Skydio Doubles Down on Public Safety with Launch of R10, F10

Skydio just unveiled two new drones, the R10 and the F10.

The Skydio F10, X10, and R10

The two drones were made primarily for law enforcement, but serve very different purposes:

• The R10 is an indoor drone made for first responders. With features like two-way audio, onboard lighting, and multi-hour perch streaming, the R10 is made to provide eyes inside a building during scenarios like standoffs or active shooter events.
• The F10 is a fixed-wing made for long-range missions. With speeds exceeding 80 mph, flight times over 90 minutes, and autonomous operation from a dock, the F10 is built to provide quick, reliable aerial coverage across large areas, making it a good option for pursuits, rural response, and infrastructure inspection.

Both drones were revealed at the company’s annual Ascend event, which took place last week in Santa Cruz, CA. The R10 will be available for purchase this fall, and the F10 will be out some time in 2026.

Skydio R10: An Indoor Drone for First Responders

The R10 is Skydio’s answer to the critical need for reliable, easy-to-use drones in tight, indoor, and GPS-denied environments.

Built to support law enforcement and first responder teams, the R10’s compact size and advanced autonomy enable confident operation, even by users with minimal drone experience.

The R10 is meant to be a force multiplier, letting officers send a “robot, not a person” into dangerous environments, enhancing safety and operational effectiveness.

Skydio R10 Key Specs

• Weight. 1.73 lbs (785 g)
• Flight time. Up to 20 minutes per battery, plus Perch Mode enabling up to 3 hours of stationary streaming
• Camera. 4K with a 1″ sensor optimized for low-light imaging (12.5MP photos, 30 fps video)
• Obstacle avoidance. Full obstacle avoidance with 180° forward navigation cameras and NightSense for zero-light environments

The Skydio R10

Key public safety features on the R10 indoor drone:

• Two-way comms. Built-in 82 dB speaker and microphone for clear two-way communication from within structures to allow for negotiation with kidnappers, barricaded suspects, and similar scenarios.
• Floodlights. High-power LED floodlights for bright illumination of dark or smoke-filled areas.
• Cinewhoop features. Enclosed prop guards + Autonomous Turtle Mode to flip itself upright if the drone tips over indoors make it well-suited for flying in tight indoor environments.
• Perch Mode. Allows the drone to land and stream video for up to 3 hours continuously, providing persistent surveillance without draining the battery.
• Integration with Skydio DFR ecosystem. Seamless interoperability and shared situational intelligence with other Skydio drones and public safety software platforms.

Use Cases for the R10

Law enforcement agencies have already used the R10 in real-world field testing to replace riskier manual room clearing and to provide continuous situational awareness during active incidents.

Here are some of the top use cases for the R10:

• Police standoff and active shooter scenarios, providing eyes inside buildings without putting officers at risk.
• Tactical room clearing and hallway inspection in dark or cluttered environments.
• Surveillance and overwatch during hostage or barricade incidents using extended Perch Mode.
• Critical real-time intelligence and communication during emergency negotiation using two-way audio.
• Evidence capture with high-quality 4K video and 12.5 MP photos for investigative purposes.

Skydio F10: Fixed-Wing Drone for Long-Range Missions

The F10 is Skydio’s answer to the growing demand for fast, reliable, and autonomous long-range aerial coverage.

Designed specifically for public safety and industrial teams, the F10 combines extended endurance and high speed with robust autonomy to support missions far beyond the reach of traditional multirotor drones.

The F10 is built not just to get eyes on the scene, but to keep them there—covering miles quickly while feeding live intelligence back to operators, enhancing situational awareness and decision-making during critical operations.

Skydio F10 Key Specs

• Weight: Approximately 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg)
• Flight time: Up to 90+ minutes per flight on a single battery
• Max speed: Over 80 mph for rapid response
• Robotic Takeoff and Landing (RTOL): Vertical takeoff and landing capabilities for operation in tight or remote spaces without runways
• Autonomy: Fully autonomous operations managed via AI-driven flight control

Artist’s rendering of the F10 being used in a DFR (Drone as First Responder) program

Key features on the F10 made just for first responder needs include:

• Long-range streaming. Delivers stable, high-quality video feed over dozens of miles to command centers and ground teams.
• Dock-based operation. Enables rapid launch, recovery, and continuous coverage during extended incidents.
• Integration with Skydio DFR ecosystem. Seamless interoperability and shared situational intelligence with other Skydio drones and public safety software platforms.

Use Cases for the F10

Like the R10, the F10 has been tested by public safety agencies, proving its value in situations that require broad-area surveillance and rapid response where traditional drones fall short.

Some of the top use cases for the F10 include:

• Extended rural search and rescue missions covering large, remote areas
• High-speed aerial pursuit and tracking of vehicles or suspects over varied terrain
• Infrastructure inspection of pipelines, power lines, or railways where distance and speed are paramount
• Support for large-scale, long-duration public safety events requiring persistent aerial oversight
• Emergency response coordination by delivering real-time aerial intelligence from the sky, far beyond line of sight