Draganfly Expands Defense Drone Capabilities with Acquisition of Skip Dynamix’s Fixed-Wing Technology

Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8), a leading developer of drone solutions and systems, announced on May 18, 2026, that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire substantially all assets of Skip Dynamix Corporation’s drone technology business. Skip Dynamix specializes in ultra-low-cost, mass-producible fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) optimized for long-range intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare support, logistics, and one-way missions.

The acquisition aims to deepen Draganfly’s defense platform portfolio and strategically position the company within the rapidly expanding segment of low-cost autonomous aerial systems designed for scalable deployment in contested operational environments. By combining Draganfly’s expertise in manufacturing, autonomy, artificial intelligence, command-and-control, and military systems integration with Skip Dynamix’s innovative fixed-wing platform architecture, the company expects to enhance affordability, production speed, modular payload integration, and long-range operational capabilities.

Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, emphasized the evolving military procurement landscape shaped by recent conflicts and security challenges. He stated, “Modern conflicts have fundamentally reshaped military procurement priorities. The battlefield lessons emerging from Ukraine, the Middle East, and evolving Indo-Pacific security planning are clear: survivable mass, low-cost autonomy, long-range ISR, and systems are becoming core operational requirements for allied defense forces.”

Chell further highlighted that Skip Dynamix’s platform provides a highly scalable solution to meet the growing global demand for such systems, complementing Draganfly’s existing ISR, logistics, and tactical drone technologies.

The acquisition aligns with accelerating global defense investments targeting low-cost autonomous aerial systems capable of persistent ISR, swarm deployment, electronic warfare resilience, and expendable one-way operations. The U.S. Department of War has publicly prioritized rapid fielding of large numbers of expendable autonomous systems, particularly for Indo-Pacific and other contested theaters.

Pentagon initiatives specifically aim to deploy thousands of low-cost autonomous systems in the Indo-Pacific region to counter near-peer threats through distributed and scalable autonomous capabilities. Industry reports project the Asia-Pacific ISR aircraft and drone market to exceed US$20.5 billion by 2035, driven by geopolitical tensions, maritime security demands, and defense modernization programs.

Defense agencies worldwide increasingly favor systems that can be manufactured securely and rapidly at scale, with costs significantly lower than traditional cruise missiles or large unmanned platforms. Skip Dynamix’s systems architecture, now integrated into Draganfly’s drone platform, is designed for rapid manufacturability, operational flexibility, and modular mission payloads. This supports applications including long-range ISR, electronic warfare support, logistics, and one-way expendable missions.

The platform’s compatibility with commercially scalable manufacturing and open architecture payload systems enables rapid adaptation to evolving mission requirements and allied defense procurement programs.

Draganfly anticipates that the acquisition will enhance its ability to serve defense customers seeking affordable autonomous systems deployable at scale in contested environments. Beyond strengthening Draganfly’s positioning with U.S. Department of War programs, the transaction also bolsters NATO-aligned modernization efforts, allied defense procurement agencies, and Indo-Pacific security initiatives focused on autonomous and asymmetric defense technologies.

Draganfly plans to integrate Skip Dynamix’s technologies into its broader defense ecosystem, including AI-enabled autonomy, sensor integration, tactical ISR operations, and next-generation autonomous mission systems.

Cameron Chell remarked, “The acquisition of Skip Dynamix is an important strategic step for Draganfly as we continue to expand our platform capabilities for defense, government, public safety, and international customers. The Orca fixed-wing platform adds long-range, hand-launchable endurance to our portfolio and addresses a clear capability gap in the market. By bringing Skip Dynamix’s technology and team into Draganfly, we believe we can accelerate commercialization, expand customer opportunities, and strengthen our position as a trusted North American drone solutions provider.”

The Orca fixed-wing platform complements Draganfly’s existing multi-rotor portfolio—including the Flex FPV, Apex, Commander 3XL, and Heavy Lift systems—by adding a long-range, hand-launchable fixed-wing capability that addresses a critical integrated multi-mission opportunity currently underserved in the market.

The acquisition is expected to broaden Draganfly’s presence in defense, national security, government, and international markets by providing access to Skip Dynamix’s existing pipeline of opportunities for the Orca platform.

Management anticipates significant revenue synergies from the business combination, projecting incremental revenue growth for Draganfly beyond Skip Dynamix’s standalone forecasts and valuation.

Additionally, Skip Dynamix’s founders, Jonathan Baron and Andrew Chapman, will remain with the combined company under employment agreements, contributing their specialized expertise in fixed-wing small UAS technology.