Drone Forge to launch DF Fleet 1, targeting USD $90.7bn market

Drone Forge has announced it will begin delivery of its first turn-key, enterprise-grade drone fleet, DF Fleet 1, in 2026.

The DF Fleet 1 is designed to serve operators in sectors such as defence, logistics, utilities, mining, and emergency services, alongside applications in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), digital twin software, and geospatial mapping.

According to the company, the global drone market is forecast to reach USD $90.7 billion by 2030 as demand rises for scalable solutions that provide higher quality and higher frequency data. Drone Forge states it aims to meet this demand by allowing customers to integrate drone technology with increased reliability and at an enterprise scale.

"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," said Thomas Symes, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Drone Forge.

Symes also commented on the significance of the turn-key fleet offering: "DF Fleet 1 represents a major leap forward for the global drone industry. Turn-key fleets will increasingly be an access point for investors looking to gain exposure to a new and growing sector."

The company highlights that, despite the rapid growth of the drone market, adoption at scale has been hampered by a lack of unified and scalable asset management solutions. "The market does not need more drones—it needs a company that can enable, support, and scale customers," said Symes. "By packaging a turn-key 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's stated approach addresses cross-sector needs by supporting operators with procurement, insurance, and management of drone assets. Industries such as emergency services, utilities, mining, oil and gas, law enforcement, defence, and government are listed among those seeking dependable partners to maximise technology utilisation.

Symes further commented: "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."

The company intends to simplify asset management for commercial and public sector customers by offering end-to-end services, including purchase, insurance underwriting, and ongoing asset management on behalf of operators.

Drone Forge's core service propositions include specialist drone insurance underwritten through Lloyd's of London, aimed at ensuring every asset is protected to international standards, and full-service fleet management with robust performance tracking.

The firm has announced a series of strategic partnerships since its founding in August 2024. In March 2025, Drone Forge signed a letter of intent with Airbus to service the Flexrotor system in the Asia Pacific region.

A partnership secured in August 2024 with Anavia is expected to support the development of the HT-100, a heavy-duty, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and commercial logistics roles.

Drone Forge also operates as an authorised DJI reseller and support facility in Australia.

Symes expressed optimism about the company's prospects, stating: "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."

As part of its expansion, Drone Forge recently opened a new headquarters located 20 minutes north of Perth's central business district.