Skydio has introduced the Skydio F10 Lightrunner, the company’s first fixed-wing aircraft, during its annual Ascend conference in Summerlin, Nevada. The San Mateo, California drone maker announced the aircraft on September 24, 2026, together with a new docking station called MegaDock, two new software platforms named Asset Command and Security Command, and a set of upgrades across its existing product line.
Until now, every robot in Skydio’s lineup has been a quadcopter. The F10 is the first time the company has moved past that design, and it is aimed at customers in critical industries who need to reach emergencies and problem sites faster and from farther away, whether the goal is keeping communities safe or keeping the power on. The aircraft can travel at up to 100 mph within a 30-mile radius of its launch point, which lets a single site cover close to 3,000 square miles. Skydio says F10 will begin deploying to customers in 2027.
How the Skydio F10 Lightrunner and MegaDock Operate
One of the biggest differences with the Skydio F10 Lightrunner is that it does not need a ground crew to take off or land. Instead, it uses a Robotic Takeoff and Landing system, known as RTOL, which is built around a robotic gripper that holds the aircraft by suction. That arm lives inside MegaDock, a dock designed specifically for F10 that can store as many as five aircraft. Because several drones share one home base, operators can run more than one mission at the same time from a single location.
Skydio treated the camera as a central part of the design. F10’s SideEye layout places the camera outside the rotor plane, so the wing never cuts across the video feed and pilots keep an uninterrupted view while they concentrate on the mission. Route planning is handled by Foresight, Skydio’s autonomy software for fixed-wing flight, which plots and adjusts the path of the F10 Lightrunner in real time to lighten the load on pilots. The Skydio Airspace Assurance System, or SAAS, adds another layer by keeping each flight compliant with regulations and steering clear of collisions from start to finish.
“F10 Lightrunner is the most advanced fixed-wing drone that has ever existed.” Adam Bry, CEO of Skydio
Asset Command and Security Command Target Critical Industries
Alongside the new hardware, Skydio rolled out Asset Command and Security Command, two software platforms that follow the model the company established with its DFR Command offering. Each one is shaped around the needs of a specific group of customers. Asset Command is meant for organizations that manage large collections of fixed infrastructure. It brings in asset data directly from GIS and CMMS systems and then plans and routes inspections automatically. AEP, Chevron, Dominion Energy, and Southern Company have worked with Skydio as early development partners.
Security Command is designed to turn drone fleets into a security tool that runs around the clock. The platform dispatches a drone that streams live video, giving security teams an overhead view that can support better choices and cut down on the chances of people walking into dangerous situations. Both platforms can be purchased beginning at Ascend, and general availability is planned for early 2027.
“Each Command brings together specialized autonomy, customized workflows, and deep integrations with the systems our customers already use, making drones easier to adopt and integrate than ever before, and orders of magnitude more effective once they’re operating them.” Adam Bry, CEO of Skydio
Controller 2 and Other Skydio Platform Upgrades
The company also used Ascend to announce several additional products and updates. Controller 2 is a hand-flown controller featuring a 7-inch display that can be read in direct sunlight, a built-in kickstand, and a battery rated for 5.5 hours. A new Skydio Mobile App allows secure sharing of live video, while two camera software features are on the way, with ThermalBoost expected this winter and Low-Light Enhance planned for next spring. Skydio designs, assembles, and supports its products in the United States from its San Mateo headquarters, a topic covered in earlier reporting on its drone manufacturing operations.
Skydio is also rebuilding its Transparency Dashboard, a tool public safety agencies use to share flight records and policy information with the people they serve, and expanded features for it are expected to arrive later this year. The Skydio F10 Lightrunner joins a portfolio that the company says is trusted by every branch of the U.S. military, the armed forces of 29 allied nations, and more than 4,000 agencies and organizations in the public safety and critical infrastructure sectors across the country.
