Skydio announced 2 new drones in September 2025, adding to their existing X10 quadcopter lineup. The announcement introduced the R10, a small indoor drone built for patrol use, and the F10, a fixed-wing drone designed for long-range coverage. Both products are built to run on the same software platform as the X10, meaning agencies already using Skydio equipment would not need to adopt a separate system to operate them.
The announcement comes as Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs continue to grow across the country. The X10 and its docking station have been widely adopted for outdoor response, but Skydio identified 2 gaps their existing hardware could not fill: indoor environments and long-distance coverage. The R10 and F10 are designed to address those specific scenarios.
Skydio R10: Indoor Drone for Patrol Officers
The R10 is a small quadcopter measuring 10" x 10" and weighing 1.7 lbs. It is designed to fit in the trunk of a patrol vehicle and be deployed by a patrol officer without specialized drone training. The primary use case is flying inside buildings before officers enter, giving them a view of what is inside a structure before they make entry.
Current indoor drone options in public safety tend to fall into 2 categories: consumer drones that officers modify with aftermarket accessories, or specialized tactical drones used by SWAT and crisis response teams. The R10 is positioned between those two options, with built-in public safety features at a lower operational cost than dedicated tactical systems.
R10 Specs and Features
- Size: 10" x 10", 1.7 lbs
- Obstacle avoidance in zero-light conditions
- Onboard lighting for dark environments
- Two-way audio for officer communication or subject de-escalation
- Can perch and hold position for extended overwatch
- Live video streaming to multiple officers simultaneously
- Automatic upload to digital evidence systems, no SD card required
- 5G/LTE connectivity
- Compatible with the same controller as the X10
- Runs on Skydio Remote Ops and DFR Command software
- Integrates with CAD, Fusus, and evidence management systems
Because it runs on the same software and controller as the X10, agencies do not need a separate pilot certification or training program specific to the R10. A patrol officer can launch it from their vehicle, and a remote pilot at a Real Time Crime Center can take over the feed if needed.
How R10 Works Alongside the X10
The R10 is not a replacement for the X10. The 2 drones are designed to work together on the same incident. A typical scenario would be an X10 launching from a dock to provide outdoor overwatch and monitor exits while a patrol officer deploys an R10 to clear the interior of a building. The officer stays outside while the drone gathers information on what is inside.
This pairing addresses one of the persistent gaps in DFR programs: once a subject or victim is inside a structure, outdoor drones lose visibility. The R10 is built to fill that gap without requiring a specialized tactical unit to respond.
Early access for the R10 is targeted for fall 2025, with general availability expected in the first half of 2026.
Skydio F10: Fixed-Wing Drone for Long-Range Coverage
The F10 is a fixed-wing drone currently under development. It is designed for situations where the X10 does not have sufficient range or flight time, including rural emergency response, high-speed vehicle pursuits, and long linear infrastructure inspections such as power lines or pipelines.
The X10 has a practical flight time of around 30 to 32 minutes and typically operates within a radius of about 3 miles. For agencies covering large rural areas, or for incidents like vehicle pursuits that can cover significant distances quickly, that range is a limiting factor. The F10 is designed to extend that coverage considerably.
F10 Target Specs
- Top speed: over 80 mph
- Flight time: over 90 minutes
- Coverage radius: dozens of miles
- Launches and lands autonomously from a dedicated dock
The dock for the F10 is designed to operate the same way as the Dock for X10, meaning no pilot needs to be on site to launch or recover the aircraft. This is a significant operational consideration for agencies thinking about how to staff a long-range DFR program.
Skydio has not yet published full specifications for the F10. Early access is targeted for the first half of 2026.
How the 3 Platforms Work Together
With the addition of the R10 and F10, Skydio now has 3 drone platforms covering different response scenarios. All 3 are designed to run on the same software, use compatible hardware, and feed into the same CAD and evidence management integrations.
- X10: Outdoor response and subject tracking, approximately 3 mile radius, approximately 30 minute flight time, operates from a fixed dock
- R10: Indoor and confined space reconnaissance, patrol-carried, short range, deploys from a vehicle
- F10: Long-range coverage, fixed-wing, rural response and pursuit scenarios, operates from a dock (in development)
For agencies already running an X10-based DFR program, both the R10 and F10 are designed to integrate into existing workflows without requiring a completely separate system.
Availability
- Skydio R10: Early access fall 2025, general availability first half of 2026
- Skydio F10: Early access first half of 2026
More information is available at skydio.com.
