Resources

Recently, the Dutch government announced its first framework agreement with a European cloud provider. The message behind that decision is clear: Digital sovereignty has moved from policy discussion to active procurement criterion.

For organisations operating drones in security, public safety, critical infrastructure and defence, that shift matters. And it raises a question that more and more procurement teams are starting to ask: where is your drone software actually built, who controls the data, and what does that mean for drone data sovereignty in high-stakes operations?

The market reality

The drone software market is growing fast. So is the number of platforms competing for the attention of serious operators. But when you look at the landscape of enterprise-grade drone operations software, the picture is striking: almost every significant player is non-European.

That matters for European organisations in ways that go beyond preference. Data processed through non-European platforms may be subject to foreign jurisdiction. Operational data from police forces, border protection agencies, energy companies and defence-adjacent organisations can carry significant sensitivity. Livestreaming of incident response, security monitoring or infrastructure inspections adds another layer of sensitivity. Video feeds from active operations represent some of the most time-critical and confidential data an organisation handles. This is especially relevant for organisations managing counter-drone operations, where detection feeds and security video must remain within a trusted operational environment. Routing that data through infrastructure outside European jurisdiction carries risks that many organisations have not yet fully considered. Choosing software built outside Europe means accepting that the infrastructure underpinning your missions sits outside your regulatory control.

AirHub is different. As a European drone company, we have built a drone operations platform in Europe, funded by European investors, and operating under European law. That is the foundation of how we build and how we operate, and it shapes every decision we make.

What European means in practice

Being European means that your operational data stays within the European legal framework. It means that the software underpinning your drone missions is not subject to foreign surveillance legislation. It means that when Europe sets new standards for data governance, interoperability or security, we are already building to meet them, because they apply to us too.

It also means that we understand the operational environments our customers work in. The Belgian Police, Dutch Customs, Portuguese Bombeiros, and infrastructure operators across the continent are not edge cases for us. They are our core market. These are precisely the public safety organisations that need GDPR compliant drone software as a baseline requirement, built to operate within European law from the ground up.

This includes organisations deploying drone-in-a-box solutions across Europe, such as DJI Dock, for automated, persistent monitoring of critical sites. For these deployments, where a drone operates autonomously and continuously captures sensitive operational data, the question of where that data is processed and stored is especially acute.

Thomas Brinkman, co-CEO and co-Founder of AirHub:

"There is a clear and growing need for trusted software in mission-critical drone operations. European organisations are increasingly asking not just whether a platform works, but whether they can trust who built it, where their data goes, and what framework governs it. As a European company, we are built to answer those questions."

Funded by Europe, built for Europe

AirHub's recent €4.4 million Series A round was backed entirely by European investors: Keen Venture Partners, RunwayFBU, Lumaux and LUMO Labs. The funding is being used to further strengthen the AirHub Drone Operations Center and expand into MilHub and SecHub, two new products designed for defence and security operations That reflects a growing recognition in the European investment community that sovereign, trusted technology for security and critical operations is a strategic priority.

Keen Venture Partners, whose €200 million European Defence Space and Security Fund is Europe's first dedicated defence fund, sees AirHub as part of a broader effort to strengthen European technological independence. Giuseppe Lacerenza, Partner at Keen Venture Partners, described AirHub as "well positioned to become an important software player" as Europe increases its focus on resilience, security and technological autonomy.

Thomas Brinkman:

"This funding helps us accelerate AirHub's growth as a European software company serving organisations that operate in high-stakes environments. We see a clear need for trusted, mission-critical drone software that helps teams execute drone missions securely, effectively and at scale, while strengthening Europe's ability to rely on its own technology in critical operations”

The conversation is shifting

The Dutch government's move toward European cloud infrastructure is one signal among many. Across Europe, procurement teams, policymakers and operational commanders are reconsidering their technology dependencies. Europe's new drone and counter-drone action plan makes this shift explicit, placing data sovereignty and trusted technology at the centre of European resilience strategy. The question of where software is built, who owns the underlying infrastructure, and what legal framework governs the data is moving from the margins of procurement discussions to the centre.

For drone operations specifically, this shift is long overdue. Drones have become embedded in policing, border protection, infrastructure security, emergency response and increasingly in defence-adjacent operations. The software that runs those missions deserves the same scrutiny as any other critical operational technology.

AirHub was built with that scrutiny in mind, because it is the right foundation for the work our customers do.

If you want to understand what European drone operations software looks like in practice, book a demo with our team.

Frequently asked questions

Is AirHub a European company?
Yes. AirHub is headquartered in the Netherlands and operates under European law. The company is funded entirely by European investors and builds its software in compliance with GDPR and European data governance frameworks.

Why does it matter that drone software is European?
Drone operations in public safety, security and critical infrastructure generate sensitive data, including livestreams, flight logs and operational patterns. Software built outside Europe may be subject to foreign jurisdiction and surveillance legislation. Choosing European software is a step toward ensuring that data governance, legal oversight and compliance requirements align with the EU framework, rather than being subject to foreign jurisdiction.

What sectors does AirHub serve?AirHub serves public safety organisations, security providers and critical infrastructure operators organisations across Europe and beyond. Customers include Dubai Police, Belgian Police, Portuguese Bombeiros, Dutch Customs, Shell and Boskalis.

For years, drones have primarily been associated with outdoor operations. But one of the fastest-growing developments in the drone industry is happening indoors, and it is changing how organisations operate in environments where GPS is unavailable, human access is dangerous, or situational awareness is limited.

Border surveillance, infrastructure inspections, search and rescue missions, and Drone as First Responder (DFR) programmes have long focused on open-air environments. That is starting to change.

From compact platforms such as the DJI Neo 2 to autonomous tactical systems like the Skydio R10, and specialised confined-space inspection drones such as the Flyability Elios series, indoor drone technology is rapidly becoming a serious operational capability for public safety agencies, security organisations, and operators of critical infrastructure.

Why indoor drone operations matter

Indoor environments create some of the most challenging operational conditions imaginable:

• No GPS availability

• Limited visibility

• Tight spaces and obstacles

• Dangerous or contaminated environments

• Poor communication coverage

• Confined spaces

• Complex industrial layouts

Traditionally, inspections or interventions in these environments required workers to enter hazardous confined spaces, operations to be shut down, scaffolding or rope-access teams to be deployed, or first responders to be exposed to unnecessary risk.

Indoor drones fundamentally change this equation. Modern systems use combinations of LiDAR, computer vision, Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM), AI-based obstacle avoidance, thermal imaging, and autonomous navigation to safely operate in environments where conventional drones would struggle or fail entirely.

Indoor drones in Public Safety

For public safety organisations, indoor drones provide a completely new layer of situational awareness inside structures that previously required sending personnel in blind.

Building clearing and tactical awareness

Police and special intervention teams increasingly face situations where entering a building is extremely dangerous. Examples include active threat incidents, hostage situations, industrial accidents, collapsed structures, underground facilities, tunnels, or smoke-filled environments.

Indoor drones can enter first, providing live video feeds, thermal imagery, real-time mapping, and threat assessment capabilities before a single officer steps through the door. Compact drones with protective designs and advanced stabilisation can navigate hallways, staircases, warehouses, and confined indoor areas while significantly reducing risk to officers and first responders.

Systems such as the Skydio R10 add another layer by combining autonomous navigation, AI-driven obstacle avoidance, and reliable operation in GPS-denied environments. This makes them particularly relevant for tactical public safety missions where maintaining operational awareness inside complex structures is critical.

Search and Rescue

Indoor drones are also becoming highly valuable during:

• earthquake response,

• industrial disasters,

• tunnel incidents,

• and collapsed-building searches.

Rather than sending responders blindly into unstable structures, drones can first assess structural damage, search for victims, identify hazards, and create real-time maps of the environment. This improves responder safety while accelerating decision-making during time-critical operations.

Live situational awareness shared directly to a command centre means decision-makers have eyes on the scene instantly, regardless of where they are located. 

Underground and tunnel operations

Underground infrastructure is another major use case.

Metro systems, rail tunnels, underground utility corridors, and industrial tunnels are often difficult and dangerous to inspect manually. Indoor drones enable operators to remotely inspect these environments while maintaining live situational awareness.

As autonomous navigation technology continues to improve, drones are increasingly capable of operating in environments with limited lighting, narrow passageways, dust, smoke, or degraded communications.

Indoor drones for security operations

Security organisations are also beginning to adopt indoor drones as part of integrated situational awareness and security systems. This is a natural extension of the shift towards autonomous drone operations that is already well underway in the outdoor security sector.

Warehouse and facility patrols

Large warehouses, logistics centers, and industrial sites are difficult to monitor continuously using only fixed cameras.

Indoor drones can provide dynamic patrol capabilities, rapid alarm verification, autonomous inspections, and access to areas that static CCTV systems cannot effectively cover. This is particularly valuable during night operations, power outages, restricted-access situations, or incidents involving hazardous materials.

Rapid incident response

In high-security environments such as:

• ports,

• energy facilities,

• data centers,

• airports,

• and industrial plants,

indoor drones can be deployed immediately after alarms or incidents to assess situations before personnel enter.

This allows security teams to verify threats, monitor unauthorised access, inspect suspicious objects, or assess damage following an incident.

Over time, indoor drones will increasingly become part of broader security ecosystems sitting alongside CCTV, access control systems, intrusion detection, counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems, and centralised operational command platforms.

Critical infrastructure: one of the largest growth areas

Perhaps the biggest long-term market for indoor drone operations is critical infrastructure inspection. Industrial operators routinely need to inspect storage tanks, silos, boilers, chimneys, pipelines, ballast tanks, tunnels, and processing facilities. These inspections are traditionally expensive, slow, dangerous, and operationally disruptive.

Confined space inspections

This is where specialised platforms such as the Flyability Elios series have created enormous operational value. These systems are specifically designed for confined-space inspections using collision-tolerant cages, LiDAR mapping, SLAM-based navigation, and high-resolution imaging. Rather than shutting down operations for extended periods or sending workers into hazardous environments, operators can perform inspections remotely while reducing downtime and safety risks significantly.

The cost savings are equally compelling. According to a 2019 survey by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), drone inspections can reduce inspection costs by up to 74% and cut inspection time by up to 88% compared to traditional manned methods, while keeping personnel safely on the ground throughout.

Digital twins and asset management

Indoor drones are also becoming important tools for digital twin generation, 3D mapping, predictive maintenance, and asset lifecycle management. By autonomously scanning facilities and infrastructure assets, drones help operators monitor degradation over time, compare inspection datasets, identify defects early, and reduce manual inspection frequency. For operators managing refineries, energy infrastructure, water facilities, transportation networks, manufacturing plants, and ports, this creates significant efficiency, safety, and maintenance advantages.

The technology behind indoor Drones

Indoor drone operations are fundamentally different from traditional outdoor flights. Because GPS is unavailable indoors, these systems rely heavily on onboard autonomy, computer vision, LiDAR, AI-based navigation, and advanced obstacle avoidance.

The Skydio R10, for example, is designed to operate reliably in GPS-denied environments while maintaining advanced situational awareness and autonomous flight capabilities.

The Flyability Elios platforms combine LiDAR mapping and SLAM technology to generate real-time 3D awareness during confined-space inspections.

Even smaller systems such as the DJI Neo 2 are making indoor operations more accessible through compact form factors, stabilized flight, and improved obstacle sensing capabilities.

Indoor drones and the future of autonomous operations

Indoor drones are becoming part of a much larger shift toward autonomous robotics and integrated situational awareness.

In the coming years, we are likely to see autonomous indoor patrol routes, indoor Drone-in-a-Box (DiaB) systems, robotic collaboration between aerial and ground systems, automated emergency response workflows, and AI-assisted inspection analysis.

For organizations operating critical infrastructure or security-sensitive facilities, indoor drones are no longer simply “flying cameras.” They are evolving into intelligent robotic systems that extend human capabilities while reducing operational risk.

Conclusion

Indoor drone technology is still at a relatively early stage compared to outdoor drone operations, but its operational value is already becoming clear.

For public safety organizations, indoor drones improve situational awareness while reducing risk to first responders.

For security teams, they enable faster and more dynamic incident response capabilities.

For critical infrastructure operators, they significantly improve inspection efficiency, safety, and asset visibility.

As autonomy, AI, indoor positioning, and sensor fusion continue to mature, indoor drones will likely become a standard operational tool across a wide range of industries.

And while the platforms may differ, from lightweight systems like the DJI Neo 2 to autonomous tactical platforms like the Skydio R10 and specialised confined-space inspection systems from Flyability, the direction of travel is clear: the future of drone operations is not only outside in the open air, but increasingly inside the world’s most complex and critical environments.

Interesting in what AirHub can do for your business? Book a demo and find out more.

Drone regulation is entering a new phase. Where previous months brought framework development and consultation, April reflects a clear shift toward implementation, enforcement, and operational maturity. From tightened enforcement in the United States to continued SORA adaptation in Australia and airspace zoning updates in Europe, regulators are moving from setting rules to actively applying them.

For drone operators in public safety, security and critical infrastructure, that shift has direct implications for compliance planning and operational scalability.

EMEA

Finland updates UAS airspace zoning rules Traficom has introduced amendments to its UAS airspace zoning regulation under OPS M1-29-2026, further refining how drone operations are structured and managed across Finnish airspace. The update provides clearer frameworks for operators planning missions in Finnish airspace and reflects a broader European trend toward more granular geographical zone management.

Germany improves transparency on operator registration processing times The German aviation authority (LBA) has published updated processing timelines for UAS operator registrations. For operators entering the German market or scaling existing operations, this improvement in planning visibility is a practical step forward.

Americas

FAA launches programme to accelerate enforcement of drone violations The FAA has introduced a new programme aimed at speeding up enforcement actions against drone violations. The move reinforces the FAA's commitment to airspace safety and signals that compliance is increasingly a prerequisite for operating in US airspace, particularly for commercial and enterprise operators.

Crackdown on illegal drone use during sporting events US authorities have intensified enforcement efforts against unauthorised drone flights around Coors Field during games. The case highlights the importance of pre-flight compliance checks and situational awareness around temporary restricted airspace zones, which are increasingly common at large public events worldwide.

Chile coordinates safe drone operations for public events Chile's DGAC participated in coordination efforts to ensure safe drone operations during the Fiesta de La Tirana, emphasising operational planning and integration with public event safety measures. As drone use at public events increases globally, structured coordination between operators and authorities is becoming standard practice.

Asia-Pacific

Australia promotes AUS SORA for complex drone operations CASA is actively encouraging operators to use AUS SORA as the primary methodology for assessing and approving complex drone operations. The push reflects growing recognition that structured risk assessment frameworks are essential for scaling beyond simple VLOS missions. For operators already working with the European SORA methodology, the AUS SORA adaptation provides a comparable but locally calibrated approach.

CASA opens consultation on drone operations over people CASA has launched a policy consultation on operations over or near people, aiming to balance operational flexibility with safety requirements. The outcome of this consultation will be relevant for any operator planning to conduct drone operations in populated environments in Australia.

CASA consults on airworthiness annex for AUS SORA A draft airworthiness annex to AUS SORA has been released for consultation, further strengthening the regulatory framework for complex UAS operations. This development mirrors broader global efforts to align airworthiness standards with operational risk assessment methodologies.

CASA publishes April RPAS update The latest RPAS newsletter from CASA outlines ongoing regulatory developments, operational insights, and upcoming changes relevant to drone operators across Australia.

Standardisation

No major updates from standardisation bodies were published this month.

What this means for operators

April's regulatory landscape points to three clear trends.

The first is enforcement maturity. In both the US and Chile, regulators are moving from issuing guidance to actively enforcing compliance. Operators who have not yet embedded compliance workflows into their day-to-day operations are increasingly exposed.

The second is SORA as a global standard. Australia's continued development of AUS SORA, including a dedicated airworthiness annex, reinforces SORA's position as the methodology of choice for complex drone operations beyond Europe. Operators familiar with the European framework will find increasing transferability as regional adaptations mature.

The third is operational scalability. Processing time transparency in Germany and structured event coordination in Chile both reflect a broader push to make compliant drone operations more predictable and scalable for professional operators.

For organisations operating drones in complex environments, staying ahead of these developments is part of running a compliant and scalable operation. AirHub tracks regulatory changes across Europe and beyond to help operators understand what is relevant for their missions. For regulatory guidance and consultancy, visit airhub.app/consultancy, or book a demo to see how our platform supports compliant drone operations.

Frequently asked questions

What changed in drone regulation in April 2026?
April 2026 brought a clear shift toward enforcement and operational implementation. Key developments included a new FAA enforcement programme for drone violations, updated UAS airspace zoning in Finland, and continued SORA adaptation in Australia, including a new airworthiness annex consultation.

What is AUS SORA?
AUS SORA is Australia's adaptation of the European Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology, developed by CASA to provide a structured, risk-based framework for approving complex drone operations in the Australian regulatory context.

Why is SORA relevant for drone operators outside Europe?
SORA was developed in Europe but is increasingly being adopted and adapted globally. Australia's AUS SORA is one example. The methodology provides a consistent, evidence-based approach to demonstrating that a drone operation can be conducted safely, which regulators in multiple jurisdictions are now recognising as the standard for complex operations.

How does AirHub support regulatory compliance?
AirHub's drone operations platform integrates compliance workflows directly into mission planning and execution. This includes pilot qualification tracking, airspace data integration, operational authorisation management, and audit trail generation. AirHub also provides regulatory consultancy to help operators navigate frameworks such as SORA across multiple jurisdictions.