
Proposed Rule Seeks to Safe Drone Provide Chains and Mitigate Nationwide Safety Dangers
The U.S. Division of Commerce’s Bureau of Business and Safety (BIS) has introduced an advance discover of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) aimed toward enhancing the safety of unmanned plane programs (UAS) provide chains. In line with the U.S. Division of Commerce, the proposal seeks to deal with potential vulnerabilities arising from international adversaries’ involvement, significantly from China and Russia.
The ANPRM outlines a number of areas the place public enter is required to information the potential rule, which falls beneath Govt Order 13873, “Securing the Info and Communications Expertise and Companies Provide Chain.” This government order empowers the Commerce Division to manage or prohibit transactions involving ICTS linked to international adversaries when such transactions pose dangers to nationwide safety or vital infrastructure.
Addressing Nationwide Safety Dangers
The Commerce Division emphasised the urgency of safeguarding UAS provide chains. “Securing the unmanned plane programs expertise provide chain is vital to safeguarding our nationwide safety. This ANPRM is an important step in defending the USA from vulnerabilities posed by international entities,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
Beneath Secretary for Business and Safety Alan F. Estevez added, “The Division of Commerce continues to evaluate the nationwide safety dangers posed by international adversary involvement in our vital expertise provide chains. We welcome public touch upon this ANPRM as we search to proactively perceive – and most successfully deal with – these vulnerabilities within the business drone market.”
Elizabeth Cannon, Govt Director of the Workplace of Info and Communications Expertise and Companies (OICTS), highlighted the importance of the proposed measures. “This ANPRM marks a vital step in the direction of safeguarding the ICTS provide chain in opposition to international adversarial influences. BIS’s ongoing work will guarantee a resilient infrastructure for UAS and shield vital U.S. applied sciences and knowledge,” she stated.
Potential Impression of the Rule
If the proposed rule is carried out, it might reshape the united statesindustry in the USA by limiting or prohibiting the usage of drones or their elements which might be developed, manufactured, or provided by international adversaries equivalent to China and Russia. Particular impacts embrace:
- Elevated Safety: Proponents of the rule say that enhanced laws would cut back the chance of knowledge breaches, distant manipulation, and cyber vulnerabilities related to international ICTS elements in UAS.
- Provide Chain Overhaul: U.S. drone producers might must establish various suppliers for vital elements, resulting in potential provide chain disruptions within the quick time period.
- Financial Implications: Opponents of limiting the usage of Chinese language-manufactured drone expertise say that companies counting on reasonably priced, foreign-manufactured drones would possibly face greater prices or restricted availability of compliant merchandise, affecting industries equivalent to agriculture, vitality, and emergency response.
- Market Shift: By discouraging the usage of Chinese language-manufactured drones, the rule might promote home manufacturing and encourage funding in U.S.-based drone expertise.
The ANPRM additionally suggests potential mechanisms for approving sure transactions if satisfactory threat mitigation measures are in place, guaranteeing flexibility for companies whereas safeguarding nationwide safety.
Ongoing Efforts to Restrict Chinese language-Manufactured Drones
This proposal is the newest in a collection of U.S. authorities actions aimed toward decreasing the reliance on Chinese language-manufactured drones. Chinese language corporations, equivalent to DJI, at the moment dominate the buyer drone market within the U.S., controlling an estimated 75% of the market. This dominance has raised nationwide safety considerations resulting from China’s authorized framework, which may compel personal corporations to cooperate with authorities intelligence operations.
Lately, varied authorities businesses, together with the Division of Protection and the Division of the Inside, have restricted the usage of Chinese language-manufactured drones. Most just lately, the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (NDAA) known as for a safety overview of Chinese language drones, doubtlessly resulting in limiting their use of FCC bandwidth.
The Commerce Division’s ANPRM builds on these efforts by addressing vulnerabilities on the intersection of drone expertise and demanding ICTS programs.
Public Enter Requested
The ANPRM invitations suggestions on areas such because the financial influence of proposed laws and potential processes for mitigating dangers with out halting all transactions involving international ICTS elements. BIS is especially concerned with how international adversaries might exploit UAS vulnerabilities for malicious functions, equivalent to knowledge exfiltration or unauthorized management.
The deadline for public feedback is March 4, 2025, and feedback might be submitted by means of the Federal Rulemaking Portal at laws.gov or through electronic mail at UnmannedAircraftSystems@bis.doc.gov.
Need DRONELIFE information delivered to your inbox each weekday? Enroll right here.
Learn extra:


Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory surroundings for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the business drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife right here.