ACSL and Draganfly sign exclusive Canadian distribution and integration agreement for SOTEN
Draganfly will distribute ACSL’s SOTEN drones in Canada and integrate their payloads and controllers across selected platforms.
ACSL, Japan's largest drone manufacturer, and Vancouver-based Draganfly have signed an exclusive master distributor agreement making Draganfly the sole Canadian distributor of ACSL's SOTEN drone platform, effective June 2026. The agreement also includes a technical integration layer enabling cross-platform interoperability between the two companies' hardware.
The supply chain context
The agreement adds an NDAA-compliant Japanese drone to Draganfly's Canadian offering. Other North American supply-chain transactions announced the same week included Unusual Machines' acquisition of battery manufacturer Upgrade Energy.
The product and the integration
SOTEN is a compact, multi-mission quadcopter built around a swappable payload architecture supporting four camera configurations: a 20MP 1-inch sensor camera with a mechanical shutter, the SAMO dual thermal-optical system, a multi-spectral option, and an optical zoom camera. The technical integration component makes certain Draganfly platforms, including the Apex and Commander 3XL, compatible with SOTEN's swappable camera payloads and the ACSL TAITEN Smart Controller, a rugged IP54-rated ground control station with a 7-inch 1,500-nit screen. Operators can build drone programmes combining hardware from both companies and control platforms through the ACSL TAITEN station.
The companies
Draganfly has operated for more than 25 years and is listed on the NASDAQ, CSE, and FSE. Its existing drone portfolio spans the Apex, Commander 3XL, and Heavy Lift platforms, supporting payloads from 6.6 to over 100 pounds across public safety, agriculture, industrial inspection, and defence markets. The company reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.91 million, an 18.5% year-over-year increase, though it reported a widening comprehensive loss of $9.3 million for the period. Analysts at H.C. Wainwright and Needham both carry Buy ratings on the stock. Draganfly also announced the day after this deal that its Flex FPV drone had been selected by two additional US Department of War units, indicating growing defence traction alongside the commercial distribution push.
ACSL has already seen meaningful adoption of the SOTEN platform in the US market. CEO Cynthia Huang cited strong customer feedback on the modular design and said once SOTEN is incorporated into a workflow it becomes a go-to choice for multiple missions.
SOTEN becomes available through Draganfly in Canada in June 2026. The cross-platform integration covers selected Apex and Commander 3XL systems.
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