SwissDrones Operating AG and its subsidiary Xplorate Pacific are expanding their integrated long-range drone inspection platform into the United States, the companies announced on August 7. The move targets energy, utility and transportation operators managing pipelines, powerlines and other critical infrastructure across large geographic areas. The companies plan to combine SwissDrones’ turbine-powered uncrewed helicopters with Xplorate’s beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operating experience, sensor integration and data-processing workflows. US programs will be introduced individually under applicable Federal Aviation Administration approvals as regulators work toward more routine BVLOS operations. “The SDO 50 provides a platform for those missions today, and the SD120 is being developed to extend the mission set further.”