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Episode details

Radio 4,24 Sep 2026,31 mins

Drones: Small machines, big business

The Bottom Line

Available for over a year

Drones are no longer simply small flying cameras. They’re being used to fight wars, find people lost at sea, inspect infrastructure and gather intelligence. Evan Davis and guests discuss what’s driving the extraordinary growth of the drone industry. And, as the technology gets cheaper, smarter and longer-range, what does it take to build a successful drone business? Guests: Mike Armstrong, MD, Stark Defence UK Gemma Alcock, founder and CEO, Skybound Mark Westwood, director of defence and a professor of aeronautics, Cranfield University Production team: Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Bethan Ashmead, Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill Editor: Matt Willis

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