In this episode of Weekly Wings, Paul Rossi and Terry Neff break down the latest financial and policy shifts impacting the drone industry. They discuss how recent political and economic changes are driving acquisitions and vertical integration within the U.S. drone sector, highlighting how companies like Unusual Machines are expanding their footprint with strategic investments like the recent acquisition of Aloft Technologies - https://finance.yahoo.com/news/unusual-machines-enters-definive-agreement-133000058.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAJAjmsouHpeHT2-uwOkGco7a0rdAvfwKH5h1r4VMZiF7RqboaB-F0GuUalVqkB-DJ8opfu2QdVj6YUlyqyQeXBeWiw7WuiTJzGGKUpurLUiUa_Fy2DnI2r5LZTuL0lI3J17VZ8chKzuS_C0d8hySeq7KdVZNZMwonUjpigKI_oK

The conversation shifts to the Drone Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that could unlock federal funding for law enforcement drone programs. They analyze how this legislation could reshape public safety operations and whether it will exclude Chinese-made drones from eligibility - https://dronelife.com/2025/02/14/congress-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-drone-funding-for-law-enforcement/

On the tech front, Paul and Terry examine American Robotics’ Iron Drone system, a counter-UAS solution designed for autonomous drone interception. They explore its implications for defense and critical infrastructure security, comparing its potential to Axon’s growing role in public safety drone integration - https://www.stocktitan.net/news/ONDS/ondas-airobotics-launches-global-demonstration-tour-to-showcase-iron-n5wx9ddqesan.html

Additionally, they review GeoQ’s new affordable LiDAR solutions, which significantly lower the barrier to entry for high-precision mapping and surveying applications - https://dronelife.com/2025/02/17/geocue-expands-trueview-lineup-with-tv1-and-tv1-lite-affordable-high-performance-lidar-for-drone-surveys/

They also touch on the growing presence of CIA drone surveillance operations in Mexico, targeting cartel activity with cutting-edge aerial intelligence capabilities - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14409511/trump-cia-drones-mexico-spy-drug-cartels.html

The episode concludes with a discussion on recent aviation safety incidents, including the shocking Delta Airlines crash landing that flipped a jet upside down, prompting concerns about operational safety in extreme weather conditions - https://abcnews.go.com/US/dramatic-video-shows-moment-delta-plane-flipped-after/story?id=118921357