America's Drone Dilemma
My latest piece for the Financial Times
Shortly before Christmas the US Federal Communications Commission gave an unexpected gift to America’s drone industry. By adding all foreign-made drones and key components to its “Covered List” of equipment that poses an unacceptable national security risk, the commission de facto banned China’s DJI, the industry leader in drones. This opens the market to US drone companies. It may also mark a shift towards greater use of import restrictions in Washington’s tech competition.
The FCC — previously best known for regulating obscenities on TV — is now taking centre stage in the tech war. It has authority to ban imports of any communications equipment that it believes facilitates espionage or threatens critical infrastructure. From internet routers to drones, as the range of communication equipment increases so does the FCC’s authority. Congressional legislation has expanded its reach, arming it to take on technology challenges posed by China.
The FCC’s move comes as a counterpoint to President Donald Trump’s broader détente with China as the US tries to reduce its rare earth vulnerabilities. Yet Trump himself has also outlined a strategy of “drone dominance”, with the Pentagon planning to purchase 300,000 small attack drones by 2028. The Russia-Ukraine War has exposed a “drone gap” in American defence production. Many US companies still rely on China for key components like batteries and motors. In 2024, China cut off battery sales to US drone companies, forcing makers like Skydio to ration battery sales…
Check out the rest of the piece at the Financial Times here.
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This can have meaningful implications for the battlefield and practically for anything else. The growing reliance of the US on drones represents a real strategic vulnerability given what you've outlined, and I suspect we might start seeing the President adding Drones to the growing list of things he's tweeting about.