On Thursday, two U.S. senators said that they had put out a proposal to forbid the Federal Aviation Administration from purchasing or utilizing drones built in China.
The Intelligence Committee's chair, Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn have introduced legislation that would also forbid the FAA from giving government cash to foreign drone corporations from China and other nations. She said that the FAA uses more than a dozen Chinese-made drones in its operations.
Chinese Drones No More
Drones produced in Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba would also be subject to the bans, as reported by Reuters.
The plan would also require the FAA to swap out any drones made in China for ones made in the United States or by allies within a year.
Republican Senator Marco Rubio requested last week that the U.S. Chinese drone maker Autel Robotics' drones will no longer be used by Capitol Police due to security reasons.
The top drone manufacturer DJI was subject to export restrictions in 2020 after the Commerce Department accused it of supporting the military or participating in the oppression of China's Uyghur minority.
Republican representatives Elise Stefanik and Mike Gallagher submitted legislation in April to put DJI on the FCC's Covered List, preventing it from using the country's communications infrastructure.
According to the congressmen, DJI, a Chinese corporation, manufactures more than 50% of the drones that are sold in the United States and is the drone that public safety agencies most frequently utilize.
Other steps have been taken by the US government to restrict the acquisition of drones built in China.
The Ongoing Battle Over Drones
The United States and China are locked in an ongoing battle over drones, with both countries vying for dominance in the global market for these unmanned aircraft.
The US is the world's leading manufacturer of drones, with companies like General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Northrop Grumman, and AeroVironment producing some of the most advanced drones in the world. These drones are used by the US military for a variety of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeted strikes.
China is a rapidly rising power in the drone industry, and its companies are now producing some of the most capable drones on the market. These drones are used by the Chinese military, and they are also being sold to customers around the world.
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Paul Brennan) No drone zone area sign
The US and China are increasingly competing for influence in the global drone market, and this competition is likely to intensify in the years to come. Both countries are investing heavily in research and development, and they are both trying to build a strong domestic drone industry.
The battle between the US and China over drones is part of a larger rivalry between the two countries. This rivalry is playing out in a number of different areas, including trade, technology, and security. The outcome of this rivalry will have a significant impact on the global balance of power.
Related article: China Powers Drones with Lasers To Keep Them Up Longer in the Air
