Recently, the reliance of more and more Americans on Chinese-made drones has sparked concerns about a new battleground in economic and technological competition between the United States and China. The US government fears that Chinese drones could pose espionage threats and undermine American manufacturers due to their lower prices.
In a defense bill passed by the US Congress on December 18, a provision was included that could ban the sale of new drones by two Chinese companies – DJI and Autel Robotics – in the US if a review finds them to pose “unacceptable risks” to national security.
Earlier, federal agencies were already prohibited from procuring Chinese-made drones, with a few exceptions, and several states had also banned the use or procurement of Chinese drones for public-funded projects.
Drones are widely used in the US, becoming an integral part of many people’s lives and work, from law enforcement to mapping and film production. The affordability of Chinese drones has played a significant role in their broad application in the US, compared to the higher prices of American-made drones.
A farmer in North Carolina started using Chinese-made drones in 2019 to fertilize crops and monitor crop health, citing the significant cost difference. He mentioned that a drone spreader cost $3,500 compared to a traditional ground sprayer costing up to $250,000.
After the powerful Hurricane Helen in September, the farmer volunteered to use drones to search for trapped individuals, helping rescue 150 people on the first night. For those who couldn’t be immediately rescued, supplies were delivered to them using drones.
The growing reliance of ordinary Americans on Chinese drones has raised concerns among US lawmakers.
Republican Senator Rick Scott from Florida pushed for restrictions on federal agencies purchasing Chinese drones. These restrictions were included in a defense bill signed by President Biden last year.
Scott likened Chinese drones to spy balloons, highlighting the risks they could pose by collecting data or carrying harmful payloads across the US, particularly near military bases, critical infrastructure, and natural resources.
Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from New York expressed concerns about making communist China the US drone factory, calling it strategically irresponsible. She was nominated by former President Trump as the US Ambassador to the United Nations and led early House efforts to ban new Chinese drones.
However, Michael Robbins, President and CEO of drone advocacy organization AUVSI, opposed immediate bans, suggesting investment to support the American drone manufacturing industry to match Chinese competitors in capabilities and costs.
Among the two Chinese drone companies under US investigation, DJI dominates the global drone market, including the US market. While DJI doesn’t produce military drones, its drones have been used in conflicts like in Ukraine.
In the US, DJI’s drones are used by emergency responders to search for disaster victims, by surveyors to inspect roads and public utilities, by mosquito control personnel to capture mosquito swarms, and by filmmakers for aerial shots. Law enforcement agencies utilize drones to prevent crimes and locate missing persons.
The dependence of the US on Chinese drones and their major components has been seen as an opportunity by the Chinese Communist Party to weaponize technology.
In October, China sanctioned US drone manufacturer Skydio for selling drones to Taiwan, leading to restrictions on battery allocation from China. This move was viewed as an attempt to quash leading American drone companies and deepen global reliance on Chinese drone suppliers.
China also restricted exports of drone components to the US, including motors, flight controllers, and imaging equipment, citing security concerns.
San Antonio-based drone manufacturer Darkhive stated that US bans may not prevent Chinese drone manufacturers from selling their products elsewhere globally, but could harm US drone companies reliant on Chinese components.
In Florida, law enforcement officers last year reported to the state senate that the ban on using Chinese-made drones with state funding led them to use more expensive and less efficient aircraft. As a result, lawmakers allocated $25 million to help government-operated drone projects acquire compliant models.
A nonprofit group, Aerial International Emergency Team, noted that the ban brought some troubles such as learning new user interfaces, mastering shortcuts and procedures, changing all software and accessories, and reviewing all network configurations to adapt to the technical changes.
However, financial assistance and training programs made the transition possible.
Statistics from the team showed that over 90% of law enforcement agencies in Florida were using DJI drones in 2022, which dramatically dropped to about 14% after the ban was implemented.
In Orange County, Florida, the Sheriff’s Office spent nearly $580,000 last year to replace 18 non-compliant drones, with the state government reimbursing nearly $400,000.
The Sheriff’s Office stated, “The transition has been smooth, while enhancing the capabilities and technology of our drone fleet.”