The government has announced nearly £50 million to unlock growth in the drone and advanced air mobility sector.

Nearly £20.5 million will be spent on a crackdown on ‘faceless’ drones, which can be used in suspicious or illegal activity, through the first bespoke drone identification system. This should make it easier for police to identify illegal or nuisance users.

£26.5 million will be used to drive smarter regulation and cut red tape. This includes speeding up approvals for drone operations for emergency responses, medical logistics and infrastructure inspection, driving forward regulation to get flying taxis in the sky from 2028.

Drone operators will also be able to use a streamlined digital application process, reducing the time required to navigate regulations and prepare applications. 

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather, said: "We’re backing the next generation of British aviation innovators with nearly £50 million to drive drone regulation reforms and unlock barriers to growth that will create jobs, lower emissions and further the UK’s world-leading aviation reputation.

"Innovation must go hand in hand with strong security – that’s why over half of our investment will develop a new ID system to track drones in real-time, supporting emergency services and building public confidence in an industry that could be worth up to £103 billion by 2050."

Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said: "This funding will create a numberplate system for the skies.

"Law enforcement will be able to identify and take action against those who break the law, taking drones out of the sky and protecting the public."