For some time, there have been security and privacy concerns about the prevalence of Chinese-manufactured unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the U.S. and specifically North Dakota. To combat that, the state’s legislature has taken the first step in replacing them for use in state agencies, including the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, by advancing House Bill 1038 from the House to the Senate.
“A lot of these drones fly because they’re connected to a server in China that are active in real time,” said NPUASTS Executive Director Trevor Woods during recent testimony before the North Dakota House Appropriations Committee, reported by the North Dakota Monitor. “We don’t really know exactly what’s being done with that data and how that data is being mined for information.”
The Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Replacement Program, proposed in HB 1038, would enhance security and reliability in drone operations, reinforcing North Dakota’s leadership in UAS technology and innovation. It would allocate $15 million to replace Chinese-manufactured drones currently used by state agencies with domestically produced and vetted alternatives.
Currently, nearly 90% of drones used by state agencies and university campuses were manufactured in China, according to legislative research.
The one-time funding bill would allow agencies, including those working with the NPUASTS, to replace roughly 300 state-owned drones with ones that comply with the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024. The drones turned in from the Drone Replacement Program are planned to be used for drone mitigation projects.
Risks of Not Replacing the Drones
Some of the previously identified risks of continued use of the foreign-made drones include:
- Data Security: Many Chinese drones transmit data to servers abroad, potentially exposing sensitive information to foreign governments.
- National Security: Concerns have been raised about unauthorized surveillance and vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign adversaries.
- Regulatory Compliance: Federal restrictions on foreign-made drones create operational challenges for agencies relying on them.
- Supply Chain Dependence: Over-reliance on foreign technology could lead to disruptions if geopolitical tensions escalate.
Another issue Woods brought up during the hearings were functionality problems during critical response situations, including search-and-rescue efforts or disaster monitoring and assistance. Without being able to control the timing of software or firmware updates, these UAS could be offline when they are most needed.
Rep. Mike Nathe, the bill’s sponsor, cited federal officials in illustrating the risks of not implementing the replacement: “These drones are flying over these communities, over the oil fields, over the missile sites, the air bases, everything," said Nathe, according to Prairie Public Broadcasting. "I asked them, how many of these do you think may be bad and have these devices, and he and a gentleman who is a retired special forces both said the same thing — all of them."
The bill, which passed the House in an 89-4 vote, would authorize the replacement program to be administered and trained through the NPUASTS and the Department of Commerce. The Senate Appropriations Committee is set to review February 6.
The second part of the bill would support one-time funding for Vantis, the NPUASTS’s BVLOS UAS system, to utilize the FAA’s Radar Data Pathfinder Program, greatly expanding the radar coverage in North Dakota.
“That initiative represents a groundbreaking opportunity for the state of North Dakota, not just to lead, but to define the next set of rules and regulations at the federal level in supporting UAS operations,” Deputy Executive Director Erin Roesler said.
Keep track of progress on this bill and other updates from the North Dakota legislative session through the NPUASTS’ social media pages, including LinkedIn.