In the context of globalization and economic uncertainty, supply chain finance plays a critical role in alleviating financing difficulties, enhancing production efficiency and improving market responsiveness. Based on data from listed drone companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares market from 2016 to 2023, the OP method and GMM method to measure total factor productivity (TFP) was used and the role of supply chain resilience and artificial intelligence technology was explored as moderating mechanisms. It is found that supply chain finance significantly improves the TFP of drone companies, and supply chain resilience and AI technology positively moderate this relationship. Furthermore, endogeneity treatment and robustness tests confirm that the positive impact of supply chain finance on TFP remains robust across different scenarios. Heterogeneity tests show that the effect of supply chain finance on TFP is more significant for drone companies in the growth stage, in the western and eastern regions and for non-state-owned enterprises. Both theoretical and practical guidance are provided for optimizing supply chain finance strategies and enhancing production efficiency in drone companies, while offering scientific evidence for policymakers.