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PRESS RELEASE

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

Vancouver, B.C., May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 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

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Tampa, FL., May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase
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Andy Card

ADVISOR

Mr. Andy Card, the second longest-tenured White House Chief of Staff, has served in senior government roles under three U.S. Presidents. Mr. Card serves on the Board of Directors of public corporation Union Pacific, on the Business Advisory Board of BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, on the Advisory Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and on a number of non-profit boards. He is also a professional speaker represented by the Washington Speakers Bureau and joined NBC News as a contributor in April 2017. 

Mr. Card, appointed in November 2000, served as Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush from January 2001 to April 2006. Prior to his tenure as White House Chief of Staff, Mr. Card managed and ran the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia at the request of nominee Texas Governor George W. Bush. Before that, Mr. Card was Vice President-Government Relations for General Motors Corporation, one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Card was President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association, the trade association whose members were Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. When Chrysler became part of Daimler Corporation, Mr. Card oversaw the dissolution of the nearly 100-year-old trade association.

Mr. Card also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and then as a Cabinet Member for President George H.W. Bush as the 11th Secretary of Transportation. Prior to that, he served as Special Assistant (1983 to 1987) and later as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for President Ronald Reagan (1988) where he was a liaison to governors, statewide elected officials, state legislators, mayors, and other elected officials. From March 1987 until March 1988, Mr. Card ran the successful New Hampshire Presidential Primary Campaign for George H. W. Bush.

Mr. Card is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Engineering. He also attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Mr. Card served in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1967.

Tim Dunnigan

DIRECTOR

Tim Dunnigan, a retired U.S. Army Infantry Officer and accomplished technology entrepreneur, is the CEO & President of MMS Products, Inc., a defense technology solutions provider. He is also the Founder of CaptureTec, LLC, a defense consultancy group focused on supporting Warfighters through leadership and innovation. As COO and Co-founder of Talon Aerolytics, Tim led the development of the nation’s largest aerial drone services provider, expanding operations to all 50 states and facilitating digital data collection with AI analysis for national critical infrastructure.

As CEO and Founder of Strategic Integration, LLC, Tim developed and operated the CTED (Create, Test, Educate, Deploy) turnkey business model for defense consulting and technology integration. He has served America’s security interests abroad through multiple classified (TS/SCI) contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense. Additionally, as the Founder of iK9, LLC (CVE SDVOSB), Tim co-authored the Veterans Administration’s (VA) training protocols for service dogs provided to Military Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Mr. Dunnigan is a Corporate Advisor with Integrated Defense Accelerator, Founder of the I’m a Hero Too Foundation [501(c)(3)], and a children’s book author. He holds an active Top Secret security clearance and is currently a Doctoral Student researching leadership efficacy in decision-making with regard to drone usage, where AI and machine autonomy are considered. Tim has been awarded six patents and has two patents pending for an aerial drone delivery system he developed to address capability gaps he witnessed during his multiple humanitarian trips to Ukraine.

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SAVING TIME, MONEY, AND LIVES.

Short–range drone surveillance has experienced significant attention thanks to its low cost and efficiency. Long-range drone surveillance beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) is now on the horizon and is set to amplify cost savings regarding resources and time spent on data collection.
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The Future of Drone Delivery

A WORLD WITHIN REACH

Demand for drone hardware and services has never been greater. From emergency medical deliveries to agricultural management; community, government, and corporate drone usage is expected to see enormous growth up to and beyond 2028.

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