Chinese-built drones are used by 90% of America’s search and rescue teams. Washington will ban them

DJI is a Chinese company, and is the world’s largest manufacturer of drones, with over 70% of the global market share and with up to 90% of the sales in the US market. DJI drones are used by 90% of America’s first responder units. In the National Defense Authorization Act legislation that advanced to the Senate, DJI drones will be banned for use or sale in the United States. Local governments and police and fire departments are fighting back, insisting that DJI drones are stronger, fly farther, have more robust communications packages, and are one fifth the cost of US-built drones. They have grave concerns that the bans on DJI will have a huge adverse impact in their search and rescue missions, policing of criminals, fire control and prevention, and locating missing children. Especially worrisome is the case of major disasters and mass casualty events in remote locations, such as earthquakes, floods, or avalanches. Resources and links: US House Backs Ban on Drones Made by China’s DJI – TH Tom’s Hardware, DJI drone ban passes in U.S. House — ’Countering CCP Drones Act’ would ban all DJI sales in U.S. if passed in Senate Wall Street Journal, Why First Responders Don’t Want the U.S. to Ban Chinese Drones Tom’s Hardware, Pentagon says it’s impossible to ditch Huawei telecom gear — officials beg Congress for waiver from Chinese sanctions Secret Service turned down local drone ’repeatedly’ ahead of Trump July 13 rally: whistleblower Images and vidcaps of DJI drones in operation and via X screengrabs Closing scene, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province