2024 NDAA Bars Federal Agencies From Using Chinese or Russian UAVs

The Pentagon confirmed on December 14 that Congress had approved the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Within this legislation is the American Security Drone Act of 2023, which bars federal or federally backed groups from utilizing many drones manufactured in China or Russia.

The decision stems from fears that foreign drone manufacturers could pose a threat to US security. It was rumored that certain Chinese drones utilized their WiFi capabilities to hack government facilities. Also, in 2022, an FBI investigation revealed that China’s Huawei equipment could impair US nuclear arsenal communications.

While taking preventive measures sounds like a good thing on paper, the incoming ban would directly affect the two largest Chinese drone manufacturers: DJI and Autel. Combined, the pair makes up nearly 75% of the entire American drone market.

Luckily, the provision only applies to high-level government groups. Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial public safety agencies that rely on federal grants will be the most affected. The second tier will include federal contractors, infrastructure operators, engineering and scientific firms, and other organizations that maintain the American attitude. 

This means that law enforcement and fire services, who have spent years building up largely Chinese UAS fleets, will need to start from scratch. This is an expensive one-eighty seeing as American-made drones are typically pricier, less durable, and hard to learn for those used to international systems.

Banning Chinese UAS also puts domestic manufacturers under the gun to not only offer new and improved systems, but also to rapidly expand production rates. This could lead to some poor business decisions in order to churn out as much product as possible.

“Those who are expressing surprise and outrage that the ADSA was passed have clearly been asleep in the cockpit,” expressed Christopher Todd, Founder of the Airborne International Response Team. “We saw similar initiatives emerge as far back as 2019 with the ‘American Security Drone Act.’ The writing has been on the wall, flashing like a bright red warning light on the overhead console for all to see.”

FMI: www.congress.gov