Pentagon Preps Top Gun for Killer Drones as FAA Cracks Down and China Looms Large in Battery Wars

This is you Drone Technology Daily: UAV News & Reviews podcast.

Welcome to Drone Technology Daily for July 19, 2025. In the past 24 hours, the UAV industry has moved at breakneck speed, driven by breakthroughs, evolving regulations, and global shifts in supply chains. One of the day’s most eye-catching developments comes from the Pentagon, which is gearing up for a “Top Gun” school—but this time, the dogfights are between teams of first-person kamikaze drones. The event, set for Camp Atterbury next month, will pit drone pilots against each other and highlight the vital role of new counter-drone tech. Pentagon officials see programs like this as the foundation of what they call “American drone dominance,” reinforcing the military’s commitment to a future where unmanned flight is mission critical. As Alexander Lovett of the Defense Department notes, branches across the military are establishing specialized schools and teams to accelerate the adoption of FPV platform innovations.

On the regulation front, the Federal Aviation Administration’s 2025 mandates are transforming the landscape for commercial and consumer pilots alike. All drones flown outside of designated FAA-Recognized Identification Areas must now broadcast their location with Remote Identification technology. This applies to hobbyists and enterprises, with compliance required either through built-in systems or retrofit broadcast modules. Registration, visible labeling, and visual line-of-sight rules remain essential. The FAA’s update to the waiver process is also noteworthy; operators seeking to fly beyond standard restrictions, such as at night or over people, will benefit from a streamlined, more responsive approval path. These measures aim to boost safety and accountability, while efforts to integrate drones into advanced air mobility projects could soon open entirely new urban logistics channels.

A major industry discussion today surrounds Chinese battery supply dominance. According to a Fortune analysis, almost every advanced drone—whether for defense, delivery, or inspection—relies on batteries predominantly sourced from China. The U.S. Department of Defense is acting swiftly, spurred by the recent ‘Unleashing American Drone Dominance’ executive order and the Army’s rollout of massive drone fleets. Programs like the Replicator Initiative seek to field thousands of next-gen systems yet face persistent supply chain vulnerabilities.

Listeners curious about the best UAVs for field use should keep an eye on the current DJI situation. As outlined by UAV Coach, unless federal agencies intervene, DJI is on track for a U.S. ban by the end of 2025. Enterprises and pros reliant on DJI’s industry-leading imaging and flight controls must consider alternatives and plan for looming restrictions.

A key technical breakthrough to watch this week is the new photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser developed at the University of Illinois. The innovation offers brighter, more thermally stable, and eye-safe laser tech, with clear implications for drones in defense, mapping, and environmental monitoring.

Flight safety remains paramount: operators are urged to maintain visual line of sight, pay close attention to airspace restrictions, adhere to Remote ID protocols, and keep up with recurrent training, including new emergency and maintenance requirements.

Looking ahead, global appetite for battlefield-proven drones is growing, exemplified by Ukraine’s push to export its innovative systems to the U.S. as covered by the Kyiv Independent. With expanding commercial applications and the regulatory environment in flux, key action points for listeners are to audit fleets for Remote ID compliance, track pending legislation—especially if you operate DJI equipment in the U.S.—and invest in pilot training focused on emerging technologies and flight safety.

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