At present, the global drone industry chain is gradually maturing, and in recent years, the production of Chinese drone products has reached more than 90% of the global market, becoming an important part of the global drone market.
However, for various reasons, the United States has put some Chinese-made drones on the "blacklist". Are you looking for alternatives to Chinese-made drones? Come here to learn more.
The best alternatives to drones made in China
China's drone sales account for about 70% of the world's total, and will become the mainstay of the global low-altitude economic development.
Among civilian drones, DJI and Autel Robotics provide professional consumer drones and commercial drones. They are both leading drone manufacturing companies, and DJI alone accounts for almost 70% of the global civilian drone sales.
Once, we said that Autel Robotics was the most powerful competitor to DJI drones, but with Autel Robotics also being included in the "blacklist", who will be the next alternative to Chinese-made drones?
Parrot Anafi USA -- Drones Made in the USA
Located in France, Parrot Anafi USA is designed for the US Army and has entered the BLUE SUAS program, compliant with NDAA and TAA regulations. Parrot Anafi USA is a thermal imaging industrial drone made and assembled in the USA, with dual imaging drone cameras, providing 32x zoom and thermal imaging capabilities.
The 32x zoom function can effectively inspect people or objects up to 1.2 miles away. The 320*256 resolution thermal imager can detect centimeter-level hotspots up to 131 feet in altitude, fast takeoff within 1 minute, zero no-fly zone restrictions, and privately manage your data between drones and devices. Parrot Anafi USA drones are currently priced at $7,000.
Skydio 2+ Drone Made in the USA
If you want to take amazing photos of your surroundings, action scenes, etc., the Skydio 2+ drone has unparalleled tracking and obstacle avoidance capabilities.
The Skydio 2+ drone supports 4K/60fps HDR video without image processing, color correction/grading. The drone can fly autonomously, pre-set flight paths, perform complex tracking, high-speed obstacle navigation, and have smooth cinematic composition.
With the help of a new high-power 5GHz radio and two foldable omnidirectional antennas, the Skydio 2+ drone has a flight range of up to 6 kilometers and a maximum speed of 36 mph. The Skydio 2+ starts at $1,099 and can go up to $2,169 depending on the package.
How do we choose these Chinese-made drone alternatives?
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Department of Defense have both banned DJI and Autel drones, and it looks like Parrot and Skydio will fill the gap in the future. But Skydio is almost no longer sold commercially, so how do we find the perfect consumer drone for use in the United States?
Before we find the perfect Chinese-made drone alternative, first you have to make sure you stay away from the drone "blacklist" and secondly pay attention to the quality and reputation of the drone. So, if you are concerned about "blacklisted" drones, choose drones on the blue sUAS list, which are the drone brands and models that are allowed to be used.
What does the blacklisting of DJI and Autel mean for you?
The blacklist and related sanctions are intended to restrict the "export, re-export and transfer" of these companies, not to restrict the purchase of products of listed companies. In other words, this will limit the ability of DJI and Autel Robotics to purchase US-made technology and components on which their products rely.
The most fundamental impact of the ban on Chinese-made drones is on applicable government agencies and their contractors, as well as commercial drone pilots. If you fly drones privately or recreationally, the ban has no impact on you.
Although DJI and Autel drones have been included in the "blacklist", for individuals, you can still fly and purchase drones.
Final Thoughts
The ban on DJI and Autel drones has already taken effect in the United States, and law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency responders have expressed concerns about continuing to use or purchase these brands of drones. In addition, the new law does not provide funding for subsequent drone support programs.
The only answer we can give as to whether or not to completely replace Chinese-made drones is that it depends on how you use your drones and whether you plan to provide commercial drone services to government agencies.
