Ukraine conflict reignites concerns about DJI drones used for military purposes.
The Ukraine conflict has reignited long-standing national security concerns about DJI drones that can be used for both military and non-military purposes.
DJI opponents in Congress are pushing for the passage of a bill put forward by Republican lawmakers that would add DJI to the Federal Communications Commission's list of regulated entities, allowing the government to bar DJI drones from using American communications infrastructure.
The proposed legislation may help boost the competitiveness of American drone makers such as BRINC and Skydio.
Serious national security threats of DJI drones
The United States Army is already banned from utilizing DJI drones, and an executive order from former President Trump further restricted their usage.
The senior Republican on the FCC, Brendan Carr, said the events in Ukraine necessitate more U.S. action against DJI.
“Reports about DJI drones being used by the Russian military in Ukraine only underscore the need for the U.S. to adopt a clear and consistent response to the potentially serious national security threats posed by this Chinese drone maker,” Mr. Carr said, reports the WSJ.
DJI drones favored by public-safety agencies in the US
According to research by Bard College in New York, 90% of the drones utilized by American public-safety agencies are made by DJI.
DJI spokesperson, Adam Lisberg said, “the real risk here, of course, is that ill-considered legislation will block American public-safety agencies and other beneficial government operations from being able to make their own choices to use our products.”
He added that the national security worries are unfounded because no known instances exist of data collected on a DJI drone being sent to China.
DJI drones are the best in the business
Even by its rivals, Chinese drone maker DJI is regarded as the best in the Drone Industry because of its cutting-edge technology, which is both simple enough for any hobbyist to operate and less expensive than other alternatives.
Mr. Resnick, a former DJI employee, said that “DJI drones are undoubtedly, in their form factor, the most advanced drones in the world.”
According to drone consultants and company executives, U.S.-made drones, or so-called Blue sUAS, are more expensive than DJI drones and may take a long time to arrive, owing to the fact that U.S. firms lack manufacturing facilities and inefficient supply chains.
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