Pentagon OKs five US-made drones as alternative to China systems
The drones comply with a law that prohibits the US military from buying Chinese-made unmanned aircraft systems.
By REUTERS The Pentagon (Aerial view) (photo credit: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ TOUCH OF LIGHT)
The US Defense Department on Thursday said five US-manufactured drones have been approved for purchase by the federal government starting in September, offering agencies a secure option after the use of China-made drones was banned.The five companies whose drones will be available are Altavian, Parrot SA, Skydio, Teal and Vantage Robotics, the department said in a statement.The drones comply with a law that prohibits the US military from buying Chinese-made unmanned aircraft systems, it added."We need an alternative to Chinese-made small drones," Mike Brown, director of the department's Defense Innovation Unit, said in the statement. Approving the five companies' products "enhances the long-term viability of this capability for the US and our allies."The Trump administration has raised concerns about the potential for drones used by US government being compromised by Beijing for spying.China's SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd, the world's largest commercial drone maker, said in January there was a lack of credible evidence to support a broad country of origin restriction on drone technology.
