Sparking a Drone Dilemma: China's Sanctions on Skydio

US-based drone maker Skydio has found itself in a tricky situation. Last month, China decided to sanction the company. Why? Because Skydio sold its drones to Taiwan’s national fire service. This news came from Skydio’s CEO, Adam Bry, in a blog post. Before the sanctions, Skydio mostly got its batteries from a single Chinese supplier. Now, the company is rushing to find new battery sources. They’ve got some stock, but it won’t last long. It’ll be next spring before new suppliers can step in. So, for now, Skydio’s flagship drone, the X10, will come with just one battery instead of the usual two.

You might wonder why China picked on Skydio. Some say it’s because Skydio is seen as a competitor to DJI, a big Chinese drone company. The US has had its eyes on DJI too. In fact, DJI just sued the US Department of Defense for calling it a “Chinese military company. ” This whole situation is making people think about how dependent we are on China for drone parts. Some see it as a chance to find other sources.

Actions