Congress passes drone security act to prohibit federal agency use of insecure drones

The US House and Senate have passed the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the American Security Drone Act (ASDA) included. The legislation prohibits all federal agencies from purchasing or operating insecure drones, including those produced in China. The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) commended Congress for prohibiting federal agencies from purchasing or operating non-secure drones and says this is a “crucial step toward securing our skies and data”. AUVSI Chief Advocacy Officer Michael Robbins said the bipartisan measure “is a necessary step in protecting our nation from cyber risks, espionage and sabotage.”

The legislation is also supported by the partnership for drone competitiveness – a coalition of US drone and drone component manufacturers and enterprise users who are committed to strengthening the US drone industry. According to AUVSI, “Domestic drone products enable greater security for customers and end users. They reduce dependence on foreign supply chains for components and rare earth materials. And they allow the United States to reposition itself as the global leader in advanced aviation.”

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