{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"166370","rtpr_id":"nGNX4prsVh-20261012","ticker":"DPRO","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["DPRO"],"title":"Draganfly Establishes Dedicated U.S. Defense Subsidiary, Appoints Former Under Secretary & Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly as Chairman","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-10-12T12:30:00.247Z","article_body":"Draganfly Defense USA to Accelerate U.S. Military Market Expansion, Strengthen\nDomestic Defense Capabilities and Support Growing Demand for Secure,\nMission-Critical Unmanned Systems\n\nWashington, DC, Oct. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ:\nDPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an\naward-winning, industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems,\ntoday announced the establishment of Draganfly Defense USA, Inc., a dedicated\nU.S. defense subsidiary formed to support the Company’s continued expansion\nacross the United States defense and national security markets.\n\nThe dedicated U.S. structure is also intended to support the security;\nregulatory and compliance requirements associated with serving U.S. defense\ncustomers. Draganfly Defense USA will provide a focused framework for\nestablishing defense-specific governance, cybersecurity, data protection,\nexport-control and operational procedures, including the segregation and\nprotection of controlled technologies and sensitive information where\nrequired. The structure is designed to support the demand for Draganfly’s\nproducts and services in defense programs with stringent domestic, security\nand compliance requirements.\n\nThomas B. Modly, the 33rd Under Secretary and former Acting Secretary of the\nU.S. Navy, will serve as Chairman of the Board of Draganfly Defense USA.\nCameron Chell, CEO and Chairman of Draganfly Inc., will serve as a director of\nthe new subsidiary.\n\nIn connection with his appointment as Chairman of Draganfly Defense USA, Modly\nwill, in accordance with regulatory requirements, relinquish the board\nposition he currently holds at Draganfly Inc. to assume the Chairman role at\nDraganfly Defense USA, focusing on growth, development and governance of\nDraganfly Defense USA. This reflects the increasing demand in the U.S. defense\nspace and the opportunity to utilize Mr. Modly’s extensive experience,\ncapabilities and leadership directly toward the development of Draganfly’s\nU.S. defense business. Modly has served on Draganfly’s Board of Directors\nsince 2024 and has provided strategic guidance as the Company has expanded its\npresence across the defense and national security markets.\n\nModly brings experience across defense leadership, government and business to\nthe role, having served as Acting Secretary of the Navy and previously as the\n33rd Under Secretary of the Navy. During his tenure in the Department of the\nNavy, his work included organizational transformation, business operations,\neducation, accountability and readiness across the Navy and Marine Corps.\n\nBrigadier General AJ Pasagian, USMC (Ret’d), who was appointed President of\nDraganfly Defense USA in August 2026, will lead the Company’s U.S. defense\noperations, with responsibility for strategic growth, government and industry\nrelationships, operational expansion and execution across defense programs.\n\n“Establishing Draganfly Defense USA creates a dedicated structure to serve\nthe unique requirements of the U.S. defense market,” said Modly. “I have\nhad the opportunity to work closely with Cameron and the Draganfly team as a\nmember of the Board, and I look forward to continuing that work in a focused\ncapacity as Chairman of Draganfly Defense USA. The opportunity now is to build\nthe governance, agility, operational discipline, and advanced capabilities\nrequired to support our U.S. defense customers at scale.”\n\nDraganfly has continued to expand its presence across the U.S. defense\necosystem during 2026, including the recent acquisition of Skip Dynamix, the\nappointment of Brigadier General AJ Pasagian to lead its U.S. defense\noperations, and its selection, together with F4 Defense International, by\nDEVCOM Army Research Laboratory for a development contract focused on a\nmodular, multi-layered integrated counter-UAS system, alongside the continued\nexpansion of the Company’s North American manufacturing and supply-chain\ncapabilities.\n\n“Defense requirements are changing rapidly, and success in this market\nrequires much more than delivering an aircraft,” said Pasagian. “It\nrequires trusted technology, secure supply chains, domestic capability, and an\norganization structured around the operational requirements of the warfighter,\nincluding ease of use and human factors engineering designed to provide and\nsustain advantage for the American warfighter. Draganfly Defense USA gives us\na dedicated platform from which to build those capabilities and serve the U.S.\ndefense community.”\n\nA Dedicated Platform for U.S. Defense Growth\n\nDraganfly Defense USA, Inc. is intended to provide a focused operating\nstructure for the Company’s growing U.S. defense activities, including:\n* unmanned aerial systems and mission-specific aircraft;\n* autonomous systems and software;\n* counter-UAS technologies;\n* artificial intelligence and machine vision;\n* sensing, payload and secure communications technologies;\n* U.S. manufacturing and domestic supply-chain development;\n* integration, training and sustainment;\n* strategic industry and government partnerships; and\n* execution of current and future U.S. defense programs.\nThe dedicated subsidiary is expected to allow Draganfly to continue building\nU.S.-based capabilities while also leveraging the Company’s broader\nengineering, manufacturing, software and technology resources across North\nAmerica.\n\nAbout Draganfly\n\nDraganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8) is a Canadian-headquartered\ndeveloper of advanced drone solutions, unmanned systems and software serving\ncustomers across North America and globally. With more than 27 years of\nexperience in unmanned systems, Draganfly develops and delivers technologies\nspanning aerial platforms, autonomy, sensing, payload integration and\nmission-specific solutions for defense, public safety, civil, industrial,\nagriculture, security, mapping and surveying applications.\n\nThe Company combines engineering, manufacturing, software and\nsystems-integration capabilities to support customers operating in complex and\nmission-critical environments. Draganfly is driven by a mission to provide\ninnovative, reliable solutions that save time, money and lives.\n\nFor more information, visit www.draganfly.com.\n\nFor investor details, visit:\n\nNASDAQ (DPRO)\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=8_tRjXsmMrJBO-HEWFAgB0T8RmOo0A7btUBR6YYwxWV-Nepgi8zu-kuOuaiT5pU_NL-uElZMHnGBY7d7z3hldXKV0mSuFsyJUvt-1otyKYwVrgFkjmAoFKvWE9RWLrlz)CSE\n(DPRO)\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ghdEscGxytCBWwUOlfuVWB44clbWK-ARKmdLuXqeU7CPev_EIX_GQb8KEM3T2r63r-faMwNORimH1M3H0zxaf6RKeHKPkZM44mhRumqo_pQ=)FSE\n(3U8)\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=cavMLp5n8BLLI1r0NfGwSgcipyiTaoHpfdW1lenZSDrbzxbKeVevh7FL_wlNVAieTszikQrbELyodfikKfTeKn6uHdutgEpzzRsEs_rg4moo0Tbgv-SbTMrgZBUdEol6)\n\nMedia Contact\n\nErika Racicot\nEmail: media@draganfly.com\n\nCompany Contact\n\nCameron Chell\nChief Executive Officer\n(306) 955-9907\nEmail: info@draganfly.com \n\nForward-Looking Statements \n\nThis release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain\n“forward-looking ‎‎‎‎information” as ‎‎‎‎defined under\napplicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and\ninformation can ‎‎‎‎generally be identified by the use of\nforward-looking terminology such as ‎‎‎‎‎“may”, “will”,\n“expect”, “intend”, ‎‎‎‎‎“estimate”, “anticipate”,\n“believe”, “continue”, “plan” or similar ‎‎‎‎terminology.\nForward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information are based on forecasts\nof future ‎‎‎‎results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and\n‎‎‎‎assumptions that, while believed by ‎‎‎‎management to be\nreasonable, are inherently subject to significant ‎‎‎‎business,\neconomic and ‎‎‎‎competitive uncertainties and contingencies.\nForward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎include, but are not\n‎‎‎‎limited to, statements with respect to the anticipated and growing\ndemand for the Company’s products and services in the U.S. defense and\nnational security markets; the anticipated benefits of Draganfly Defense USA\nInc., and its dedicated governance and operating structure; the Company’s\nability to establish, develop and expand U.S.-based manufacturing,\nsupply-chain, governance, cybersecurity, data protection, export-control and\noperational capabilities; the Company’s ability to satisfy applicable\nsecurity, regulatory and compliance requirements associated with U.S. defense\nprograms; the anticipated contribution of Draganfly Defense USA Inc. and its\nleadership to the Company’s strategic growth and execution in the U.S.\ndefense market; and the development, pursuit and execution of current and\nfuture defense programs, partnerships and contracts.\nForward-‎‎‎‎looking statements and information are subject to various\n‎known ‎‎and unknown risks and ‎‎‎‎‎uncertainties, many of\nwhich are beyond the ability of the Company to ‎control or ‎‎predict,\nthat ‎‎‎‎may cause ‎the Company’s actual results, performance or\nachievements to be ‎materially ‎‎different ‎‎‎‎from those\n‎expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions\n‎about ‎‎such ‎‎‎‎risks, uncertainties ‎and other factors set\nout herein, including but not limited to: the potential\n‎‎‎‎‎‎‎impact of epidemics, ‎pandemics or other public health\ncrises, including the ‎COVID-19 pandemic, on the Company’s business,\noperations and financial ‎‎‎‎condition; the ‎‎‎successful\nintegration of ‎technology; the inherent risks involved in the general\n‎‎‎‎securities markets; ‎‎‎uncertainties relating to the\n‎availability and costs of financing needed in the ‎‎‎‎future; the\ninherent ‎‎‎uncertainty of cost estimates; the ‎potential for\nunexpected costs and ‎‎‎‎expenses, currency ‎‎‎fluctuations;\nregulatory restrictions; and liability, ‎competition, loss of key\n‎‎‎‎employees and other related risks ‎‎‎and uncertainties\ndisclosed under the ‎heading “Risk Factors“ ‎‎‎‎in the\nCompany’s most recent filings filed ‎‎‎with securities regulators in\nCanada on ‎the SEDAR+ ‎‎‎‎website at www.sedar.com and with the\nUnited States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR\nthrough the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes ‎‎‎no\nobligation to update forward-‎looking ‎‎‎‎information except as\nrequired by applicable law. Such forward-‎‎‎looking information\nrepresents ‎‎‎‎‎managements’ best judgment based on information\ncurrently available. ‎‎‎No forward-looking ‎‎‎‎statement ‎can\nbe guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially.\n‎‎‎Accordingly, readers ‎‎‎‎are advised not to ‎place undue\nreliance on forward-looking statements or ‎‎‎information.‎\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b41a770-e8ab-40ec-8d95-1f5488094f63)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX4prsVh-20261012","title":"Draganfly Establishes Dedicated U.S. Defense Subsidiary, Appoints Former Under Secretary & Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly as Chairman","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"DPRO","created":"2026-10-12T12:30:00.247Z","tickers":["DPRO"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"Draganfly Defense USA to Accelerate U.S. Military Market Expansion, Strengthen\nDomestic Defense Capabilities and Support Growing Demand for Secure,\nMission-Critical Unmanned Systems\n\nWashington, DC, Oct. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ:\nDPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an\naward-winning, industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems,\ntoday announced the establishment of Draganfly Defense USA, Inc., a dedicated\nU.S. defense subsidiary formed to support the Company’s continued expansion\nacross the United States defense and national security markets.\n\nThe dedicated U.S. structure is also intended to support the security;\nregulatory and compliance requirements associated with serving U.S. defense\ncustomers. Draganfly Defense USA will provide a focused framework for\nestablishing defense-specific governance, cybersecurity, data protection,\nexport-control and operational procedures, including the segregation and\nprotection of controlled technologies and sensitive information where\nrequired. The structure is designed to support the demand for Draganfly’s\nproducts and services in defense programs with stringent domestic, security\nand compliance requirements.\n\nThomas B. Modly, the 33rd Under Secretary and former Acting Secretary of the\nU.S. Navy, will serve as Chairman of the Board of Draganfly Defense USA.\nCameron Chell, CEO and Chairman of Draganfly Inc., will serve as a director of\nthe new subsidiary.\n\nIn connection with his appointment as Chairman of Draganfly Defense USA, Modly\nwill, in accordance with regulatory requirements, relinquish the board\nposition he currently holds at Draganfly Inc. to assume the Chairman role at\nDraganfly Defense USA, focusing on growth, development and governance of\nDraganfly Defense USA. This reflects the increasing demand in the U.S. defense\nspace and the opportunity to utilize Mr. Modly’s extensive experience,\ncapabilities and leadership directly toward the development of Draganfly’s\nU.S. defense business. Modly has served on Draganfly’s Board of Directors\nsince 2024 and has provided strategic guidance as the Company has expanded its\npresence across the defense and national security markets.\n\nModly brings experience across defense leadership, government and business to\nthe role, having served as Acting Secretary of the Navy and previously as the\n33rd Under Secretary of the Navy. During his tenure in the Department of the\nNavy, his work included organizational transformation, business operations,\neducation, accountability and readiness across the Navy and Marine Corps.\n\nBrigadier General AJ Pasagian, USMC (Ret’d), who was appointed President of\nDraganfly Defense USA in August 2026, will lead the Company’s U.S. defense\noperations, with responsibility for strategic growth, government and industry\nrelationships, operational expansion and execution across defense programs.\n\n“Establishing Draganfly Defense USA creates a dedicated structure to serve\nthe unique requirements of the U.S. defense market,” said Modly. “I have\nhad the opportunity to work closely with Cameron and the Draganfly team as a\nmember of the Board, and I look forward to continuing that work in a focused\ncapacity as Chairman of Draganfly Defense USA. The opportunity now is to build\nthe governance, agility, operational discipline, and advanced capabilities\nrequired to support our U.S. defense customers at scale.”\n\nDraganfly has continued to expand its presence across the U.S. defense\necosystem during 2026, including the recent acquisition of Skip Dynamix, the\nappointment of Brigadier General AJ Pasagian to lead its U.S. defense\noperations, and its selection, together with F4 Defense International, by\nDEVCOM Army Research Laboratory for a development contract focused on a\nmodular, multi-layered integrated counter-UAS system, alongside the continued\nexpansion of the Company’s North American manufacturing and supply-chain\ncapabilities.\n\n“Defense requirements are changing rapidly, and success in this market\nrequires much more than delivering an aircraft,” said Pasagian. “It\nrequires trusted technology, secure supply chains, domestic capability, and an\norganization structured around the operational requirements of the warfighter,\nincluding ease of use and human factors engineering designed to provide and\nsustain advantage for the American warfighter. Draganfly Defense USA gives us\na dedicated platform from which to build those capabilities and serve the U.S.\ndefense community.”\n\nA Dedicated Platform for U.S. Defense Growth\n\nDraganfly Defense USA, Inc. is intended to provide a focused operating\nstructure for the Company’s growing U.S. defense activities, including:\n* unmanned aerial systems and mission-specific aircraft;\n* autonomous systems and software;\n* counter-UAS technologies;\n* artificial intelligence and machine vision;\n* sensing, payload and secure communications technologies;\n* U.S. manufacturing and domestic supply-chain development;\n* integration, training and sustainment;\n* strategic industry and government partnerships; and\n* execution of current and future U.S. defense programs.\nThe dedicated subsidiary is expected to allow Draganfly to continue building\nU.S.-based capabilities while also leveraging the Company’s broader\nengineering, manufacturing, software and technology resources across North\nAmerica.\n\nAbout Draganfly\n\nDraganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8) is a Canadian-headquartered\ndeveloper of advanced drone solutions, unmanned systems and software serving\ncustomers across North America and globally. With more than 27 years of\nexperience in unmanned systems, Draganfly develops and delivers technologies\nspanning aerial platforms, autonomy, sensing, payload integration and\nmission-specific solutions for defense, public safety, civil, industrial,\nagriculture, security, mapping and surveying applications.\n\nThe Company combines engineering, manufacturing, software and\nsystems-integration capabilities to support customers operating in complex and\nmission-critical environments. Draganfly is driven by a mission to provide\ninnovative, reliable solutions that save time, money and lives.\n\nFor more information, visit www.draganfly.com.\n\nFor investor details, visit:\n\nNASDAQ (DPRO)\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=8_tRjXsmMrJBO-HEWFAgB0T8RmOo0A7btUBR6YYwxWV-Nepgi8zu-kuOuaiT5pU_NL-uElZMHnGBY7d7z3hldXKV0mSuFsyJUvt-1otyKYwVrgFkjmAoFKvWE9RWLrlz)CSE\n(DPRO)\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ghdEscGxytCBWwUOlfuVWB44clbWK-ARKmdLuXqeU7CPev_EIX_GQb8KEM3T2r63r-faMwNORimH1M3H0zxaf6RKeHKPkZM44mhRumqo_pQ=)FSE\n(3U8)\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=cavMLp5n8BLLI1r0NfGwSgcipyiTaoHpfdW1lenZSDrbzxbKeVevh7FL_wlNVAieTszikQrbELyodfikKfTeKn6uHdutgEpzzRsEs_rg4moo0Tbgv-SbTMrgZBUdEol6)\n\nMedia Contact\n\nErika Racicot\nEmail: media@draganfly.com\n\nCompany Contact\n\nCameron Chell\nChief Executive Officer\n(306) 955-9907\nEmail: info@draganfly.com \n\nForward-Looking Statements \n\nThis release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain\n“forward-looking ‎‎‎‎information” as ‎‎‎‎defined under\napplicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and\ninformation can ‎‎‎‎generally be identified by the use of\nforward-looking terminology such as ‎‎‎‎‎“may”, “will”,\n“expect”, “intend”, ‎‎‎‎‎“estimate”, “anticipate”,\n“believe”, “continue”, “plan” or similar ‎‎‎‎terminology.\nForward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information are based on forecasts\nof future ‎‎‎‎results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and\n‎‎‎‎assumptions that, while believed by ‎‎‎‎management to be\nreasonable, are inherently subject to significant ‎‎‎‎business,\neconomic and ‎‎‎‎competitive uncertainties and contingencies.\nForward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎include, but are not\n‎‎‎‎limited to, statements with respect to the anticipated and growing\ndemand for the Company’s products and services in the U.S. defense and\nnational security markets; the anticipated benefits of Draganfly Defense USA\nInc., and its dedicated governance and operating structure; the Company’s\nability to establish, develop and expand U.S.-based manufacturing,\nsupply-chain, governance, cybersecurity, data protection, export-control and\noperational capabilities; the Company’s ability to satisfy applicable\nsecurity, regulatory and compliance requirements associated with U.S. defense\nprograms; the anticipated contribution of Draganfly Defense USA Inc. and its\nleadership to the Company’s strategic growth and execution in the U.S.\ndefense market; and the development, pursuit and execution of current and\nfuture defense programs, partnerships and contracts.\nForward-‎‎‎‎looking statements and information are subject to various\n‎known ‎‎and unknown risks and ‎‎‎‎‎uncertainties, many of\nwhich are beyond the ability of the Company to ‎control or ‎‎predict,\nthat ‎‎‎‎may cause ‎the Company’s actual results, performance or\nachievements to be ‎materially ‎‎different ‎‎‎‎from those\n‎expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions\n‎about ‎‎such ‎‎‎‎risks, uncertainties ‎and other factors set\nout herein, including but not limited to: the potential\n‎‎‎‎‎‎‎impact of epidemics, ‎pandemics or other public health\ncrises, including the ‎COVID-19 pandemic, on the Company’s business,\noperations and financial ‎‎‎‎condition; the ‎‎‎successful\nintegration of ‎technology; the inherent risks involved in the general\n‎‎‎‎securities markets; ‎‎‎uncertainties relating to the\n‎availability and costs of financing needed in the ‎‎‎‎future; the\ninherent ‎‎‎uncertainty of cost estimates; the ‎potential for\nunexpected costs and ‎‎‎‎expenses, currency ‎‎‎fluctuations;\nregulatory restrictions; and liability, ‎competition, loss of key\n‎‎‎‎employees and other related risks ‎‎‎and uncertainties\ndisclosed under the ‎heading “Risk Factors“ ‎‎‎‎in the\nCompany’s most recent filings filed ‎‎‎with securities regulators in\nCanada on ‎the SEDAR+ ‎‎‎‎website at www.sedar.com and with the\nUnited States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR\nthrough the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes ‎‎‎no\nobligation to update forward-‎looking ‎‎‎‎information except as\nrequired by applicable law. Such forward-‎‎‎looking information\nrepresents ‎‎‎‎‎managements’ best judgment based on information\ncurrently available. ‎‎‎No forward-looking ‎‎‎‎statement ‎can\nbe guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially.\n‎‎‎Accordingly, readers ‎‎‎‎are advised not to ‎place undue\nreliance on forward-looking statements or ‎‎‎information.‎\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b41a770-e8ab-40ec-8d95-1f5488094f63)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-12T12:30:00.299603899Z","server_sent_at_ms":1791808200299},"received_at":"2026-10-12T12:30:00.422Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"154734","press_release_id":"166370","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Aerospace & Defense","sector":"Industrials"},"redFlags":["Modly relinquishing his Draganfly Inc. board seat, a minor board composition change","No financial figures, contract values, or revenue targets disclosed"],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"Draganfly established Draganfly Defense USA, Inc., a dedicated U.S. defense subsidiary to support expansion across U.S. defense and national security markets.\n\nThomas B. Modly, former Acting Secretary and 33rd Under Secretary of the Navy, will chair the subsidiary and will relinquish his seat on Draganfly Inc.'s board to do so; Brigadier General AJ Pasagian (Ret'd), appointed president in August 2026, will lead U.S. defense operations.\n\nThe structure is designed to meet defense-specific security, cybersecurity, export-control and compliance requirements, building on 2026 momentum including the Skip Dynamix acquisition and a DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory counter-UAS development contract with F4 Defense International.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Former Acting Navy Secretary chairs new Draganfly U.S. defense subsidiary -- credibility signal for defense contract pipeline, but no near-term financials."},"keyFigures":{},"quotedText":"Establishing Draganfly Defense USA creates a dedicated structure to serve the unique requirements of the U.S. defense market","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Thomas B. Modly","role":"Chairman of Draganfly Defense USA; former Acting Secretary and 33rd Under Secretary of the U.S. Navy"},{"name":"Cameron Chell","role":"CEO and Chairman of Draganfly Inc.; director of Draganfly Defense USA"},{"name":"AJ Pasagian","role":"Brigadier General, USMC (Ret'd); President of Draganfly Defense USA"},{"name":"Erika Racicot","role":"Media contact"}],"products":["counter-UAS system","unmanned aerial systems","autonomous systems and software","Skip Dynamix"],"companies":[{"name":"Draganfly Inc.","ticker":"DPRO","relationship":"filer/parent"},{"name":"Draganfly Defense USA, Inc.","relationship":"new U.S. defense subsidiary"},{"name":"F4 Defense International","relationship":"partner in DEVCOM counter-UAS contract"},{"name":"DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory","relationship":"government customer"},{"name":"Skip Dynamix","relationship":"recently acquired company"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"Formation of a dedicated U.S. defense subsidiary with high-profile leadership (former Acting Secretary of the Navy) strengthens positioning for U.S. defense contracts, but it is a structural/governance move with no immediate revenue, contract, or financial figures."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"DPRO"},"globalImportance":25,"audienceRelevance":25,"eventTypeSecondary":["executive_change"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"subsidiary formation plus board reshuffle","financialContent":"none disclosed","retailFavoriteBoost":"drone/defense micro-cap with retail following"}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":["executive_change"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"Draganfly established Draganfly Defense USA, Inc., a dedicated U.S. defense subsidiary to support expansion across U.S. defense and national security markets.\n\nThomas B. Modly, former Acting Secretary and 33rd Under Secretary of the Navy, will chair the subsidiary and will relinquish his seat on Draganfly Inc.'s board to do so; Brigadier General AJ Pasagian (Ret'd), appointed president in August 2026, will lead U.S. defense operations.\n\nThe structure is designed to meet defense-specific security, cybersecurity, export-control and compliance requirements, building on 2026 momentum including the Skip Dynamix acquisition and a DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory counter-UAS development contract with F4 Defense International.","key_figures":{},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Thomas B. Modly","role":"Chairman of Draganfly Defense USA; former Acting Secretary and 33rd Under Secretary of the U.S. Navy"},{"name":"Cameron Chell","role":"CEO and Chairman of Draganfly Inc.; director of Draganfly Defense USA"},{"name":"AJ Pasagian","role":"Brigadier General, USMC (Ret'd); President of Draganfly Defense USA"},{"name":"Erika Racicot","role":"Media contact"}],"products":["counter-UAS system","unmanned aerial systems","autonomous systems and software","Skip Dynamix"],"companies":[{"name":"Draganfly Inc.","ticker":"DPRO","relationship":"filer/parent"},{"name":"Draganfly Defense USA, Inc.","relationship":"new U.S. defense subsidiary"},{"name":"F4 Defense International","relationship":"partner in DEVCOM counter-UAS contract"},{"name":"DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory","relationship":"government customer"},{"name":"Skip Dynamix","relationship":"recently acquired company"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-12T12:30:08.433Z","global_importance":25,"audience_relevance":25,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"subsidiary formation plus board reshuffle","financialContent":"none disclosed","retailFavoriteBoost":"drone/defense micro-cap with retail following"}},"durationMs":7983,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}