BISMARCK (PRAIRIE PUBLIC) – The North Dakota House has approved a measure to replace Chinese-made drones in the state fleet.
The state has 353 drones, 307 from China.
The sponsor, Bismarck Representative Mike Nathe, says he was told by some federal officials that the Chinese drones were equipped with data-gathering and transmitting devices. He says those drones are out there, flying over communities, the oil fields. missile sites, the air bases, and much more.
Nathe was told by federal officials that the Chinese Drones were equipped with data-gathering and transmitting devices. He says the cost to replace the Chinese drones will be about $15 million.
The measure also contains $11 million for access to Federal Aviation Administration radar data.
Nathe described Vantis as a “control tower” that watches and monitors drones in the air. He says it was developed at the state’s UAS Test Site.
The vote was 89 to 4. It will now be considered in the state Senate. Nathe says the hope is to “fast track” the measure.
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