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 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a ban, stemming from the American Security Drone Act, that prohibits federal agencies and federally funded programs from purchasing or using drones manufactured in countries deemed national security threats, primarily targeting Chinese firms like DJI.
This legislation is driven by U.S. national security concerns over potential surveillance and espionage, despite a lack of conclusive evidence, leading some detractors to criticize it as an unnecessary and protectionist measure.
While currently focused on federal procurement, the ban impacts major drone market players and could set a precedent for future, broader restrictions that might eventually extend to recreational drone users through proposed legislation and regulatory mechanisms.

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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.