Start Your Drone Business: Aquiline Drones Franchise Program for Veterans

Hartford, CT – In a move set to transform the drone sector, a new initiative is providing U.S. military veterans with a direct path to entrepreneurship in the rapidly growing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market. Aquiline Drones (AD), a Connecticut-based drone manufacturer and AI systems company, has partnered with Ryder System, Inc. and Vets to Drones to create a discounted drone franchise program specifically for veterans.

This strategic partnership honors the valuable contributions of all U.S. military veterans. By combining forces, they are making these drone franchises more accessible than ever, offering an impressive 30% discount to qualified veterans. This significant saving is made possible by Ryder’s substantial discounts on franchise vehicles and Vets to Drones’ commitment to providing free professional drone training.

A New Chapter for Veterans and the Drone Industry

Aquiline Drones founder and CEO Barry Alexander emphasizes the unparalleled skills that veterans bring to the table. “Veterans bring unmatched discipline, technical expertise, and leadership to the drone industry,” says Alexander. This program leverages those skills, creating new opportunities for veterans while strengthening the domestic drone industry.

The initiative aligns with crucial federal programs like the U.S. Department of War’s (DoW) Blue UAS program and the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Replicator Initiative. These federal directives aim to boost domestic drone production, reduce reliance on foreign-made platforms, and cultivate a skilled workforce to support defense and commercial missions. Aquiline Drones’ veteran-owned franchise model is a key part of this strategy, reinforcing U.S. manufacturing capabilities and building a prepared workforce.

Diverse Franchise Models for a Growing Market

The AD–Vets to Drones initiative offers structured franchise opportunities across three distinct models, each designed to meet a critical market need:

• Modular Drone Manufacturing (MDM): This model allows veterans to produce U.S.-made, Blue UAS-compliant drones, positioning them for federal procurement and industrial base contracts.
• Inspection, Security & Surveillance (ISS): Franchisees can support missions for agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and FEMA by providing services such as border surveillance, disaster response, and infrastructure security.
• Total Exterior Care (TEC): This model focuses on providing advanced drone services for exterior cleaning, including power-washing, painting, and graffiti removal, as well as environmental monitoring for municipal, industrial, and defense settings.

Each franchise comes with comprehensive support, including professional pilot training, business development assistance, and access to Aquiline Drones Indemnity Corporation (ADIC), a captive insurance entity that provides tailored coverage. Furthermore, franchisees can qualify for federal contracting opportunities as a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) or a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).

Veteran Entrepreneurship and National Security

This program is more than just a career path; it’s an opportunity for veterans to become business owners and leaders in a vital sector. As Chris Lewis, Founder and CEO of Vets to Drones, notes, “This partnership offers Veterans more than just a career path; it presents the opportunity for ownership in a rapidly growing sector crucial to U.S. defense and economic competitiveness.”

The U.S. drone market is projected to exceed $60 billion in the next decade, driven by defense, infrastructure, and commercial applications. The AD–Vets to Drones initiative aims to:

• Cultivate Veteran Entrepreneurship: Empowering veterans to transition into ownership roles that boost local economies and advance U.S. technological leadership.
• Bolster Homeland Security: Building a national workforce of veteran franchisees to support DHS and DoW missions.
• Strengthen the Domestic UAS Industrial Base: Aligning with the DoW’s Replicator initiative to scale U.S. production capacity for autonomous UAV systems.