INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
center of a political firestorm
Key House Republicans are calling on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to urgently investigate whether drones made
2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which mandates a national security review of communications and surveillance equipment
produced by Chinese firms, including DJI and Autel
and import of their drones in the US.New:US launches national security probe into DJI, Autel dronesIn a strongly worded letter, Republican
blacklist within a year, unless they pass a national security screening.This is not the first time DJI has faced scrutiny
The Chinese tech giant, which holds over 70% of the US drone market, was placed on a Pentagon blacklist in 2022 over alleged ties to the
DJI has consistently denied these allegations, stating its drones have never been used for espionage and that it has never received a
tells DroneDJ:DJI welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate our privacy controls and security features, as we have repeatedly stated in formal
fair, and thorough audit, while cooperating with relevant US authorities
Previous security audits of our products have taken 6 months to 1 year to complete
Robotics, a smaller but growing competitor, is also under the microscope
While less dominant than DJI, Autel is widely used by public safety departments, hobbyists, and commercial operators alike
landscape.For drone pilots and industry stakeholders, the consequences of this review could be far-reaching
businesses to seek alternatives
The looming possibility of a ban is particularly concerning for law enforcement, infrastructure inspectors, and first responders, who rely
heavily on these tools for their everyday operations.Despite the political momentum, critics argue the move may hinder US drone innovation
They warn that sudden restrictions could create a vacuum in the market that domestic manufacturers are not yet ready to fill, potentially
earning auto affiliate links.More.
