Draganfly Creates U.S. Defense Subsidiary, Taps Former Navy Chief as Chairman
Event summary
- Draganfly Inc. established Draganfly Defense USA, a dedicated U.S. defense subsidiary, on October 12, 2026.
- Thomas Modly, former Under Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Navy, appointed as Chairman of Draganfly Defense USA.
- Brigadier General AJ Pasagian (Ret’d) leads U.S. defense operations as President of the new subsidiary.
- Subsidiary focuses on unmanned aerial systems, counter-UAS technologies, and U.S. manufacturing capabilities.
The big picture
Draganfly’s move reflects the growing demand for secure, mission-critical unmanned systems in the U.S. defense market. The creation of a dedicated subsidiary aligns with broader industry trends toward specialized governance structures for defense contractors, particularly as cybersecurity and export-control regulations tighten. The appointment of Modly and Pasagian signals a strategic push to strengthen relationships with U.S. defense agencies and prime contractors.
What we're watching
- Governance Dynamics
- How the new subsidiary structure will streamline compliance and security for U.S. defense contracts.
- Market Positioning
- Whether Draganfly can leverage Modly’s defense experience to secure high-value U.S. military contracts.
- Execution Risk
- The pace at which Draganfly Defense USA can scale operations to meet stringent U.S. defense requirements.