Skydio reveals two drones designed for critical public safety missions

Skydio expands drone family for public safety

Skydio has announced the release of two new drones for public safety operations in the United States.

The company reported that the new systems are designed to expand the Drone as First Responder (DFR) programme, building on its existing X10 quadcopter platform.

Skydio said the R10 indoor drone and the F10 fixed-wing drone will support missions where confined spaces or long-distance response are required.

The business explained that the R10 will be available to early access customers in autumn 2025, while the F10 will follow in the first half of 2026.

It added that both systems are intended to operate on the same platform as the X10, enabling agencies to deploy drones across multiple mission types.

Capabilities of the R10 indoor drone

According to Skydio, the R10 is the first indoor drone in the US that combines consumer-level ease of use with functions required for public safety.

The organisation noted that the drone is equipped with onboard lighting, two-way audio communications, and cloud-based evidence management integration.

It said the model is compact, at 10 inches by 10 inches and 1.7 pounds, and includes protective blade guards to allow use in confined environments.

Skydio explained that the R10 supports NightSense obstacle avoidance in zero-light conditions and features automated Return-to-Home for inexperienced operators.

The company added that it integrates into the same software and workflows as the X10, including CAD, Fusus, and evidence management systems.

Integration with Drone as First Responder programmes

Skydio stated that the R10 will enable patrol officers to extend Drone as First Responder operations from outdoor to indoor environments.

The organisation said this allows officers to send drones into buildings before entering themselves, improving situational awareness and safety.

It noted that R10 can support routine patrol responses such as burglary alarms, domestic incidents, and vehicle stops.

The company explained that combining the X10 and R10 allows agencies to cover both exterior and interior environments in a coordinated operation.

It reported that local officers can launch the R10 and transfer control to remote pilots, providing agencies with an operational multiplier without requiring extra staff.

Development of the F10 fixed-wing drone

Skydio said the F10 is being developed as a fixed-wing drone capable of flight speeds greater than 80 miles per hour and durations exceeding 90 minutes.

The company reported that the model will extend drone coverage to dozens of miles, enabling response in rural areas and during long-distance pursuits.

It added that the F10 will be deployed with an automatic launch and landing dock to reduce operational staff requirements.

The organisation explained that the drone is intended for early access use in the first half of 2026.

It noted that the design builds on the company’s autonomy systems that already enable the X10 quadcopter to fly with minimal operator input.

Public safety and other applications

Skydio stated that while the R10 was designed for public safety, it can also be used in critical infrastructure inspections and other confined-space tasks.

The business added that the F10 is targeted at applications including high-speed pursuit support, grid infrastructure monitoring, and rural response.

It said that by integrating across a shared platform, the drones are intended to serve multiple industries that rely on timely situational intelligence.

The company reported that the three drones together will provide a flexible family of systems for varied mission environments.

It added that the family includes the existing X10 quadcopter, the new R10 indoor drone, and the new F10 fixed-wing drone.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

For fire and rescue services, Skydio’s drone systems may provide tools for assessing hazardous environments before committing personnel.

The R10 could allow responders to gather intelligence from inside buildings during incidents involving smoke, hazardous materials, or unstable structures.

The F10 could enable monitoring of wildland fire spread, infrastructure risks, or rural emergencies over larger distances.

As the systems operate on a shared platform, agencies may integrate drone intelligence directly into their existing operational command workflows.

Skydio expands drone family for public safety: Summary

Skydio has announced two new drones for public safety in the United States.

The company reported that the new models are the R10 indoor drone and the F10 fixed-wing drone.

It said the R10 combines consumer ease of use with public safety features such as onboard lighting, audio, and cloud evidence integration.

The business explained that the F10 will have flight speeds above 80 miles per hour and flight times beyond 90 minutes.

Skydio reported that the R10 will be available for early access in autumn 2025.

It stated that the F10 is targeted for early access in the first half of 2026.

The organisation noted that both drones will integrate into the same platform as the existing X10 quadcopter.

It added that the family of drones is intended to expand Drone as First Responder operations across different mission environments.