Categories: Technology

Pentagon announces 5 American-made drones available for US law enforcement

‘60% of aerial drones used by American law enforcement agencies are Chinese-made’

A Pentagon official announces that the Department of Defense has five American-made drones that are available for use by US law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels.

Sixty percent of all aerial drones used by American state and local law enforcement agencies are made in China, and the Pentagon is extremely concerned that the data is being sent to the Chinese Communist Party.

Ellen Lord

“We are proud to announce the availability of the following five US-manufactured drones that provide trusted, secure, small UAS options to federal, state, and local governments” — Ellen Lord

The Heritage Foundation think tank held a virtual event on Thursday discussing “The Enemy Within: The Security Risks of US Law Enforcement’s Use of Chinese Drones,” declaring in the description that “Six of 10 aerial drones used by American state and local law enforcement agencies are Chinese-made.”

All Chinese companies must share their data with the Chinese Communist Party whenever prompted, and while most US law enforcement agencies use Chinese drones, there are privacy and security concerns that the data collected from the drones could go directly to the Chinese government.

“Six of 10 aerial drones used by American state and local law enforcement agencies are Chinese-made” — Heritage Foundation

“We are extremely concerned about data exfiltration from these Chinese UAS [Unmanned Aerial Systems],” said the Pentagon’s Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Ellen Lord, in her keynote.

To help keep Chinese tech out of American law enforcement, Lord gave an update on the Pentagon’s “Blue sUAS” program — a culmination of 18 months of work by the Army and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) — and she announced that the Pentagon finally has a list of five American drone manufacturers that state, local, and federal governments can use.

“Due to the work of the blue, small UAS program, we are proud to announce the availability of the following five US-manufactured drones that provide trusted, secure, small UAS options to federal, state, and local governments through the General Services Administration [GSA] catalog later this month,” Lord announced.

The five American-made drones and manufacturers include:

  1. Altavian M440C
  2. Parrot ANAFI USA
  3. Skydio X2
  4. Teal Golden Eagle
  5. Vantage Robotics Vesper

The Pentagon’s under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment encouraged law enforcement across the US to get in contact with the GSA to see how they could gain access to these drone manufacturers.

According to Lord, the sUAS program “represents a significant first step towards building a robust and trusted UAS domestic industrial base that really will ensure sustained delivery of highly capable, secure UAS to the war fighters that depend on it.

“Our blue, small UAS program is the culmination of 18 months of work by the Army and the Defense Innovation Unit [DIU] to tailor the best technology from US and allied companies to develop inexpensive, small UAS defined as Group 1 and 2 UAS, which are under 55 pounds for the war fighter,” she added.

“We are extremely concerned about data exfiltration from these Chinese UAS [Unmanned Aerial Systems]” — Ellen Lord

In July, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun testified that China “exports technological know-how that can help authoritarian governments track, reward, and punish citizens through a system of digital surveillance.”

“A key element of the PRC’s strategy is to provide political, technological, and economic support to those who are willing to turn a blind eye to the PRC’s lucrative deals at the expense of the citizens of developing nations, thereby enabling the rule of autocrats and kleptocrats globally,” he added.

With 60 percent of aerial drones used by US law enforcement being made in China, the Pentagon is taking steps to supply federal, state, and local governments with American-made drones.


Correction, September 21, 2020: A previous version of this story listed Parrot ANAFI as one of the drone manufacturers, and the story has been updated with the correct name — Parrot ANAFI USA.


Tim Hinchliffe

The Sociable editor Tim Hinchliffe covers tech and society, with perspectives on public and private policies proposed by governments, unelected globalists, think tanks, big tech companies, defense departments, and intelligence agencies. Previously, Tim was a reporter for the Ghanaian Chronicle in West Africa and an editor at Colombia Reports in South America. These days, he is only responsible for articles he writes and publishes in his own name. tim@sociable.co

View Comments

Recent Posts

AI and the Dopamine Trap: How Algorithms Are Rewiring Our Social Cravings

New research shows AI companions can lift mood and teach social skills, but only when…

2 days ago

Hate speech, deepfakes & false info undermine UN work: comms chief

Hate speech is a launching point for crackdowns on narratives that impede UN agendas: perspective…

2 days ago

Making Sense brings strategic insight to the SIM Hartford Chapter

On June 4, technology executives gathered at the SIM Hartford chapter presided over by Fariba…

3 days ago

‘Digital disinformation undermines trust in climate & health authorities’: WHO Pan European Commission on Climate & Health

The PECCH is an attempt to persuade us into believing that climate & health policies…

6 days ago

WEF ‘Summer Davos’ in China to tackle transhumanism, AI & One Health agendas

The program agenda for the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 16th Annual Meeting of the New…

1 week ago

10 design and architecture writers to put on your radar this year

It’s easy to get caught up in the visuals—perfectly styled rooms, dramatic before-and-afters, bold architectural…

1 week ago