Redmond Police Replace DJI Fleet with Six Skydio Drones on 5-Year Plan

The city council of Redmond, Oregon, approved a $410,762 deal with Axon on June 23 to replace its aging DJI police drones with six new Skydio aircraft. The purchase is financed over five years — a method local governments commonly use for patrol cars, not drones. For commercial fleet operators and second-hand drone buyers, this procurement pattern matters because it signals how public safety agencies are moving away from DJI equipment and toward financed, service‑bundled alternatives.

According to DroneXL.co, the Redmond Police Department had called its old DJI fleet obsolete. While the article does not specify exact DJI models or failure reasons, the broader context confirms a trend: U.S. law enforcement agencies are increasingly replacing DJI units with U.S.-made platforms like Skydio. For anybody involved in buying, selling, or repairing pre‑owned DJI drones, these municipal upgrades often translate into a glut of used equipment entering the secondary market — and a new set of procurement rules for the next generation of police drones.

The finance model behind the deal

The five-year financing structure is noteworthy. Most public safety drone purchases are one-time capital outlays or grant-funded. Redmond’s choice to spread the cost over 60 months mirrors how cities finance police cruisers, fire apparatus, and IT infrastructure. Axon, best known for body cameras and Tasers, is acting as both hardware vendor and financing partner, bundling Skydio aircraft with a long-term payment plan.

For commercial fleet operators, this model reduces upfront cash requirements. A five-year contract also implies that the city expects the drones to remain operationally viable for at least that period — or that the financing terms include maintenance and replacement provisions. While the source does not detail service agreements, any multiyear drone financing deal typically ties the operator to a specific OEM for spare parts, firmware support, and repairs. Fleet managers evaluating their own procurement should weigh whether financing reduces total cost of ownership or locks them into proprietary supply chains.

Additionally, the deal signals growing confidence among lenders and vendors that drones are durable assets, not experimental gear. This could encourage more drone financing options for small to mid‑size operators, possibly lowering barriers to entry for those who previously could not afford high-end enterprise drones upfront.

What this means for drone buyers

For anyone actively buying or upgrading a commercial drone fleet, the Redmond example provides a template and a caution. First, the decision to switch OEMs — from DJI to Skydio — had real consequences: the department needed entirely new training, software ecosystems, and repair procedures. Buyers considering a similar move should account for the costs of retraining pilots, integrating new ground control software, and sourcing spare parts from a different supply chain.

Second, the used DJI drones that cities like Redmond divest often enter the pre-owned market in large batches. These are typically low-flight-time airframes, maintained by public agencies, with documented service histories. For operators willing to fly non‑DJI alternatives for their own fleets — or for buyers looking for budget-friendly inspection or mapping drones — this creates an opportunity. Our pre-owned DJI drones inventory sometimes includes ex‑government units that have been inspected and tested. However, buyers should verify firmware lock or geofencing restrictions that police departments may have enabled, as those settings may not be removable by a civilian user.

Third, the Axon‑Skydio partnership shows that financing can bundle hardware, software, and possibly service into one predictable annual cost. Fleet managers should compare this total cost of ownership against a self‑insured, outright purchase model. If the financed price includes repair support or replacement airframes, it may be cheaper than paying per‑incident repair bills. For those who prefer to own rather than finance, the availability of professional DJI repair services remains a viable option to extend the life of existing equipment.

Implications for the pre‑owned DJI market and repair ecosystem

Every time a police department or government agency upgrades to Skydio, American Robotics, or another non‑DJI platform, the secondary market gains more used DJI hardware. These units often sell at a discount relative to retail, which pressures prices across the entire pre‑owned market. Operators who rely on DJI drones for agricultural, inspection, or cinematography work can benefit from lower acquisition costs — provided they are comfortable buying drones that may have custom firmware or restricted capabilities.

On the repair side, the shift away from DJI by public safety agencies could have a dual effect. First, it reduces demand for certified DJI repair services within the law enforcement segment. But second, it increases the pool of surplus DJI airframes that need inspection, sensor calibration, and battery replacement before they are suitable for civilian use. Repair shops that can handle DJI motherboard swaps, gimbal alignments, and firmware resets will be essential to turning these ex‑police drones into reliable tools.

For owners of current DJI fleets, the Redmond move is a reminder that OEM support cycles have real limits. When a major institutional customer abandons a product line, the vendor may deprioritize firmware updates or spare parts production for that generation. Drone buyers should check whether their DJI models are still receiving active support — and if not, consider a trade‑in toward a supported platform. Our drone trade-in guide can help owners evaluate the residual value of their current hardware against the cost of upgrading.

What commercial operators should do now

The Redmond contract is not an isolated event. Similar financing‑based, vendor‑bundled police drone deals are likely in other mid‑sized cities. For commercial operators, the actionable insight is threefold:

• Review fleet asset life cycles. If your drones are more than three years old, compare their residual value against the cost of financing newer platforms. The same five‑year model that works for police could work for a surveying firm that needs predictable annual expenses.
• Monitor secondary market listings. Ex‑police DJI drones will appear on resale platforms over the next six to 12 months. Inspect them for custom firmware, restricted flight zones, and battery cycle counts before buying.
• Diversify repair sources. As OEMs shift focus, having a reliable independent repair partner ensures you can keep legacy airframes flying. Professional repair shops with genuine OEM parts can extend a drone’s useful life well beyond the typical three‑to‑five‑year window.

No single procurement by a city of 21,000 residents will transform the global drone market. But the financing structure, the vendor selection (Axon over direct Skydio), and the explicit replacement of DJI drones all point to trends that affect anybody buying, selling, or repairing drones in 2026. Pay attention not just to the hardware, but to how cities pay for it — because that model often trickles down to enterprise and small‑business buyers within two to three years.

FAQ: Redmond Police Skydio Drone Purchase

Can police departments really finance drones like they finance patrol cars?

Yes, as shown by the Redmond Police Department’s $410,762 deal with Axon, which is paid over five years. This financing model reduces the initial burden on municipal budgets and may become more common as law enforcement agencies formalize drone programs as permanent assets rather than experimental equipment.

What happens to the old DJI drones after a police department replaces them?

They typically enter the secondary market through resale auctions, trade‑in programs, or direct sales to dealers. These airframes often have low flight hours and regular maintenance logs, but may carry firmware restrictions or geofencing settings from police use. Buyers should verify unlockability and component condition before purchasing ex‑government DJI drones.

How should a fleet manager respond to this shift in police procurement?

Fleet managers should evaluate their own drone replacement cycles and financing options. If you operate DJI equipment, consider the long‑term availability of spare parts and repair services. It may be wise to trade in older models while they still hold value, or to budget for a financed upgrade that bundles hardware, support, and parts into one predictable cost.