Mr. Cameron Chell reports

DRAGANFLY AND F4 DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL (F4DI) SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR FOR DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED, MULTI-LAYERED, MODULAR, AND RAPID-DEPLOYABLE COUNTER-UAS (C-UAS) SYSTEM

Together with F4 Defense International, Draganfly Inc. has been selected by Devcom Army Research Laboratory for an initial development contract focused on the creation of a modular, multilayered, integrated counterunmanned aircraft system platform designed to detect, identify, track, target and defeat hostile drones in contested operational environments.

The program centres on the development of an ultramobile, rapidly deployable counterdrone solution integrating Draganfly's advanced tethered aerial platform technology with identification, targeting and defeat system architectures. The solution is designed to provide persistent aerial overwatch, enhanced situational awareness, and co-ordinated airborne and ground-based drone mitigation capabilities.

The platform is expected to combine:

• Persistent tethered airborne surveillance and targeting;
• Artificial-intelligence-enabled drone identification and tracking;
• Real-time battlefield and base defence situational awareness;
• Integrated electronic and kinetic defeat co-ordination capabilities;
• Rapid deployment architecture for expeditionary and fixed-site operations.

The initiative reflects the rapidly accelerating global focus on counterdrone warfare capabilities as low-cost unmanned aerial threats continue to reshape modern conflicts and critical infrastructure security requirements worldwide.

"The modern battlefield has fundamentally changed," said Cameron Chell, chief executive officer of Draganfly. "Low-cost drones have become one of the most disruptive asymmetric threats facing military forces, governments and critical infrastructure operators globally. This program represents another important step in Draganfly's continued expansion into advanced defence and force protection technologies."

Recent strategic initiatives from the Department of War, including expanded C-UAS procurement efforts, have underscored the urgent operational need for cost-effective, rapidly deployable, layered counterdrone systems capable of protecting military installations, forward operating positions and critical national infrastructure.

According to industry research, the global counter-UAS market is projected to grow to more than $20-billion (U.S.) by 2030, representing one of the fastest-growing segments in the global defence sector.

"This collaboration is focused on delivering an operationally relevant and scalable solution designed around the realities of modern drone warfare," said Dave Fairfax, chief operating officer, F4DI. "By combining persistent aerial sensing, intelligent targeting and co-ordinated defeat capabilities, we believe this platform can address a critical and rapidly evolving defense requirement."

The initial contract phase is expected to focus on systems integration, operational capability development and field evaluation activities.

Draganfly continues to expand its presence within the defence and security sector through the development of autonomous systems, AI-enabled platforms, tactical ISR technologies and mission-critical drone solutions supporting allied military and public safety organizations globally.

About Draganfly Inc.

Draganfly is a leader in cutting-edge drone solutions and software that are transforming industries and serving stakeholders globally. Recognized for innovation and excellence for over 25 years, Draganfly delivers award-winning technology to the public safety, civil, military, agriculture, industrial inspection, security, mapping and surveying markets. The company is driven by passion, ingenuity and a mission to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to customers worldwide, saving time, money and lives.

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