Eyes on the scene, without a six-figure subscription.

The gap the incumbents leave open

Nearly half of local police departments in the United States employ fewer than ten sworn officers, and 97 percent serve fewer than 100,000 residents. The drone programs written up in the trade press are built for the other 3 percent. Docked aircraft, dispatch integration, a full-time pilot, and an annual contract that reads like a fleet lease. Published examples run from about $100,000 to $200,000 a year.

A sheriff covering a rural county, or a chief with twelve officers, has a different problem. They want to see the scene before an officer arrives, find a missing person in a field, or size up a fire line. And they want it to work. What they told us about the current vendors was short: we just want it to work.

Start small, own it, grow it

• Own the aircraft. A Corvin complete kit is $2,999, paid once. No subscription, no annual platform fee.
• Compliant on day one. Built without Section 889 covered components. Designed and built in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Eligible for grant-funded and federal purchases.
• Fix it in the bay. Detachable arms swap in about three minutes. Frame parts are 3D printable in ABS.
• One phone number. Manufacturer-direct configuration, parts, and warranty. Not a reseller channel.
• A path up. When you are ready for a dock-based responder aircraft, the Spector is in development at a published $34,999 bundle price, with reservations open.

What it costs to start

That is one aircraft, one trained officer, and spares for a shift. A second Corvin as a backup brings the total to about $6,673, still well under the threshold most councils approve without a fight.

The DJI clock

If your fleet is DJI, nothing stops you flying it today. Since December 22, 2025, new foreign-made drones cannot receive FCC authorization and federal funds cannot buy covered aircraft. Firmware support for existing aircraft is guaranteed only through January 1, 2029, under an FCC waiver. Agencies that plan a replacement now buy on their own schedule. Agencies that wait buy in a queue. Our guide to the published prices is the place to start a budget line.

What we will not tell you

We will not tell you a Corvin is a drone-as-first-responder program. It is a compact reconnaissance and training aircraft with up to 22 minutes of flight and up to 1.5 pounds of payload, flown by a certified officer within visual line of sight. Flights beyond visual line of sight need FAA authorization. It is the affordable way to start, and to prove the value before a council votes on more.

Questions buyers ask

What is the least we can spend to start a drone capability?

One Corvin complete kit at $2,999, two spare batteries at $250 each, and a Part 107 certificate for one officer. That is an aircraft that gives you a live view of a scene, a perimeter, or a search area, for under $3,500.

Can we still fly our DJI aircraft?

Aircraft you already own stay legal to operate, and the FCC waiver keeps firmware support for authorized foreign drones through at least January 1, 2029. New foreign-made drones cannot get FCC authorization since December 22, 2025, and federal funds cannot buy covered aircraft. Some states, including Florida, require replacement on their own schedule.

Is EnCor on an approved list?

EnCor drones are built without Section 889 covered components and are designed and built in Tulsa, Oklahoma. EnCor does not currently hold a Blue UAS listing and does not claim one. Check your grant or state rules for any approved-list requirement.

What about a dock-based responder aircraft?

The Spector is a dock-capable quadcopter in development, with a published bundle price of $34,999 and reservations open. Specifications are targets until flight testing is complete.

Who fixes it when it breaks?

Your own people can. Corvin arms detach and swap in about three minutes, and frame parts are 3D printable. For anything else, you call the manufacturer in Tulsa, not a reseller.

Can you help us write the policy and the grant?

Not yet as a formal service. Ask in a briefing and we will tell you what we can share today.