By Jim Carchidi
February 23, 2026
Orlando Police Department (OPD) is moving forward with a plan to augment its emergency capabilities with drones. City Council gave the green light at its Feb. 23 meeting for a $6.8 million purchase agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc., which will implement a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program.
The plan
The DFR drones can be integrated into the OPD Crime Center systems for information sharing and data storage while providing real-time situational awareness. Image courtesy of Skydio
The purchase agreement amends a previous contract with Axon for in-car police cameras, software licenses and support. A total of 11 Skydio drones will form the DFR using Axon software integrated into OPD Crime Center systems. Drones will work directly with police body and car cameras, and information from incoming 911 calls.
The cost
According to city documents, the initial DFR system contract is for a four-year period with a renewal option for five additional one-year terms. The full nine years would cost just over $6.8 million at an estimated $759,322 per year.
The details
The Skydio DFR system can be activated in under 20 seconds, offering real-time situational awareness during in-progress emergency calls. Drones are deployed by emergency response dispatchers using a central operating system and can fly at an altitude of about 200-feet at speeds up to 40 mph.
The drones use artificial intelligence, radar, and GPS to navigate, and can operate in inclement weather. Units can travel about two miles on a single battery charge and be lowered to a responding officer for battery replacement during prolonged deployments.
St. Cloud launched Central Florida's first DFR program in December, using similar Skydio drones to assist in evidence gathering for specific cases, such as public safety, traffic incidents, and the apprehension of crime suspects. Remote docking stations were placed at strategic locations, including St Cloud police headquarters and at City Hall.
No information was given on possible future locations for the Orlando units and no timetable was available for the project roll out.
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About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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