Skydio Launches F10 Lightrunner Fixed-Wing Drone

Skydio introduced the F10 Lightrunner at its Ascend 2026 conference as a long-range fixed-wing drone designed for public safety and utility inspections. The San Mateo-based manufacturer announced the new flagship aircraft on September 24, 2026, at its annual Ascend event in Summerlin, Nevada. Skydio believes the F10 Lightrunner fills a critical gap for long-range, rapid-response missions.

Performance and autonomy features of the F10 Lightrunner

The F10 Lightrunner reaches 100 mph and operates up to a 30-mile radius. It has a maximum endurance of two hours. The drone uses Skydio's new Foresight and Pathfinder software engines for real-time obstacle avoidance and route planning.

Pathfinder charts the route prior to flight, accounting for terrain, obstacles, geofences, and airspace rules. Foresight then adjusts that path in real time based on aircraft detection to reduce pilot workload. The system includes onboard 360-degree navigation cameras and the Skydio Airspace Assurance System, which receives ADS-B and other inputs.

MegaDock enables autonomous operations with multiple aircraft

The MegaDock is a robotic dock designed for the F10 Lightrunner to support concurrent missions from a single location. It can house up to five F10 aircraft at once. The dock uses a Robotic Takeoff and Landing system with a suction-based robotic gripper to grab, launch, and catch the drone automatically.

This system requires no runway or on-site personnel for operation. Operators can keep up to three F10 aircraft in the air simultaneously, while two stand by in the charging dock.

Asset Command and Security Command software launched alongside hardware

Skydio introduced two new software platforms at the event. Asset Command is for organizations managing large portfolios of fixed infrastructure, like utilities. It can import data from GIS, CMMS, and other systems to plan inspections around individual assets. Early development partners include AEP, Chevron, Dominion Energy, and Southern Company.

Security Command is designed to turn drone fleets into a continuous security capability with live video dispatch. It provides aerial awareness before personnel enter dangerous situations. Both Asset Command and Security Command went on sale at Ascend 2026, with general availability scheduled for early 2027.

Additional updates to controller, apps, and transparency tools

Alongside the drone and dock, Skydio unveiled several supporting products. Controller 2 is a hand-flown unit with a 7-inch sunlight-readable display, a kickstand, and a 5.5-hour battery life. The company is also launching a new mobile app for more secure live-video sharing.

For public-safety agencies, Skydio is rebuilding its Transparency Dashboard to publish drone program information. Expanded tools for this dashboard are rolling out later this year. Chief executive Adam Bry delivered the keynote presentation. He stated that the company is now tapping the true potential of software-defined, autonomous, dock-based drones with industry-specific applications.

Customer deployments of the F10 Lightrunner begin in 2027.