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Draganfly (NASDAQ: DPRO) gains exclusive ACSL SOTEN drone rights in Canada

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
6-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Draganfly Inc. has signed an exclusive master distributor agreement with Japanese drone maker ACSL to bring NDAA-compliant SOTEN drones to the Canadian market and collaborate on technology integration between their platforms.

The partnership targets Canada’s commercial drone market, which is projected to reach $10 billion USD by 2030. SOTEN is a compact, multi-mission drone with four swappable camera options and a secure-by-design architecture that complements Draganfly’s Apex, Commander 3XL, and Heavy Lift drones, which support payloads from 6.6 to over 100 lbs. Technical integration will allow certain Draganfly drones to use SOTEN camera payloads and the ACSL TAITEN smart controller, giving pilots cross-platform interoperability. The SOTEN platform will be available across Canada exclusively through Draganfly beginning in June 2026.

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Canadian drone market projection $10 billion USD Projected size of Canada’s commercial drone market by 2030
Draganfly payload capacity range 6.6 to 100+ lbs Payload support for Apex, Commander 3XL and Heavy Lift drones
TAITEN controller screen size 7" 1500-nit screen Display specification for ACSL TAITEN smart controller
SOTEN availability in Canada June 2026 Date SOTEN platform becomes available through Draganfly
SOTEN camera options 4 swappable cameras Standard 20MP, dual thermal-optical, multi-spectral, optical zoom
NDAA-compliant regulatory
"Partner to Bring NDAA-Compliant Japanese Drones to Canadian Market"
NDAA-compliant means that a product, supplier, or company meets the rules in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act that bar certain foreign technologies and require specific security practices. For investors, compliance matters because it determines whether a business can sell to the U.S. government, avoid fines or bans, and reduce supply‑chain or reputational risk—similar to passing a background check that lets you bid on a sensitive contract.
exclusive master distributor agreement financial
"have signed an exclusive master distributor agreement and launched technology integrations"
interoperability technical
"development of exciting new capabilities and interoperability between both companies’ drone platforms"
Interoperability is the ability of different systems, devices, or software to work together smoothly and share information easily. It matters to investors because it enables more efficient operations, better data sharing, and faster decision-making across various platforms or technologies. When systems are interoperable, they can connect and communicate as if they were part of a single, unified system, reducing complexity and increasing overall effectiveness.
swappable payloads technical
"a compact, easy-to-deploy, multi-mission platform with swappable payloads and a secure-by-design architecture"
secure-by-design architecture technical
"multi-mission platform with swappable payloads and a secure-by-design architecture"
forward looking statements regulatory
"This release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward-looking ‎‎‎‎information”"
Statements about a company’s expected future performance, plans, goals, or projections that are not historical facts and involve assumptions and estimates. Investors care because these are predictions that guide decisions but can be wrong; like a weather forecast, they help set expectations and risk — if circumstances change, actual results may differ significantly, so investors should weigh them alongside hard data and risk factors.

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of May 2026

 

Commission File Number: 001-40688

 

DRAGANFLY INC.

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

235 103rd St. E.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 1Y8

Canada

(Address of principal executive office)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

☐ Form 20-F   ☒ Form 40-F

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  Draganfly Inc.
  (Registrant)
     
Date: May 7, 2026 By: /s/ Paul Sun
  Name: Paul Sun

 

 

 

 

Form 6-K Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit Number   Document Description
     
99.1   Press Release of the Registrant dated May 7, 2026.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Drone Makers ACSL and Draganfly Partner to Bring NDAA-Compliant Japanese Drones to Canadian Market; Signs Exclusive Distributor Agreement and Launches Technology Integration

 

Collaboration Enables Cross-Platform, NDAA-Compliant Interoperability, Expanding Fleet Access and Capabilities for Public Safety and Industry

 

Vancouver, B.C., May 7, 2026 — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer and ACSL, the largest Japanese drone maker, renowned for innovation and commitment to quality, have signed an exclusive master distributor agreement and launched technology integrations. This partnership will bring ACSL’s technology to the Canadian market while the resulting collaboration will lead to the development of exciting new capabilities and interoperability between both companies’ drone platforms. This milestone comes as Canada’s commercial drone market accelerates toward a projected $10 Billion USD by 2030.

 

As the exclusive Canadian partner, Draganfly is bringing the ACSL SOTEN to market, a compact, easy-to-deploy, multi-mission platform with swappable payloads and a secure-by-design architecture. Purpose-built in Japan, SOTEN complements Draganfly’s established portfolio; Apex, Commander 3XL, and Heavy Lift, supporting payloads from 6.6 to 100+ lbs. and expanding customer capabilities with a highly portable, adaptable solution.

 

This partnership also aims to address industry needs by offering more viable options for building diverse, interoperable drone programs. Through technical integration, certain Draganfly made drones like the Apex and Commander 3XL will be compatible with SOTEN’s swappable camera payloads along with the ACSL TAITEN Smart Controller. Pilots will be able to build drone programs around their needs, combining the advantages of both Draganfly and ACSL systems, and controlling platforms as needed with the ACSL TAITEN ground control station.

 

SOTEN has four swappable camera options: the standard 20MP 1” sensor camera with a mechanical shutter, the SAMO dual thermal-optical system, a multi-spectral option, and an optical zoom camera. The TAITEN smart controller features a 7” 1500-nit screen, a rugged IP54-rated design, and a suite of customizable buttons. The platform emphasizes operational reliability, secure communications, and flexibility to adapt as mission requirements evolve.

 

“We’ve seen significant adoption of the ACSL platform in the US and we’re excited to bring this technology to the Canadian drone market,” said Cynthia Huang, CEO of ACSL Inc. “Customer feedback has been strong. With its modular design, once SOTEN gets incorporated into a workflow, it becomes a go-to choice for many missions. This partnership is a great reflection of addressing the needs of customers, increasing interoperability among drone solution providers to build a more resilient industry.”

 

 

 

 

 

“We’ve taken a hard look at the market, and ACSL stands out as the strongest partner in this segment to integrate with our OEM product line,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. “This gives customers a true single-source solution, combining best-in-class manufacturing and technology to build scalable, future-ready drone programs.”

 

As the adoption of enterprise drone operations continues to expand across Canada, ACSL’s entry reinforces the importance of trusted manufacturing, ecosystem collaboration, and platforms designed to meet the realities of professional use.

The SOTEN platform will be available across Canada exclusively through Draganfly beginning in June 2026. Customers can learn more or request a demo at www.draganfly.com. Dealers seeking to become authorized partners are invited to contact Draganfly for more information.

 

About Draganfly

 

Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8) is a leader in cutting-edge drone solutions and software that are transforming industries and serving stakeholders globally. Recognized for innovation and excellence for over 25 years, Draganfly is an award-winning Original Equipment Manufacturer and technology integrator to the public safety, civil, military, agriculture, industrial inspection, security, mapping, and surveying markets. The Company is driven by passion, ingenuity, and a mission to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to customers worldwide, saving time, money, and lives.

 

For more information, visit www.draganfly.com.

 

For investor details, visit:

NASDAQ (DPRO)

CSE (DPRO)

FSE (3U8)

 

About ACSL

 

ACSL is the largest Japanese drone maker, renowned for its innovation and commitment to quality. With a focus on delivering advanced, reliable, and user-friendly drone solutions, ACSL continues to set industry standards and exceed customer expectations. ACSL offers a variety of different drone systems including the flagship SOTEN drone. ACSL Inc. is the North American subsidiary of ACSL.

 

 

 

 

 

Media Contact

 

Draganfly

 

Erika Racicot

Media@draganfly.com

 

ACSL 

 

Patrick Santucci

Press@acsl-usa.com

 

Company Contact

 

Cameron Chell

Chief Executive Officer

(306) 955-9907

info@draganfly.com

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward-looking ‎‎‎‎information” as ‎‎‎‎defined under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information can ‎‎‎‎generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‎‎‎‎‎”may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, ‎‎‎‎‎”estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar ‎‎‎‎terminology. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information are based on forecasts of future ‎‎‎‎results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and ‎‎‎‎assumptions that, while believed by ‎‎‎‎management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant ‎‎‎‎business, economic and ‎‎‎‎competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎include, but are not ‎‎‎‎limited to, statements with respect to Draganfly’s participation in the Uncrewed Aircraft Working Group, as well as the statement that Draganfly looks forward to working with the Government of Canada to pursue potential partnerships that strengthen Canada’s domestic capacity to design, develop, and produce advanced drone solutions and systems. Forward-‎‎‎‎looking statements and information are subject to various ‎known ‎‎and unknown risks and ‎‎‎‎‎uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to ‎control or ‎‎predict, that ‎‎‎‎may cause ‎the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be ‎materially ‎‎different ‎‎‎‎from those ‎expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions ‎about ‎‎such ‎‎‎‎risks, uncertainties ‎and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: the potential ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎impact of epidemics, ‎pandemics or other public health crises, including the ‎COVID-19 pandemic, on the Company’s business, operations and financial ‎‎‎‎condition; the ‎‎‎successful integration of ‎technology; the inherent risks involved in the general ‎‎‎‎securities markets; ‎‎‎uncertainties relating to the ‎availability and costs of financing needed in the ‎‎‎‎future; the inherent ‎‎‎uncertainty of cost estimates; the ‎potential for unexpected costs and ‎‎‎‎expenses, currency ‎‎‎fluctuations; regulatory restrictions; and liability, ‎competition, loss of key ‎‎‎‎employees and other related risks ‎‎‎and uncertainties disclosed under the ‎heading “Risk Factors” ‎‎‎‎in the Company’s most recent filings filed ‎‎‎with securities regulators in Canada on ‎the SEDAR ‎‎‎‎website at www.sedar.com and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes ‎‎‎no obligation to update forward-‎looking ‎‎‎‎information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-‎‎‎looking information represents ‎‎‎‎‎managements’ best judgment based on information currently available. ‎‎‎No forward-looking ‎‎‎‎statement ‎can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. ‎‎‎Accordingly, readers ‎‎‎‎are advised not to ‎place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or ‎‎‎information.‎

 

 

FAQ

What did Draganfly (DPRO) announce in this Form 6-K?

Draganfly announced an exclusive master distributor agreement with Japanese drone maker ACSL and a technology integration collaboration. The deal brings ACSL’s NDAA-compliant SOTEN drones to Canada and enables interoperability with Draganfly platforms for public safety and industrial customers.

What is the ACSL SOTEN drone that Draganfly will distribute in Canada?

SOTEN is a compact, easy-to-deploy, multi-mission drone with swappable payloads and secure-by-design architecture. It offers four camera options, including thermal-optical, multi-spectral, and optical zoom, aimed at professional, NDAA-compliant use across public safety and industrial applications.

How will Draganfly (DPRO) integrate its drones with ACSL technology?

Certain Draganfly drones, such as the Apex and Commander 3XL, will be compatible with SOTEN’s swappable camera payloads and the ACSL TAITEN smart controller. This integration lets operators control multiple platforms and mix payloads within a single, interoperable drone program.

When will ACSL’s SOTEN platform be available through Draganfly in Canada?

The SOTEN platform will be available across Canada exclusively through Draganfly beginning in June 2026. Customers can request demos or information via Draganfly’s website, while dealers interested in becoming authorized partners are invited to contact the company directly.

How large is the Canadian commercial drone market Draganfly is targeting?

The release notes that Canada’s commercial drone market is accelerating toward a projected $10 billion USD by 2030. Draganfly’s exclusive distribution of ACSL’s SOTEN and integration with its own drone lineup are positioned within this growing market opportunity.

What is notable about the ACSL TAITEN smart controller in this partnership?

The ACSL TAITEN smart controller features a 7-inch, 1500-nit bright screen, a rugged IP54-rated design, and customizable buttons. It is central to the interoperability plan, allowing pilots to operate both ACSL SOTEN and certain Draganfly drones from one ground control station.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents