FDNY Discusses Drone Technology for Emergency Response Use in New York City – HSToday
On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker joined leaders from partner agencies in Manhattan to discuss the effectiveness of existing drone options, according to a news release. The FDNY and the NYPD, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL), held a weeklong comprehensive…
On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker joined leaders from partner agencies in Manhattan to discuss the effectiveness of existing drone options, according to a news release. The FDNY and the NYPD, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL), held a weeklong comprehensive test series.
The assessment incorporated Department of Defense-approved drones from the “Blue UAS Cleared List” that have been vetted to be cyber-secure and compliant with DoD policy. As public safety agencies look to update their drone fleets, the assessment helped identify alternatives to drones from covered nations and provide manufacturers with feedback to guide future product improvements.
“The FDNY has fully embraced drone technology,” FDNY Commissioner Tucker said, noting that the first drone deployed by the Department was in March 2017. “We have been at this a long time, but the technology has evolved. Today, we’re using drones across all five boroughs.”
The assessment offered pilots a hands-on opportunity to evaluate potential drone replacements for use in FDNY operations. The unmanned aircraft allow incident commanders to have an eye in the sky to see what cannot be observed from the ground.
The original announcement can be found here.