Japanese drone manufacturer ACSL and Vancouver-based Draganfly Inc. have announced an exclusive master distributor agreement that will bring ACSL's SOTEN drone platform to the Canadian market, along with a technology integration partnership enabling cross-platform interoperability between each company's systems.

Under the agreement, Draganfly becomes the exclusive Canadian distributor for the ACSL SOTEN, a compact, multi-mission quadcopter built around a swappable payload architecture. The platform supports four camera configurations: a 20MP 1" sensor camera with a mechanical shutter, the SAMO dual thermal-optical system, a multi-spectral option, and an optical zoom camera. Critically, the drones from ACSL are NDAA-compliant, positioning them for public safety, industrial, and enterprise applications.

Along with the exclusive regional distribution aspect of the partnership, the collaboration also includes a technical integration component. Draganfly's Apex and Commander 3XL platforms will gain compatibility with SOTEN's swappable camera payloads and the ACSL TAITEN Smart Controller, a rugged ground control station featuring a 7-inch 1500-nit display and IP54-rated construction. The integration gives operators the ability to mix hardware from both manufacturers within a single drone program.

“We’ve taken a hard look at the market, and ACSL stands out as the strongest partner in this segment to integrate with our OEM product line,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, in a statement. “This gives customers a true single-source solution, combining best-in-class manufacturing and technology to build scalable, future-ready drone programs.”

Cynthia Huang, CEO of ACSL Inc., pointed to strong U.S. market adoption as a signal of what to expect in Canada. 

“We’ve seen significant adoption of the ACSL platform in the U.S., and we’re excited to bring this technology to the Canadian drone market,” she said. “Customer feedback has been strong. With its modular design, once SOTEN gets incorporated into a workflow, it becomes a go-to choice for many missions. This partnership is a great reflection of addressing the needs of customers, increasing interoperability among drone solution providers to build a more resilient industry.”

The SOTEN platform will be available through Draganfly across Canada beginning in June 2026.