UAV ETF: what happened to the drone fund
The UAV ETF is not a live ETF today; AdvisorShares said the fund would stop trading on June 23, 2023 and liquidate around June 30, 2023.
Why the UAV ETF page still matters
The UAV ETF page still matters because many searchers use the old ticker when they mean drone ETF exposure. The correct answer is that the original fund is historical, not current.
That makes this page a safety checkpoint. It helps readers avoid acting on stale fund data, stale holdings, or old expense-ratio snapshots from financial aggregators.
What replaced the old UAV ETF idea
Current drone ETF research should start with live issuer and regulatory pages, not the inactive UAV ticker. The REX Drone ETF is the cleanest current drone-specific reference because its factsheet describes targeted drone and UAV exposure.
The Defiance Drone & Modern Warfare ETF is also relevant, but it is broader. Its mandate spans drones, unmanned systems, military AI, cyber, space infrastructure, missiles, robotics, and advanced air mobility.
UAV ETF vs current drone ETF choices
| Choice | What it tells you | Research note |
|---|---|---|
| UAV | A historical drone ETF that no longer trades. | Use only for context and liquidation history. |
| DRNZ | A live pure-play drone and UAV fund from REX Shares. | Check current holdings, fees, and concentration on the issuer page. |
| JEDI | A live modern-warfare fund from Defiance. | Drone exposure is mixed with cyber, AI, space, eVTOL, and other defense themes. |
The practical research check
The practical check is whether a live fund owns the drone companies you actually want exposure to. A broad defense ETF may hold the same prime contractors as your existing portfolio while adding little pure drone exposure.
Before using any ETF, compare its holdings with your existing funds. Overlap can quietly turn a “new theme” allocation into a larger bet on the same few companies.
ETF FAQ
Is the UAV ETF still trading?
No, the UAV ETF is not still trading; AdvisorShares said the fund would stop trading on June 23, 2023 and liquidate around June 30, 2023.
What is the best current alternative to the UAV ETF?
The closest current alternative depends on mandate fit: the REX Drone ETF is more drone-specific, while the Defiance Drone & Modern Warfare ETF is broader modern-warfare exposure.
Should I use old UAV holdings data?
No, old UAV holdings data should not be used for current decisions because the fund no longer has a live portfolio.