Potential US DJI, Autel drone ban put on hold while one-year security assessment carried out

The release of the final language of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes Section 1709, which requires an assessment of the potential threat to US security of the ubiquitous deployment of drones made outside the USA – such as those produced by China’s DJI and Autel.

Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) President and CEO Michael Robbins applauded the inclusion of security measures in the FY 2025 NDAA, stating:

“This year’s bill builds on the progress made in the FY 2024 NDAA, which extended the DOD’s PRC drone procurement ban to all U.S. government agencies. It further acknowledges the threats posed by PRC drones and ground robotics while advancing efforts to transition the U.S. away from such dependencies.”

According to Nathan Ecelbarger, spokesman for the provisional Board of Directors for the United States National Drone Association (USNDA):

“The FY25 NDAA requires the FCC to list all technology manufactured by DJI, Autel Robotics, and their subsidiary and affiliated companies on their Covered List within a year of enactment of the legislation unless a national security agency determines they do not pose a risk to the United States. Once DJI, Autel Robotics, and their subsidiaries are placed on FCC’s Covered List, new models of their drones will be prohibited from operating on U.S. communications infrastructure and will therefore not be able to be imported into the United States. These provisions will enhance U.S. national security and build domestic drone manufacturing.”

AUVSI also praised the bill for increasing funding “for critical Department Of Defense programs and offices, including the Defense Innovation Unit, AFWERX Prime, Replicator, and autonomy engineering for the Next Generation Combat Vehicle, exceeding requested amounts; furthers the transition of hybrid and electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and autonomy technologies from the Agility Prime program into the active Armed Forces (Section 229).”