AutoSpray Systems Ltd
Staffordshire-based agricultural drone systems, training and operator network provider associated with XAG equipment and UK agricultural drone services.
Equipment
Agricultural drones for sale in the UK
Compare the application drones sold into UK agriculture, understand what owning one actually involves, and find the dealers who supply and support them.
Model comparison
Manufacturer figures for the two aircraft most often listed by UK operators and dealers. Confirm current specification and UK availability with the dealer, since payloads and kit options change between model years.
| Model | Configuration | Spraying | Spreading | Weight and payload | Sensing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJI Agras T50 | Eight rotors, coaxial, 54 inch propellers | 40 L tank, 40 kg spray payload | 75 L hopper, 50 kg spread payload | 92 kg max takeoff spraying, 103 kg spreading, 52 kg with battery | Front and rear phased array radar, binocular vision, 360 degree obstacle sensing |
| XAG P100 Pro | Four rotors, 55 inch propellers | 50 L smart tank, up to 22 L/min with RevoSpray 3 | RevoCast 3, up to 150 kg/min, 3 to 7 m spread width, 1 to 6 mm granules | 50 kg maximum payload | 4D imaging radar, 1.5 to 80 m detection, terrain following 0.5 to 100 m |
Sources: DJI Agras T50 and XAG P100 Pro manufacturer specification pages, checked 20 August 2026.
DJI Agras
DJI's Agras line, including the T50, is the most widely listed agricultural drone range in the UK. Expect coaxial rotors, RTK positioning and radar sensing, a 40 litre spray tank or 75 litre spreader, an established dealer and training network, and meaningful running costs to budget for.
XAG
XAG aircraft such as the P100 Pro use centrifugal atomising nozzles and modular spray or spread payloads, built around roughly a 50 kg payload. They are often sold and supported through UK operator networks, so ask what that network provides before buying.
ABZ and others
ABZ and other application drones appear in some UK dealer ranges alongside DJI and XAG, usually supplied with integration and support services. Confirm current models, payloads, software and UK service arrangements directly with the provider.
What owning one actually involves in the UK
The aircraft is the straightforward part. These are the things that decide whether buying one works out.
- Aircraft this size sit well above the 25 kg limit of the standard PDRA01 route, so they need a bespoke Operational Authorisation from the CAA, built on a SORA safety case. That is a paperwork exercise measured in months, not an afternoon.
- Applying licensed pesticides by drone counts as aerial spraying under the Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012, and is prohibited without a permit from the Health and Safety Executive for work carried out to an approved plan. Spreading granular product, seeding and mapping are far less restricted, which is where most UK drone work actually happens.
- Batteries dominate the running cost and the working day. Plan for multiple packs, a generator or fast charger, and the transport and storage arrangements that go with large lithium batteries.
- Getting the aircraft, batteries, water and product to the field needs a vehicle and a system. Field logistics, not flight time, is what limits daily output for most operators.
- Training, insurance and a competent second pair of hands are not optional extras. Ask any dealer what their package covers and what it does not.
Should you buy or hire?
- Hire when the work is seasonal, occasional or confined to a few awkward fields. A contractor absorbs the authorisation, insurance, batteries and downtime, and you pay per acre.
- Buy when you have enough repeat work to keep the aircraft busy, someone to own the compliance side properly, and a use case that is not mainly pesticide spraying.
- A middle path many UK operators take is flying under a wider operational authorisation held by another organisation. Ask exactly who the UAS operator is on paper before assuming you are covered.
Equipment guides
DJI Agras T50 UK buyer guide
A UK buyer-focused overview of the DJI Agras T50, with questions to ask dealers about support, training, batteries and compliance.
XAG P100 Pro UK buyer guide
A practical UK overview of the XAG P100 Pro, including equipment support, application use cases and checks to make before buying.
Dealers and providers
Crop Angel
Agricultural drone sales, training and support provider with public information covering DJI Agras and Mavic 3M equipment.
Drone Sales UK
UK equipment dealer listing for DJI Agriculture drones and related setup and servicing. Confirm current stock and agricultural suitability directly.
heliguy Agriculture
UK agricultural drone equipment, consultancy, training and repair listing with public information covering DJI Agras and Mavic 3M products.
Manterra
Equipment provider listing for XAG agricultural drone sales and precision agriculture products. Confirm current stock and support arrangements directly.
QuadRotor Services Ltd
Wirral-based XAG agricultural drone equipment and support provider with public information covering sales, operations, support and training.
The Bionic Eye
Equipment provider listing for ABZ agricultural drones, DJI Enterprise products and integration services. Confirm current availability directly.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an agricultural drone cost in the UK?
Prices move with specification, kit and dealer package, so the headline aircraft price is only part of it. Budget for batteries and charging, a transport setup, training, insurance and the authorisation work, all of which add materially to the aircraft cost. Ask every dealer to quote the whole operating package rather than the airframe alone.
Do I need a licence to fly an agricultural drone in the UK?
Yes, and more than one thing. Application drones like the Agras T50 and P100 Pro exceed 25 kg, so they fall outside the standard PDRA01 route and need a bespoke Operational Authorisation from the CAA based on a SORA safety case. If you intend to apply pesticides you also need a permit from the Health and Safety Executive, because that counts as aerial spraying.
Which agricultural drone is best for UK farms?
It depends on what you are applying. The DJI Agras T50 has the larger spray tank and the broadest UK dealer and training network. The XAG P100 Pro is built around a 50 kg payload with a spreader rated to 150 kg per minute, which suits granular work. If most of your intended jobs are spreading and seeding rather than spraying, weigh the spreader specification more heavily than the tank.
Is it cheaper to buy a drone or hire an operator?
For occasional or seasonal work, hiring is almost always cheaper once authorisation, insurance, batteries and downtime are counted. Buying starts to make sense when there is enough repeat work to keep the aircraft flying and someone in the business willing to own the compliance properly.
Can I use an agricultural drone for spraying pesticides in the UK?
Only under a permit issued by the Health and Safety Executive for work carried out to an approved plan. This catches a lot of buyers out, so confirm it before committing. Spreading granular products, seeding and mapping face nothing like the same restriction.