Smart Tech
The Future of American-Made Drones
July 15, 2026 
Since the Federal Communications Commission’s December 2025 ban on foreign drones and critical drone components on a go-forward basis, and in line with the U.S. government’s (primarily the Department of War) keen interest in a robust U.S. drone manufacturing infrastructure, made-in-USA drones have become one of the hottest technological discussions in the country and beyond.
Broadly speaking, the U.S. drone ecosystem still has two big hurdles to overcome to be truly self-sufficient: “De-China’ing” the large brushless direct current motor supply chain and the battery supply chain. In both cases, the core issue is that China has a near-monopoly on the refining process for the rare earth materials that go into both motor and battery technology. It’s not that the raw materials come only from China. Other countries, such as the U.S., Australia, Chile, and Argentina, are valid sources of materials such as neodymium and lithium. But China controls an estimated 90% or more of the refining processes that turn these raw materials into useful forms.
Made in America
There are several U.S., and in some cases U.S.-plus-allied, firms working to address the need for refining. Vulcan Elements, based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, is mining neodymium and dysprosium oxides with its partner, Energy Fuels, from U.S. mines. Vulcan Elements is building a refining and production facility in the state to turn those into the magnets needed to fuel the domestic drone boom.
Companies like Packet Digital in North Dakota and Tulip Tech, a Dutch-based firm expanding operations to the U.S., are both pursuing fully American raw material sourcing, refinement, and manufacturing into battery packs, all within American shores.
In short, there are U.S. drone companies dedicated to creating truly U.S.-made systems from top to bottom. There are ambitious U.S. and allied companies building the infrastructure to make that happen.
There will most likely be a transition period as the U.S. drone sector weans off its longtime dependency to foreign (primarily Chinese) drone tech, but hopefully the phase won’t last long, and drones can boast 100% made in the U.S.A.
For more Smart Tech topics, click here.
Subscribe Today For
