Acquisition
Versaterm Acquires Aloft, Adding FAA Authorization to DroneSense Platform
•February 19, 2026
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Why It Matters
The integration eliminates a major regulatory bottleneck, accelerating adoption of drone programs for law‑enforcement, fire and EMS agencies and expanding Versaterm’s market foothold in public‑safety technology.
Key Takeaways
- •Versaterm adds FAA authorization to DroneSense platform
- •Aloft provides LAANC approvals for controlled airspace
- •Integrated workflow reduces steps from call to drone launch
- •Enhances scalability of public‑safety drone programs nationwide
- •Positions Versaterm as vertically integrated drone response provider
Pulse Analysis
The public‑safety sector has been racing to embed unmanned aerial systems into everyday response protocols, yet fragmented tools have slowed progress. Versaterm’s dual acquisitions—first DroneSense, then Aloft—signal a shift toward a consolidated platform that handles everything from computer‑aided dispatch to real‑time airspace clearance. By pulling Aloft’s LAANC engine directly into DroneSense, agencies no longer juggle separate applications or manual FAA filings; they receive instant, compliant flight authorizations alongside live video feeds and mission data. This seamless experience reduces response times and lowers administrative overhead, key factors for budget‑constrained municipalities.
From a technical standpoint, the integration creates a unified data layer that merges airspace intelligence with situational awareness. Operators can plot flight paths, request near‑instant FAA approval, and monitor compliance metrics without leaving the dispatch console. The combined system also inherits Aloft’s cybersecurity safeguards and compliance reporting, addressing growing concerns about data integrity in critical incidents. For vendors, the move demonstrates the value of vertical integration—bundling hardware, software, and regulatory services—to deliver a turnkey solution that meets both operational and legal requirements.
Industry analysts view Versaterm’s strategy as a catalyst for broader drone adoption in emergency services. By removing the “authorization blocker,” the platform lowers the entry threshold for agencies considering Drone‑as‑First‑Responder programs, potentially accelerating nationwide rollout. Competitors will likely pursue similar acquisitions or partnerships to avoid being left behind in a market where speed, compliance, and interoperability are decisive. As drones transition from experimental tools to routine assets, Versaterm’s end‑to‑end offering could become the de‑facto standard for public‑safety drone operations.
Deal Summary
Versaterm announced the acquisition of Aloft, an FAA‑approved Unmanned Service Supplier that powers most LAANC approvals. The deal integrates Aloft’s airspace intelligence into Versaterm’s DroneSense platform, giving public‑safety agencies a unified workflow for dispatch, compliance, and FAA authorization. Deal value was not disclosed.
Article
Source: DroneDJ
Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Add FAA Authorization to DroneSense Platform
When Versaterm acquired DroneSense in July 2025, the message was clear: drones were no longer a side project for public‑safety agencies; they were becoming part of the core dispatch workflow. Now, Canada‑based Versaterm is taking that strategy a step further. The company has announced it is acquiring Aloft, one of the most important names in airspace intelligence and FAA drone authorization. The move effectively fills in the missing piece of Versaterm’s drone puzzle: regulatory approval and controlled‑airspace compliance.
Taken together, the two acquisitions show a deliberate strategy to build an end‑to‑end drone ecosystem for public safety — from dispatch to airspace clearance to live mission management.
Last year’s DroneSense deal allowed Versaterm to integrate drone fleet management directly into its Computer‑Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Incident Command & Control systems. That meant agencies could deploy a drone flight as easily as sending out a patrol car, fire engine, or EMS unit. It was a major step toward operationalizing Drone‑as‑First‑Responder (DFR) programs, which allow drones to arrive at emergency scenes ahead of ground units to provide real‑time situational awareness.
But even with dispatch integration and fleet management streamlined, one major friction point remained: FAA authorization. That’s where Aloft comes in.
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Aloft is an FAA‑approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) and powers the vast majority of LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) approvals across the United States. In practical terms, it handles the near‑instant digital authorizations that allow drones to legally operate in controlled airspace, including areas near airports and in dense urban environments.
By integrating Aloft’s airspace intelligence directly into the DroneSense by Versaterm platform, agencies will be able to manage flight planning, FAA authorization, compliance, and mission execution within a single workflow. Instead of toggling between systems or relying on manual processes to secure clearance, departments can move from call intake to drone launch with far fewer steps.
Versaterm CEO Steve Seoane describes the acquisition as a way to remove the “blockers” agencies face every day. The broader goal appears to be treating drones not as experimental tools, but as standardized assets in daily operations.
When Versaterm first announced the DroneSense acquisition, then‑CEO Warren Loomis said the move brought the company closer to a future where drones are “as routine as any patrol or fire unit.” With the addition of Aloft’s regulatory backbone, that future looks more tangible.
Jon Hegranes, founder and CEO of Aloft, says the company was built to power the “airspace layer” of modern drone operations. Now, that layer will sit directly inside a public‑safety platform already used for dispatch, reporting, and command oversight.
For agencies investing in DFR programs and broader drone deployments, the implications are significant. A unified platform that combines dispatch, live video, fleet management, compliance tools, cybersecurity protections, and FAA airspace authorization reduces complexity — one of the biggest barriers to scaling drone programs nationwide.
In just months, Versaterm has moved from offering traditional public‑safety software to assembling what may be one of the most vertically integrated drone‑response platforms in the market. And if this strategy continues, drones may soon feel less like cutting‑edge tech and more like standard operating procedure.
More: FAA steps up enforcement against reckless drone pilots
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