Members of the ADF Drone Racing Team (ADFDRT) competed in the Military International Drone Racing Tournament (MIDRT_UK25) at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom from 15 - 19 September 2025. The ADF Drone Racing team included seven pilots from Army and Air Force plus the two fastest pilots from the Australian Army Cadet Corps.
“This was the toughest field we’ve faced,” ADF Drone Team Captain, Corporal Daniel McCullock said. “The other teams brought incredible energy and skill, and every race pushed us to the limit. We are really proud to hold onto the title for a fifth time and it shows the level of depth we have in the team.”
MIDRT_UK25 is the fifth iteration of the MIDRT event and the second time, it has been hosted by the UK Forces. The ADF Drone Racing team pilots embraced the opportunity to demonstrate their individual and collective drone racing skills against other military teams from allied nations.
“Our pilots have shown time and again their ability to perform under pressure and adapt to every challenge. This consistency demonstrates the maturity of FPV drone racing in the ADF and is an insight to how the sport continues to grow in importance, both as competition and as a platform to develop FPV and drone capability,” President of the ADFDRT, Wing Commander Keirin Joyce, said.
MIDRT_UK25 has encouraged the sharing of knowledge and skills of uncrewed aerial capabilities in this sport that promotes drone literacy and capability in Defence. The ADF Drone Racing Team were also involved in STEM engagement events and international military partner activities in the United Kingdom during the visit.
The event saw the ADF racers facing a new wave of international teams determined to topple the reigning champions. A total of 43 pilots from Australia, UK Forces, New Zealand Defence Force, US Joint Forces plus new teams from Belgium, Germany and the Philippines competed in the three-day competition.
This win comes after ADFDRT's fourth victory earlier this year in May, in upper New York State. The team's previous wins were in 2018, 2023 and 2024.
The next event the public can see the drone racing team at is the National Championships in Brisbane, 8 - 11 October 2025.