewed Triple Challenge (UTC) May 20, a state-sponsored competition pushing the boundaries of autonomous drone capabilities. The event, which tests drones on land, in the air, and over water, is a first-of-its-kind competition […]

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From North Dakota to the Nation: NPUASTS Expands BVLOS Capabilities Across the U.S.

Northern Plains UAS Test Site extends reach beyond home state By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS), which has been at the forefront in making North Dakota a leader in the cause of advancing autonomous unmanned air mobility, is working to bring its solutions to other states across the […]

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Teacher to Tinkerer: Travis Claypool Wins Gold at the CubePilot After Party at XPONENTIAL 2025

By DRONELIFE Contributing Editor Paul Rossi At XPONENTIAL 2025, amidst the cutting-edge technology and UAV innovation, one unforgettable moment stood out – when Travis Claypool, a UAV engineer with SPH Engineering, walked away from the CubePilot after party with a gold-plated Cube Red flight controller in hand. But this wasn’t just about a lucky raffle […]

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Russia Tests Shotgun-Armed Yak-52 Trainer Aircraft to Down Ukrainian Drones

Russia has followed Ukraine’s lead in adapting the propeller-driven Yak-52 primary training aircraft as an ad-hoc drone-killer. The Yak-52B2 includes a sensor turret to help detect long-range one-way attack drones and has a shotgun mounted under the wing for shooting them down. While it appears that Ukrainian Yak-52s have had some success in the counter-drone […]

Flytrex and Wing Launch First UTM-Enabled Drone Delivery Collaboration in U.S.

New milestone in Dallas area marks the first use of real-time, automated coordination between commercial BVLOS drone operators. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Flytrex and Wing recently announced their shared implementation of the Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) Strategic Coordination standard in the United States with a new first-of-its-kind application into daily flight operations […]

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Two drone delivery giants just did something that’s never been done in U.S. airspace

In a groundbreaking shift for the drone delivery industry, Flytrex and Wing — two of the largest commercial drone operators in the U.S. — have begun flying in the same airspace at the same time. It’s happening in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and it’s made possible by an autonomous traffic coordination system.

It might not seem like a big deal. After all, United and Alaska and American Airlines flights all share the same airspace. But manned aircraft relies on air traffic control to coordinate flight paths. Drones are only now just getting to that stage.

The coordinated flights between Flytrex and Wing are the first time in U.S. history that multiple commercial drone companies have conducted daily operations in shared airspace. They do that by using a real-time Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system. And in automated fashion, it means neither human air traffic controllers nor manual coordination between companies.

Until now, commercial drone flights were separated geographically, each operator assigned its own territory to avoid midair conflicts. But in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, Flytrex and Wing are serving overlapping communities simultaneously. They coordinate flights with each other using the drone world’s version of air traffic control.

A first for the U.S. — and a glimpse at the future of airspace

(Photo courtesy of Flytrex)

The coordinated flights between Flytrex and Wing marks the first operational use of the ASTM Strategic Coordination standard for UTM in the United States. Both companies are participating in the Federal Aviation Administration’s UTM Operational Evaluation, a multi-operator initiative shaping how drones will integrate into national airspace.

Rather than pre-negotiating where and when to fly, Flytrex and Wing use their own UAS Service Supplier (USS) platforms to share what’s called “4D flight intent data” — route coordinates, timing, altitude and location. These systems are what’s called ‘interoperable.’ That means the drones can detect potential conflicts and automatically adjust their flight paths in real time.

“Unmanned Traffic Management is the backbone of a scalable drone delivery ecosystem,” said Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex. “It allows multiple operators to fly safely and efficiently, even in densely populated areas.”

It comes at a critical time ahead of Part 108 regulations, which are essential for enabling drone flights beyond the pilot’s line of sight.

“This is yet another milestone for the UTM Operational Evaluation, leveraging core principles of U.S. aviation and innovation,” said Margaret Nagle, Vice President and Global Head of Policy at Wing. “By leveraging global standards, we will increasingly see multiple drone services sharing the same airspace and operating at scale.”

How the operations between Flytrex and Wing work

(Photo courtesy of Flytrex)

For now, these types of flights between Flytrex and Wing are contained to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Both companies have already had robust operations there (and yours, truly, Drone Girl, tested out Wing drone delivery in Texas). That region is quite buzzy, which is why I’ve dubbed Texas the Drone Star State.

Right now, Flytrex has stations around the region, where drones serve customers within a 3-mile radius of each station, handling 120 to 400 deliveries per day. Meanwhile, Wing drones fly lightweight packages from restaurants and retailers like Walmart directly to doorsteps. When both companies operate in the same neighborhood, their drones stay aware of each other through the UTM system — and respond in real time to reroute or avoid overlap.

They rely on some advanced software, including:

  • 4D Flight Intent Sharing: Drones broadcast planned positions over time.
  • Real-Time Deconfliction: Routes can adjust automatically if weather changes, airspace fills up, or other drones are nearby.
  • Contingency Coordination: If one drone needs to land early or reroute, that data is instantly shared with the other system.

Why the Flytrex and Wing news is such a big deal

This isn’t just about avoiding crashes — it’s about enabling scale. If drone companies had to stick to exclusive zones, growth would be slow and inefficient. Plus, one company would likely gain continued monopolies, which is generally not great for business. But now, with this shared airspace model, multiple services can operate side-by-side, giving consumers more choices and increasing the speed and availability of aerial delivery.

And this is just the beginning. The system is designed to be operator-agnostic, meaning any drone company that adheres to the same standards — like Zipline, DroneUp, or others — can join in and fly safely alongside competitors.

“The sky is a shared resource,” said Bash. “This system allows us to use it responsibly—and at scale.”

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Unleash live Secures A$17 Million to Expand AI-Powered Infrastructure Solutions Globally

The real-time video analytics platform will use Series B funding to grow operations and enhance AI innovation across key sectors Unleash live Raises A$17 Million to Fuel Global Growth Unleash live, an Australian-based company known for its AI-powered real-time video analytics platform, has announced the successful close of its Series B funding round. The company […]

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