Pentagon OKs five U.S.-made drones as alternative to China systems (updated)

Parrot SA

20/08/2020 13:16

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    By Susan Heavey and Jan Wolfe
    WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department
on Thursday said five U.S.-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  PARRO.PA , Skydio, Teal and Vantage
Robotics, the department said in a statement.
    The drones comply with a law that prohibits the U.S.
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
U.S. and our allies."
    The Trump administration has raised concerns about the
potential for drones used by U.S. 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.
    

 (Reporting by Jan Wolfe and Susan Heavey
Editing by Nick Zieminski)
 ((Jan.Wolfe@thomsonreuters.com;))