Defense Policy Bill Would Ban Chinese, Russian Drone Tech in U.S.

A protectionist drone bill made it into the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024, which passed both houses of Congress this week.

Jack Daleo

Friday, December 15, 2023 at 03:01 PM ET

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DJI’s Phantom drone is among the models that would be banned from procurement or use by federal agencies. [Courtesy: Emiliano Arano/Pexels]

Key Takeaways:

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2024 includes a ban prohibiting federal agencies and federally funded programs from purchasing or using drones manufactured in countries deemed national security threats, specifically targeting Chinese companies like DJI.
Originating from the American Security Drone Act, this legislation aims to address concerns about potential espionage and data security risks associated with foreign-made drones, despite a lack of conclusive evidence of spying.
While supported by lawmakers and some U.S. drone industry groups for national security reasons, critics argue the ban is protectionist, unnecessary, and may lead to the adoption of technologically inferior domestic products.
Currently, the ban primarily affects federal procurement, but future legislation could potentially extend restrictions to recreational drone users by leveraging FCC and FAA regulations.

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Buried within the text of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2024, which passed both houses of Congress this week, is a ban on the world’s most popular drone.

The NDAA includes language that would prohibit federal agencies and federally funded programs from purchasing or using drones manufactured in countries that are viewed as threats to U.S. national security: namely, China and Russia. It’s now a signature from President Joe Biden away from becoming law.