Guardian delivers 24/7 operations, unmatched imaging, Starlink connectivity, and more to help public safety agencies respond to 911 calls and save lives.
SEATTLE, WA – March, 2026 – BRINC, America’s leading developer and manufacturer of drones for public safety, today announced the release of Guardian, the most capable 911 response drone ever. With a cutting-edge camera and advanced autonomy, Guardian is the world’s first Starlink-connected drone, representing not just a major advancement in emergency response, but a huge step for the American drone industry as a whole.
When Guardian is paired with Guardian Station, its robotic charging nest, the system automatically swaps batteries and redeploys to a new mission in under 40 seconds. That’s a massive improvement over current DFR drones that must charge for at least 30 minutes between missions.
Guardian also adapts just as fast, automatically loading the right payload (AEDs, flotation devices, Narcan, and more) depending on the type of emergency. Together, Guardian and Guardian Station deliver – for the first time ever – true 24/7 drone readiness without human intervention.
Blake Resnick, Founder and CEO of BRINC, commented on the announcement:
“Drone as First Responder operations have been limited by camera capabilities and contact charging. Guardian changes the paradigm, enabling true 24/7 operations and pushing the limits of what’s possible for advanced operations like vehicle pursuits. This is the drone I’ve wanted to build for a decade, and I’m proud of the entire BRINC team for making it real.”
Engineered to fly farther, faster, and longer in mission-critical environments, Guardian can respond to calls up to eight miles away, dwarfing current systems that are limited in range to three miles due to speed and connectivity challenges. Guardian also offers 62 minutes of flight time, IP55 weather resistance, and an integrated Starlink satellite panel that allows the drone to operate virtually anywhere on earth, maintaining a reliable data link even when traditional cellular or terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable.
Guardian also sets a new bar for imaging, introducing an integrated camera with 4K video and 640x total zoom that provides a clear view from over a thousand feet away. Just as impressively, groundbreaking Dual HD thermal zoom cameras with – for the first time on a drone of its size – optical HD thermal zoom, allow Guardian to see clearly what other drones can’t, while an integrated 1,000-lumen SkyBeam spotlight and built-in laser rangefinder enhance the coordination of responders on the ground. These advanced imaging capabilities provide crystal-clear visuals day or night, ensuring responders have the information they need when every second matters.
Guardian is designed to seamlessly integrate directly into existing public safety workflows and technology stacks, enabling agencies to deploy advanced aerial intelligence without disrupting daily operations.
Last year, the company announced a strategic alliance with Motorola Solutions, the exclusive North American public safety reseller of BRINC’s DFR technology, including Guardian. The alliance aims to bring BRINC’s drone technology into Motorola Solutions’ command center software, CommandCentral Aware, where Assist AI can identify 911 call keywords such as “heart attack” or “allergic reaction” and help dispatchers determine more quickly whether a payload-equipped drone should be deployed to the scene. The emergency button on Motorola Solutions’ APX NEXT smart radios can also prompt Guardian drone dispatch when an officer is in distress.
Jeremiah Nelson, Corporate Vice President at Motorola Solutions, commented:
“Motorola Solutions is excited to enable the next generation of DFR programs through our strategic alliance with BRINC by connecting their drones to public safety agencies’ central nervous systems—their command centers. Agencies can get eyes on the scene faster, deliver lifesaving support before first responders arrive, and securely capture and store drone footage in our integrated digital evidence management software.”
Guardian ushers in a new era of manufacturing for BRINC, which will expand into a new Seattle factory to double its production footprint. With a vertically integrated supply chain, BRINC is proud to build all its products in the United States.
You can find more information on BRINC and its suite of products as well as schedule a demo of Guardian here.
Information contained in this press release has been provided by BRINC, and has not been independently verified by Motorola Solutions. Therefore, Motorola Solutions disclaims all liability for any errors or inaccuracies in the content provided by BRINC, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
About BRINC
BRINC is an American developer of technology in the service of public safety. The company builds a connected ecosystem of tools designed to save lives. BRINC manufactures its products in the US, has co-located R&D and production, and is vertically integrated, controlling the entirety of its supply chain. Over 900 public safety agencies and 20%+ of the SWAT teams in the US use its products to de-escalate dangerous situations and safeguard human life. The company is backed by top investors, including Sam Altman, Index Ventures, Motorola Solutions, Dylan Field, Elad Gil, Patrick Shanahan, Julius Genachowski, Shyam Sankar, Alexandr Wang, Bradley Tusk, and Jeff Weiner. For more information visit brincdrones.com.
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SkyfireAI (www.skyfireai.com) today announced that it has been selected by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to serve as program manager, in collaboration with CAL Analytics—ODOT’s unmanned traffic management software partner— for the Ohio Drone First Responder (DFR) Pilot Program, a historic initiative that represents the first statewide deployment of DFR technology in the United States. Created under Ohio House Bill 96, this two-year pilot program will evaluate how drones can improve situational awareness, reduce emergency response times, and enhance the safety of first responders across law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies.
“Ohio’s statewide DFR program isn’t just a first — it’s the blueprint.,” said Don Mathis, Co-Founder and CEO SkyfireAI. “We commend Ohio’s vision in creating the nation’s first statewide DFR program, and we are honored to be entrusted with managing its execution. By unifying policy, training, and technology under one roof, Ohio is making DFR accessible to every community, especially rural departments that could never justify a standalone program. This is how we scale safe autonomy, save minutes, and save lives.”
“Ohio is proving once again that we are the HOME of aviation and at the forefront of aviation innovation,” said State Representative Bernie “Bunyan” Willis, Chair of the Ohio House Transportation Committee. “By launching the first statewide Drone First Responder program, we are showing how unmanned aerial systems can enhance public safety, accelerate emergency response, and strengthen our communities. This program is not just about technology—it’s about saving lives and setting the standard for the rest of the nation.”
ODOT’s Leadership in Aviation Innovation
Through its DriveOhio initiative and UAS Center, ODOT has led the nation in advancing advanced aviation and drone integration. Since 2013, ODOT’s UAS Center has managed statewide efforts fostering collaboration between public, private, and academic sectors to push aviation technology forward.
SkyfireAI emphasized that this program reflects ODOT’s leadership and commitment to public safety innovation, noting that Ohio is setting a precedent for other states to follow.
“Ohio has long been a leader in advanced aviation, and this program takes that commitment to the next level,” said Richard Fox, Director of the DriveOhio UAS Center. “By launching the nation’s first statewide Drone First Responder initiative, we are not only giving first responders tools to save lives and protect communities, but also setting a model for how states can safely integrate drone technology at scale.”
SkyfireAI’s Role as Program Manager
As program manager, SkyfireAI will oversee every phase of the pilot — from coordinating with vendors and municipalities to select and install rooftop drone systems, to ensuring compliance with FAA regulations, to training operators on best practices for DFR deployment.
SkyfireAI brings extensive experience to this role, having managed and operated municipal DFR programs in several cities across the country and spearheaded medical drone delivery pilot programs and disaster response initiatives with CVS Health. The company’s expertise spans UAS integration, FAA waiver navigation, UAS traffic management (UTM), and large-scale public safety training.
In addition, SkyfireAI’s advancements in artificial intelligence and automated data analysis provide a pathway for scaling the program even further. This program paves the path for BVLOS-enabled autonomy, multi-ship ops, even and true 24/7 coverage where single-agency economics don’t work. The integration of AI could support rapid damage assessment, automated detection of hazards, and more efficient resource deployment — capabilities that will help expand the reach and impact of DFR programs statewide and nationally.
CAL Analytics Role as Lead Integrator
As a technical integrator for this initiative, CAL Analytics will collaborate with drone manufacturers and first responders across Ohio to connect them to statewide services that enable safe, coordinated drone operations. This includes development of the nation’s first statewide Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM) system, designed to strategically deconflict drone activity and ensure operational safety. A network of airspace monitoring and detection sensors will also provide enhanced situational awareness for DFR operators by identifying and tracking nearby aircraft.
Program Highlights
Over the next two years, the Ohio DFR Pilot Program will equip municipalities with advanced drone systems, deliver comprehensive training for first responders, and enable FAA-approved Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations. By standardizing statewide procedures, collecting and analyzing performance data, and engaging communities through transparent outreach, the program will demonstrate how drones can become a trusted, life-saving tool for public safety agencies across Ohio and beyond.
Learn more about SkyfireAI visit: www.skyfireai.com
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We need to keep an eye on what the NPCC is upto, there is plainly a power struggle between them and the CAA at the moment. The CAA clearly has a mandate to ensure the safety of all airspace users.
The NPCC seem to be using DJI Docks and Matrice, so there’s a data privacy flag right out of the box! (See what I did there). Chinese comms in the heart of control rooms. Paging Huawei, paging Huawei.
It was really Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire, Philip Wilkinson who last week caught my attention, saying “Some of the most advanced drone systems are going to be built in Swindon, and that’s why I’m determined to have British drones for British police forces.”
He said that in the week of the canned Islington DFR trial. Perhaps Mr Wilkinson has news of a DJI factory opening up in Swindon?
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Drones as First Responder (DFR) programme is an initiative within the wider NPCC Drones Portfolio, focusing on leveraging technology to enhance public safety and police response. The DFR concept is essentially the deployment of remotely operated ‘drones in boxes’ from strategically located stations, primarily on rooftops, to arrive swiftly at the scene of an incident.
Superintendent Taryn Evans serves as the Strategic Lead for the NPCC Drones team and the Strategic Lead for UK Policing’s BVLOS Pathway Programme. She has been responsible for the national Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) programme for policing for just over a year as of June 2025.
The DFR concept was initially supported by a multi-million-pound scheme, announced by the former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, which proposed spending £230M rolling out time and money saving technology, including using drones as first responders.
The core objective of DFR is to provide near-immediate situational awareness directly into police control rooms, which can help commanders determine the best tools, tactics, and resources needed, often before officers arrive.
• Initial Simulation (Summer 2023): The first trial was led by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary (HIOWC) and Thames Valley Police (TVP) at the Isle of Wight Festival, where a simulated DFR capability was deployed alongside routine police drones.
This looks like a Herotech8 box, I am happy to be corrected.
• Project Eagle X (2024): This was cited as the first wide scale DFR trial in the UK, undertaken by Norfolk Police. Norwich was selected as an ideal test site because it currently has limited access to the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopters due to ‘proximity’.
• Norwich Demonstration (July/August 2024): A demonstration was held at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, where a drone housed in a rooftop box was deployed to search for a man playing the role of a missing person, beaming back real-time imagery to an officer in a nearby police van. Norfolk Police initially planned for up to five drone sites to cover the entire city.
• Expanding Trial Sites: The trials have explored “every combination and innovation in Drone in a Box technology” across four pioneering trial sites. These locations include Norwich, Southampton, the West Midlands, and Gravesend.
◦ Norwich focused primarily on drone safety, connectivity, and integrating drone parachutes.
◦ Southampton focused on integration with the Department for Transport’s Solent Future Transport Zone project, testing feeds from radar and other detection equipment to facilitate safe BVLOS use.
◦ Gravesend and the West Midlands focused on feeding DFR video into control rooms, linking it with systems like number plate recognition, and using DFR in motorway, public order, and firearms incidents.
• Operational Integration (2025): The British Transport Police (BTP) became the first police force to operationalise remote ‘drone in a box’ technology in May 2025. By July 2025, Cleveland Constabulary had become the fifth force to adopt DFR technology, building on the success of earlier sites in Norwich, Southampton, London, and Coventry.
The widespread expectation is that DFR drones will “assist with area searches, road incidents, issues in town centres, public order incidents and the night-time economy”. However, the project is expected to undergo another two or three years of trials and analysis before becoming an operational part of police kit across the country.
One of the four pioneering DFR trial sites, Southampton, focused specifically on testing radar and other detection equipment.
• The trials in Southampton were integrated with the Department for Transport’s Solent Future Transport Zone project.
• These trials involved testing feeds from radar and other aircraft and drone detection equipment that facilitate the safe use of BVLOS drones.
• The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary (HIOWC) and Thames Valley Police (TVP) collaboration utilized a mobile radar station.
• This mobile radar station involved the latest Sparrowhawk radar system installation, supported by the Sparrowhawk team and Chris Stagg.
Superintendent Taryn Evans has provided clarity on the DFR programme’s objectives and progress, emphasising its role in augmenting, rather than replacing, human officers.
On the purpose of DFR, Supt Evans stated:
“We don’t anticipate this replacing officers or the response they give to emergency calls in anyway whatsoever. What we do hope to see is that gives them enhanced advantage in working out how to respond to those same calls. It might be that there’s a risk there that wasn’t reported to us by the people that called in that we need to be aware of and we would send different units there to deal with that accordingly”.
Reflecting on the progress of the trials, she noted:
“The Norfolk trial is an important showcase of just how effective DFR can be at supporting our response to 999 calls, arriving on scene quickly and giving invaluable ‘eyes in the sky’”.
She further detailed the benefit of running multiple trials:
“Each trial enables us to test how DFR could work in different environments and support different operational purposes, enhancing both public and officer safety”.
In a June 2025 update, Supt Evans highlighted the advancements made, particularly how the DFR trials are becoming integrated into routine policing:
“Our DFR trials have gathered significant pace over the last year with each one testing out how we can best exploit the potential of drones to support policing and improve the safety of our communities. This latest trial shows how DFR integrates with ‘business as usual’ policing. The drone can be remotely deployed from the control room as a key resource in responding to incidents, supporting both community and officer safety”.
She also acknowledged the significant contributions of drone pilots to the programme’s success:
“None of it would be possible without our extended network of professional pilots who give their time and expertise freely, often in between long and tiring shifts, all because they want to see this technology embedded in policing with the purpose of protecting their communities and their colleagues”.
The use of drones by dedicated pilots resulted in high deployment numbers for a recent six-month period
(October 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025), which Supt Evans noted included:
• 26,584 deployments over 8,953 minutes.
• 721 suspects located.
• 649 missing people located.
• 163 vehicles located.
Supt Evans is focused on ensuring the adoption of this technology is safe, stating that the project is “working very closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Home Office to make sure that we have a safe operating model for beyond line of sight drone as a drone responder”
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SkyeBrowse and Paladin are proud to announce a strategic partnership delivering the first-ever real-time 3D modeling capability integrated directly into Drone as First Responder (DFR) workflows.
This groundbreaking integration eliminates critical data transfer delays, transforming rapid scene modeling into instantaneous intelligence delivery. Responding units now receive actionable, high-fidelity 3D models before arriving on scene.
Through this integration, aerial video from DFR missions is converted into accurate 3D models using SkyeBrowse’s rapid modeling platform – giving teams visual intelligence when critical moments matter.
A new standard for DFR has arrived, and it represents a paradigm shift in situational awareness, empowering agencies with unprecedented insights for faster decision-making, enhanced responder safety, and optimized resource deployment. We are setting the new standard for DFR technology.
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BRINC, America’s premier manufacturer of emergency response drones, today announced that it has raised $75 million in new funding. This capital will be used to accelerate the development and production of BRINC’s lifesaving drone technology.
The financing was led by Index Ventures, marking their continued conviction in BRINC following their participation in the company’s prior two funding rounds. Motorola Solutions also joined as an investor to form a strategic alliance with BRINC. Additional backers included Mike Volpi and Figma’s CEO and founder, Dylan Field.
This new funding will enable BRINC to scale production to meet increasing demand from public safety agencies, advance R&D for next-generation drone technology, and expand its workforce to support continued growth and innovation.
The alliance between BRINC and Motorola Solutions ushers in a new era of automated emergency response, integrating BRINC drones and Motorola Solutions’ APX radios, VESTA 911 emergency call management software, Computer-Aided Dispatch systems, Real-Time Crime Center Software (CommandCentral Aware), and Automatic License Plate Recognition technology.
Now, with these integrations, BRINC drones can deploy at the press of a button on a radio, respond to new sensor alerts, and provide real-time aerial intelligence directly into Motorola Solutions’ public safety solutions.
With hundreds of police, fire, and emergency response agencies already relying on BRINC drones, this alliance will help accelerate tactical de-escalation, enhance situational awareness, and transform crisis response.
“Our investment in BRINC represents a deep belief in their transformative vision,” said Vlad Loktev, Partner at Index Ventures. “The company’s technology has redefined how public safety agencies handle critical incidents. We’re thrilled to continue supporting BRINC’s mission to protect human life with public safety technology.”
“BRINC is a leader in providing innovative, automated drone solutions for public safety agencies,” said Raj Naik, senior vice president, Strategy & Ventures, Motorola Solutions. “We are excited to invest in BRINC, an organization that shares our mission to help protect and save lives.”
“We will continue building world-class emergency response drones and scale our team to meet the growing demand for our life-saving technologies,” said Blake Resnick, Founder and CEO of BRINC. “We couldn’t be more excited for the future.”
About BRINC
BRINC is an American developer of technology in the service of public safety. The company builds a connected ecosystem of tools designed to save lives. BRINC manufactures its products in the US, has co-located R&D and production, and is vertically integrated, controlling the entirety of its supply chain. Over 600 public safety agencies and 10%+ of the SWAT teams in the US use its products to de-escalate dangerous situations and safeguard human life. The company is backed by top investors, including Index Ventures, Motorola Solutions, Sam Altman, Mike Volpi, Dylan Field, Elad Gil, Patrick Shanahan, Julius Genachowski, Shyam Sankar, Alexandr Wang, Bradley Tusk and Jeff Weiner.
For more information visit brincdrones.com
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