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Skydio, one of the leading drone manufacturers in the US, has found itself in a difficult position due to Chinese sanctions. Beijing has imposed a ban on the sale of critical components, including batteries, which has significantly hampered the company’s operations. This is a response to US military sales of drones to Taiwan, which has provoked tensions between the two countries, the Financial Times reports.
While Skydio is looking for new suppliers, the company’s management is actively seeking support from the Biden administration. Recently, CEO Adam Bry met with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell to discuss threats to US supply chains and opportunities for support from Asian allies.
Of particular note is Skydio’s latest X10 drone model, which has successfully passed Ukrainian electronic warfare tests, making it much more difficult to jam. This technological breakthrough has aroused great interest in Kyiv, which has requested thousands of such drones for military use.
Skydio has also sent more than a thousand drones to Ukraine, where they are used to collect intelligence and record war crimes. These drones help the Ukrainian military coordinate their operations more effectively and improve the accuracy of their strikes.
According to US officials, Chinese actions against Skydio are likely aimed at eliminating their competitor in the drone market, which is dominated by the Chinese company DJI. This incident highlights the growing importance of technological competition in the global context and the need to protect innovative technologies from international political challenges.
