AXON Week 2025, held in Phoenix from May 22–25, brought together nearly 2,000 public safety professionals to explore the latest in technology for first responders. AXON, a global leader in public safety innovation, showcased its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program and the expanded capabilities made possible by its 2024 acquisition of Dedrone, a company recognized worldwide for airspace security. Learn more at AXON and the official AXON Week website.
DedroneBeyond: Unlocking Routine BVLOS for Public Safety
DedroneBeyond, introduced in 2023, is Dedrone’s solution for enabling scalable, routine drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) for law enforcement and emergency services deploying DFR programs. Traditionally, FAA regulations require a visual observer for drones flying between 200 and 400 feet in altitude, even when onboard detect-and-avoid (DAA) equipment is used. While it is easier to gain FAA approval for DAA-equipped flights under 200 feet, waivers for BVLOS operations at higher altitudes have been difficult to obtain, generally requiring visual observers.
DedroneBeyond changes this by providing advanced, real-time airspace intelligence through multi-sensor fusion—combining radar, RF detection (including RF900 for Remote ID), and cameras. This system delivers comprehensive situational awareness and virtually eliminates false positives, allowing agencies to operate drones BVLOS without visual observers. DedroneBeyond’s infrastructure can cover a 9 km radius (18 km diameter), enabling broad area monitoring with relatively few installations, which can be permanently mounted on rooftops or other existing structures.
Crucially, Dedrone says that DedroneBeyond is the only system that has been independently verified by a third party—Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership—to provide accurate airspace intelligence for BVLOS operations, giving both agencies and regulators confidence in its safety and reliability.
DFR: A Proven Use Case, but Only the Beginning
Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs are among the first proven use cases for autonomous drones in docks, demonstrating significant benefits for public safety by enabling faster response times, persistent observation, and improved situational awareness. DFR 2.0, or next-generation DFR, leverages automated “drone in a box” solutions and ground-based surveillance systems like DedroneBeyond to eliminate the need for rooftop visual observers, making true BVLOS operations a reality.
However, DFR is just the beginning. As cities begin to view drones as essential infrastructure, the potential applications extend far beyond emergency response. Drones are already being integrated into urban planning, infrastructure inspection, and environmental monitoring, providing cost-effective, rapid, and non-invasive solutions for city management and development. This shift positions drones as a foundational technology for smart cities, supporting everything from traffic management to sustainable growth.
Airspace Security: From Counter-Drone to Enabler
While Dedrone is known globally for its counter-drone solutions, the company’s vision of airspace security is much broader. Airspace security is not just about defending against unauthorized drones—it is about enabling the safe, routine, and positive use of drones at scale. Dedrone’s technology supports both detection and authorized drone operations, helping agencies and cities unlock the full potential of drones as infrastructure.
Integration and Operational Impact
DedroneTracker.AI, Dedrone’s command and control platform, is now integrated into the Fusus real-time operations platform following the AXON acquisition. This allows agencies to manage DFR missions and airspace security from a single interface, streamlining operations and supporting a wide range of deployment scenarios.
Dedrone’s solutions are trusted by over 145 public safety agencies worldwide and protect more than 50% of the U.S. population through citywide deployments and partnerships with leading agencies. By enabling safe BVLOS operations up to 400 feet, DedroneBeyond allows agencies to respond faster, cover more ground, and reduce disturbances to citizens by flying at higher, less intrusive altitudes.
AXON Week 2025 highlighted a pivotal shift in how public safety and city leaders view drone technology. With DedroneBeyond, Dedrone—now part of AXON—is not only defending airspace but also enabling a new era of scalable, BVLOS drone operations. As drones become integral to city infrastructure, their impact on safety, efficiency, and quality of life will continue to grow.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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