Flock Safety Launches NDAA-Compliant, U.S.-Made Alpha Drone for First Responders

Drones for first responders are becoming more and more competitive.

Skydio recently launched two drones—the R10 and F10—just for public safety. And BRINC has devoted its entire company to making drones for police and firefighters.

Now, Flock Safety is upping the ante with the Alpha, an American-made, NDAA-compliant DFR drone made specifically for emergency response and public safety missions.

[DFR stands for Drone as First Responder. It refers to the deployment of drones automatically to the location of 911 calls to provide an immediate live stream for first responders.]

A Drone Built for Advanced Emergency Response

With a 60mph flight speed, a 45-minute flight time, and the ability to read license plates from 2,000 feet away, Flock’s new Alpha drone is one of the most cutting-edge public safety drones out there.

Built in close collaboration with law enforcement and fire departments, the Alpha’s features were built around direct input from those in the field.

• For police, the Alpha’s speed and advanced imaging enable rapid deployment to crime scenes, pursuit monitoring, and suspect identification before officers arrive, improving officer safety and speeding resolution.
• For firefighters, the Alpha’s thermal imaging and extended flight time support quick assessment of fires in low visibility or large areas, directing ground teams with live aerial insights.

Credit: Flock Safety

The Alpha has an accompanying dock, which comes with dual battery-swapping to reduce downtime to under 90 seconds, letting emergency teams maintain continuous aerial coverage during extended incidents.

And it has four cellular modems and 15 antennas for dependable communication across broad jurisdictions—a critical feature for multi-agency coordination in complex scenarios.

Alpha Specs & Features

• Speed. Up to 60 miles per hour, making it the fastest DFR drone on the market.
• Flight time. Up to 45 minutes.
• Camera. Capable of reading vehicle license plates from up to 2,000 feet away + high definition thermal imaging and high-quality low-light performance.
• Battery system. Dual battery-swapping and contact-charging dock enables launch readiness again in under 90 seconds.
• Connectivity. Equipped with four cellular modems and 15 antennas to ensure long range and reliable communication.

Flock Safety Software

Software is a key part of working with drones at a professional level.

And Flock Safety has this covered. The Alpha integrates seamlessly with the Flock Safety ecosystem, including license plate readers, audio sensors detecting gunshots or crashes, and the FlockOS real-time policing platform.

A few of Flock Safety’s top public safety products

4 Types of First Responder Work

The Alpha was made for use in real emergencies—here are four of the top public safety use cases for Flock’s new drone.

Credit: Flock Safety

1. Crime Response

The Alpha was designed with direct input from law enforcement to accelerate crime scene assessment and improve officer safety.

Its speed and advanced cameras enable quick deployment for suspect identification, pursuit monitoring, and live scene streaming before officers arrive.

• Can reach incident locations rapidly.
• Reads license plates from 2,000 feet for vehicle tracking.
• Provides real-time video feed to dispatch and officers on the ground.
• Integrates with gunshot and crash audio sensors for alert-driven response.

2. Fire Emergencies

Alpha supports fire departments by providing detailed thermal imaging and situational awareness crucial during fire rescue operations.

It helps assess fire extent, identify hot spots, and direct ground crews more effectively in low-visibility and hazardous conditions.

• Ultra-high-resolution thermal camera for precise heat mapping.
• Long flight endurance for sustained fire scene monitoring.
• Resistant, climate-controlled dock for 24/7 readiness in harsh environments.
• Enables faster, better-informed tactical decisions for firefighters.

3. Search and Rescue

For search and rescue missions, Alpha’s extended flight time, high-speed capabilities, and superior low-light imaging maximize coverage area and improve chances of locating missing persons quickly, even in challenging terrain or darkness.

• Longest flight time in its class for extended operations.
• High-definition night vision and thermal imaging for all conditions.
• Rapid battery swaps for near-continuous search coverage.
• Cellular connectivity ensures command center access across wide areas.

4. Traffic Collisions and Emergencies

Flock Alpha is engineered to enhance safety and efficiency during traffic collisions and various emergency scenarios.

Its rapid deployment capability allows the drone to arrive on scene well before ground units, providing critical real-time visuals of vehicle positions, traffic flow, and hazards like downed power lines or nearby fires.

• Arrives at collision scenes in under a minute for swift situational assessment.
• Provides live video to evaluate vehicle positions and traffic conditions.
• Identifies potential hazards, keeping responders and motorists safe.
• Offers recorded footage to assist accident investigation and traffic management planning.

Learn more about Flock’s new Alpha drone.