According to new reports, the POTUS, Trump just signed three executive orders aiming to accelerate domestic drone production. The orders will help secure the country’s airspace and ultimately position America once again as a leader in supersonic technology.
According to White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, the subject of drones, flying cars, and supersonic flight in the U.S. has always been met with regulation.
Kratsios stated that decades of such regulatory gridlock have grounded advancements where drones and supersonic flight are concerned.
“With today’s EOs, the Trump Administration is giving America’s innovators greater ability to test, develop, and commercialize these cutting-edge aircrafts that will reshape aviation,” said Kratsios.
“President Trump’s actions will unleash a new era of American aviation dominance, fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and protecting our national security.”
With the new executive orders, domestic drone innovation will be accelerated, supply chains will be secured, and reliance on adversarial nations will be reduced. Regulations that stalled supersonic flight will also be dismissed, which will allow the U.S. to assert leadership in emerging aviation sectors.
The orders get rid of stifling red tape but also address a growing threat
A White House report has confirmed the orders enable routine beyond line-of-sight operations, which will empower the domestic drone economy to assist with critical infrastructure, emergency response, and long-distance cargo and medical delivery.
They will also create a pilot program testing flying cars, also known as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, for EMS, air taxis, cargo, and defense logistics.
The pilot program is a brainchild of the successful drone pilot program Trump championed in 2017, drawing attention to how President Trump’s actions continue to put America in a position to lead.
The orders get rid of decades of red tape but more importantly, they address the growing threats from criminal, terrorist, and foreign misuse of drones inside U.S. airspace.
“This administration is securing our borders against aerial threats by cracking down on unlawful drone activity and prioritizing real-time detection and identification of drones to safeguard national security,” the White House said.
The U.S. is taking drone threats very seriously
While Trump’s executive orders encourage innovation, it appears this batch aims to protect the country from ever-evolving threats.
The war in Ukraine has shown the world how useful drones could be in a military or terrorist attack. There also have been reports of espionage cases where drones were used to surveil sensitive sites and smuggle drugs over the border.
With major events like the World Cup scheduled in the U.S. next year, it has become crucial to protect the airspace above large public events. A federal task force will be created to review drone threats and existing terrorism task forces will look at drones.
“Drones are a disruptive technology. They have an amazing potential for both good and ill,” Sebastian Gorka, senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council, said. “We will increase the enforcement of current laws to deter two types of individuals: evildoers and idiots — the clueless and the careless.”
The FAA has already been testing systems to detect and counter drones and authorities are weighing whether to deploy high-powered microwaves or laser beams to disable the devices.
Law enforcement agencies also may receive additional training on how to use drones themselves to ensure safety around major events.
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