Two months after securing a partnership with global aerospace giant Airbus, Australian startup Drone Forge has announced plans to launch the world’s first turnkey fleet of drones in 2026 with the aim of supporting business and government organisations adopt and manage the emerging technology.
Drone Forge, which is currently undertaking a capital raising to support its mission, says its DF Fleet 1 to be launched next year will provide direct exposure to the new asset class of drone management while revolutionising the way investors, governments and commercial operators access and scale drone technology.
As a manager of drone assets, the Perth-based startup, which was founded by Thomas Symes in 2024, delivers services ranging from procurement to underwriting insurance for the assets.
DF Fleet 1 will comprise a range of drone platforms that meet the needs of industry operators, from the large, heavy-lift, long-range operations to smaller single and multi-system platforms.
Designed for modern operators across defence, logistics, utilities, mining and emergency services, the fleet is tailored to support intelligence, surveillance, digital-twin software and geospatial mapping, areas where Drone Forge says the technology has become “critical enterprise-grade infrastructure”.
“The drone market has evolved rapidly and that has highlighted the need for mature asset management solutions that give direct and diversified exposure to the global drone opportunity,” says Symes, the CEO of Drone Forge.
“DF Fleet 1 represents a major leap forward for the global drone industry. Turnkey fleets will increasingly be an access point for investors looking to gain exposure to a new and growing sector.”
Drone Forge has not released details of its current capital raise, but the planned launch of its platform follows a letter of intent the startup secured in March with Airbus to collaborate on the deployment and operational integration of Flexrotor, an unmanned vertical take-off and landing system developed by the European aerospace giant.
As part of Drone Forge’s portfolio expansion, the company has established a service centre in Perth to provide training, maintenance and support services for a range of UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) including the Flexrotor.
Drone Forge notes that operators of drones in emergency services, utilities, mining, oil and gas, law enforcement, defence and government are currently looking for “reliable partners to unlock the full potential of the technology”.
“DF Fleet 1 is about transforming drones from stand-alone assets into essential, enterprise-grade infrastructure, opening a new chapter for innovation and investment in the sector,” says Symes.
“The market does not need more drones - it needs a company that can enable, support and scale customers.
“By packaging a turnkey fleet for institutional investors and large-scale operators, we’re not only making drone technology more accessible, but enabling operators across a diverse range of industries to take advantage of the latest unmanned aerial systems.”
Drone Forge says its services will eliminate a layer of complexity for large industry operators, governments and investors by offering “a single trusted brand with the infrastructure to support every stage of the drone journey, from initial purchase and underwriting to ongoing management of the assets on behalf of the operator”. Insurance of the assets is underwritten by Lloyds of London.
The collaboration with Airbus announced in March followed a partnership secured by Drone Forge in August last year with Switzerland-based aerial technology group Anavia to accelerate the growth of its HT-100 - a heavy-duty, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as commercial logistics.
Drone Forge is also an authorised reseller and support provider for drone camera technology developer DJI.
“With these alliances and robust capital backing, we’re poised to revolutionise the drone market and deliver next-generation solutions to Australia’s most demanding sectors,” says Symes.
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