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DJI accounts for nearly half of Kansas City, Missouri’s 18-drone police fleet, a spokesperson said. The city of El Paso, Texas, has about two dozen of DJI’s automated hangars for its drones, and officials from the police department and other public-safety agencies participated in a promotional video for the company.
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Operators favor Shenzhen-based DJI’s advanced technology, user-friendly design and low prices. The sheriff’s department in North Dakota’s Burleigh County, home to Bismarck, has five DJI drones to use at traffic accidents and in search-and-rescue operations, said Jim Hulm, the major in charge of the team.
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“The DJI stuff has treated us very well,” he said. “It’s been quality for us.”
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DJI doesn’t share US-collected data with the Chinese government, the company said, and in October it appealed a federal district court ruling upholding its designation as a Chinese military company.
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“DJI was extremely disappointed that state lawmakers passed harmful bills that will irreparably undermine public safety and hurt small businesses, farmers, and researchers, while wasting millions in tax dollars with no added security benefits,” Adam Welsh, head of global policy, said in an emailed statement.
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The company wants an extension on the security review, saying Tuesday is too soon to make a conclusion.
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Currently, at least half a dozen states have targeted DJI and other Chinese-manufactured drones, including restrictions in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. A Nevada law prohibiting public agencies from using Chinese drones took effect in January.
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Florida allocated $25 million in 2023 to help replace Chinese vehicles.
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Legislators also took up the cause in Connecticut, which passed a law this year preventing public offices from using Chinese drones. Supporters said they’re worried about these eyes in the skies being used for spying.
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“We’re kind of sitting ducks,” said Bob Duff, the Democratic majority leader in the state senate who promoted the legislation. “They are designed to infiltrate systems even when the users don’t think that they will.”
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The backlash is creating opportunities for existing US drone makers such as Silicon Valley-based Skydio Inc. and Brinc Drones Inc. from Seattle. Newcomers are also poised to benefit from greater investor interest, said Dawn Zoldi, chief executive officer of P3 Tech Consulting LLC, which advises on UAVs and other emerging technologies.
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“They know this is a market,” she said.
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For now, though, public safety officials say it’s difficult to find domestic alternatives that match DJI in price and performance.
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Mark Gentile, deputy fire chief in the small Connecticut town of Rocky Hill, depends on five DJI drones to survey burning buildings and help his crews determine a course of action.
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“I can use a DJI drone to stand off almost a quarter-mile away and still see what I need to see,” Gentile said.US-made drones still lag behind DJI’s camera technology, he said.
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“They’re really useless to us when it comes to actually firefighting,” he said.
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In North Dakota, Hulm is thinking about downsizing, given the chances that the Trump administration acts this month or state lawmakers decide to enact broader restrictions in the future.
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However, domestic-made drones are “at least double and triple the price out of the gate,” and that may force the county to reduce its fleet to just a pair.Even so, drone operators will have to accept the short-term challenges and adapt, North Dakota lawmaker Nathe said.
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“The sacrifice is a small price to pay to make sure that we’re not hurting our security within the state and within the country,” he said.
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English (US)