DroneShield Renews Support for ADF Drone Racing Team into 2026

DroneShield announced January 7 that it will continue backing the ADF Drone Racing Team through 2026, deepening a relationship that blends sport, technical training and operational knowledge exchange. The company described the sponsorship as more than a visibility play, highlighting joint skills development and the use of competitive flying to advance operational proficiency within defence-related unmanned aerial vehicle operations.

The partnership pairs commercial UAV expertise with military flying disciplines. DroneShield’s CEO and ADF team leadership framed the program as strengthening innovation and defence-related UAV operating skills, positioning fast-paced FPV racing as a practical training ground for situational awareness, control precision and rapid decision-making. That crossover is central to the renewal and drives the sponsorship’s stated objectives for the year ahead.

The ADF Drone Racing Team will take the reinforced backing into the Military International Drone Racing Tournament in Sydney in March 2026, where it will defend the title it currently holds. The tournament offers high-visibility competition and an environment where split-second piloting under pressure can be measured, refined and translated into lessons for wider UAV operations. For the team, the extended support guarantees continued access to resources that can sharpen competitive readiness and technical capability.

For the local and regional drone-racing community, the partnership signals growing recognition of FPV racing as a venue for transferable skills. Expect increased opportunities for knowledge exchange between civilian pilots, industry engineers and defence operators, as well as potential spillovers in safety practices, telemetry standards and control systems integration. Organizers and clubs can leverage this attention to attract sponsors, technical partners and new pilot talent drawn by the dual-purpose appeal of sport and operational training.

The renewed agreement also underlines a broader trend of military and industry working together on unmanned systems through hands-on activities. As the ADF team prepares for Sydney, other teams and event organizers should take note: competitive racing can serve both as a talent pipeline and a testbed for technology and procedures that matter beyond sport. That convergence will shape event programming, training offerings and the kinds of technical support partners provide throughout 2026.