USNDA praises FY25 NDAA for addressing Chinese drone risks

The United States National Drone Association (USNDA) has thrown its support behind the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), lauding provisions aimed at weakening China’s grip on the US drone market while strengthening domestic manufacturing. Representing a coalition of national security and defense professionals, the USNDA is a non-profit organization advocating for the safe and innovative use of drones in national security, public safety, and other critical sectors.

Nathan Ecelbarger, spokesman for USNDA’s provisional Board of Directors, commends congressional leaders, including Sen. Rick Scott and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, for championing provisions that enhance US security while bolstering the resilience of the nation’s drone supply chains.

“While emerging drone technology continues to globally change the character of warfare and demonstrate critical security vulnerabilities across national security and defense spectrums, swift and coordinated actions must be taken to replace the pervasive monopoly of China’s drone technology with an American drone industrial base. Simply put, regardless of security or supply chain concerns addressed in the 2025 NDAA, allowing Chinese drones flying in American skies represents an unnecessary and reversible risk.,” Ecelbarger says.

What does FY25 NDAA mean for DJI and Autel drones?

At the core of the legislation are provisions targeting Chinese drone manufacturers like DJI and Autel Robotics. The act mandates that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) list these companies and their affiliates on its Covered List within a year, unless national security agencies conclude they pose no risk.

Being placed on the Covered List would prevent these companies’ drones from operating on US communications infrastructure, effectively banning new models from being imported into the country. These measures, USNDA argues, are crucial steps toward reducing dependence on foreign technology and mitigating potential security threats.

Related: DJI fires back at proposed US ban on Chinese drones

The NDAA also requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to craft a Resilient Supply Chain Strategy, specifically focused on domestic manufacturing of small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS). This strategy aims to replace China’s dominance with a secure, American-led industrial base.

Challenges beyond the NDAA

While USNDA applauds the steps taken in the FY25 NDAA, Ecelbarger cautions that these measures alone are insufficient. Pointing out the lack of contingency plans for drone-related threats, Ecelbarger notes, “After 9/11, the FAA could ground all flights nationally. No such capability exists today for drones in the event of a coordinated terror attack.”

USNDA is urging Congress to adopt a comprehensive approach to rebuild the US drone industrial base, ensuring it not only removes reliance on Chinese technology but also accelerates the development of secure, American-made alternatives.

The organization has outlined several recommendations, including:

1. Congressional oversight: Establishing a subcommittee to evaluate the benefits and risks of drone technology and guide policies that support domestic innovation.
2. Cabinet-level task force: Forming a working group to implement policies that enhance US drone capabilities while safeguarding national security.
3. Defense innovation expansion: Scaling up the Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue sUAS program to vet and support American drone companies.
4. Independent R&D entity: Creating a non-governmental organization to rigorously test and validate emerging technologies.

As drone technology becomes increasingly embedded in multiple sectors, USNDA stresses the need for urgent, coordinated action across government, industry, and academia. “Humble, coordinated action is essential to maintaining the safety and security of our nation,” Ecelbarger sums up.

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