Drone Major unveils managed procurement platform for UK drone sector

Drone Major has launched what it calls the drone industry’s first managed procurement services platform, designed to accelerate major uncrewed systems projects and widen access for UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – including those supporting emergency services, disaster response, and critical infrastructure missions.

The company, which secured approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the UK’s first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights over the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure in May 2025, has enhanced its existing supplier platform to connect global suppliers with high-value procurement opportunities in robotics, drones, and unmanned systems.

According to Drone Major, the system gives procurement teams a single, trusted route to identify vetted suppliers, evaluate bids, and manage end-to-end delivery. The service covers compliance and regulatory approvals – including BVLOS authorization support – plus project management, logistics, quality assurance, and final integration.

Founder and CEO Robert Garbett said the UK had “the talent and technologies… but it has lacked the mechanism to bring them to the front line effectively”. He added that the platform aimed to “empower British SMEs and startups” while strengthening the UK’s supply chain independence and “reducing reliance on China”.

For emergency aviation, defense, and public safety operators increasingly dependent on uncrewed systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), environmental monitoring, or urgent medical transport, Drone Major says the platform can reduce procurement timelines and risk by providing a coordinated, multi-vendor delivery model. The company claims it can support “virtually any solution in the unmanned systems domain”, from ruggedized multi-rotor platforms to autonomous ground and maritime systems supporting joint operations.

The launch comes as the global market for medical drones is projected to grow from US$275.76 billion in 2024 to approximately $927.83 billion by 2034.