Drone News Roundup: Portugal with the Avata 2, DOD Add 23 Drones to Blue UAS List, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
20 February 2025This week we’re covering a drone tour of Portugal shot on the DJI Avata 2.
We’re also covering the DOD’s addition of 23 drones to the Blue UAS list, a story about how drones are helping people find their missing dogs, NASA testing drones for localized forecasting to help fight fires, and a bipartisan bill proposed by Congress to help fund drones for first responders.
Now on to the links!
Portugal with the Avata 2
This aerial tour of Portugal’s sunny Algarve region was made by YouTuber Danel Jakub K, who shot the footage entirely on the DJI Avata 2 in Manual Mode. The video features shots of the area’s dramatic rock formations, hidden caves, and expanses of sand. A bad crash just before the trip to Portugal caused the gimbal dampers on Danel’s Avata 2 to separate, creating intense vibration in its shots, but he was able to patch it up and stabilize the footage in Gyroflow. About making the video, Danel shared that he’s already planning a return trip, this time to get more footage with a custom-built FPV drone.
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DOD Adds 23 New Drones to Blue UAS List
The Skydio X10D | Credit: Skydio
The DOD’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has added 23 new drones to its Blue UAS list, including the Skydio X10D, the Teal Black Widow, and the AeroVironment Dragon. 14 new drone components were also added to the list, making for 37 approvals in total. This expansion of the list aims to provide soldiers with faster access to the drone technology they need, while also addressing concerns about cybersecurity and supply chain vulnerabilities—particularly related to Chinese-made components. The move to make so many approvals at once follows feedback from both military units and drone companies, who felt the previous approval process was too restrictive and slow. The updated Blue UAS list includes drones from U.S. companies and 18 partner countries, including features like first-person-view (FPV) drones and tethered platforms that were made in response to specific requests from military users.
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Pet Owners Use Drones to Find Lost Dogs
It’s not a new use case, but it is a powerful example of the good drones can do in the world. In this recent news segment from NBC, we learn about pet owners turning to drone pilots to help them find their missing dogs. Using thermal and video cameras, drone operators are helping more and more pet owners reconnect with their lost loved ones. If you’re looking for a pick me up this week, this story is just the thing.
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NASA Tests Drones for Localized Forecasting to Fight Wildfires
Composite image showing the NASA Alta X quadcopter taking off during test flights
NASA’s FireSense project is testing drones equipped with wind sensors to provide localized weather data for wildfire management. In August 2024, researchers equipped NASA’s Alta X (shown above) with radiosonde and anemometer sensors to gather precise wind and weather information. (The Alta X is already in use by the U.S. Forest Service.) After test flights, they found that the data the Alta X collected with these payloads could help them predict fire behavior and inform firefighting strategies. The goal of the research is to create a reusable, “drop-in” solution that provides more frequent and localized data than traditional weather balloons, allowing firefighters to get a real-time understanding of how weather patterns might impact their wildfire operations.
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Bipartisan DRONE Act Aims to Boost Law Enforcement Drone Programs
Credit: Skydio
Representatives Correa (D-CA) and Nehls (R-TX) have introduced the DRONE (Directing Resources for Officers Navigating Emergencies) Act of 2025. The bill seeks to let law enforcement use federal funds to support drone purchases and operations. Unlike the Drones for First Responders Act, which proposed phasing out Chinese drones while simultaneously raising money for first responder drones by placing a tariff on them, this bill only proposes funding (that is, there is no “drone ban” component to the bill). So far, the DRONE Act of 2025 has gotten support from law enforcement organizations like the Fraternal Order of Police and the Major County Sheriffs of America, as well as industry groups like AUVSI. If passed, the DRONE Act could significantly expand the use of drones by law enforcement nationwide, further enabling Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs.
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