Founder & CEO of Coptrz
Again within the autumn, I flagged the UK Procurement Act 2023 as a seismic shift for public sector drone procurement. Certainly one of its most potent devices is now in play: the Debarment Checklist—a reside register of suppliers barred from public contracts on grounds like nationwide safety and moral misconduct.
You possibly can view it right here:
https://www.gov.uk/steerage/procurement-review-unit#debarment-list
Proper now, the UK checklist is brief. ZERO entries However make no mistake—the clock is ticking.
AUTEL, a Chinese language drone producer, is already sanctioned by the UK underneath the Russia sanctions regime. In the meantime, throughout the Atlantic, bans on Chinese language drone tech are accelerating throughout U.S. federal and state companies.
So, the urgent query for everybody within the UK drone ecosystem is: Might DJI be subsequent? And in that case, when? Personally and at Coptrz we hope not.
For an business that has grown up on DJI expertise, the implications are profound. Would a ban shield nationwide pursuits—or deal a physique blow to UK PLC’s drone capabilities in an more and more aggressive international market?
What occurs when the dominant participant disappears in a single day? Who fills the void?
This isn’t about vilifying DJI, which has undeniably led innovation in our sector. It’s about dealing with as much as a fast-changing geopolitical and regulatory setting—one during which at this time’s procurement decisions may turn out to be tomorrow’s liabilities.
Proper now, we’re in a holding sample. The debarment checklist exists, however it’s empty. There’s no readability on when it will likely be up to date—or who will seem. And that uncertainty is paralysing.
Budgets are being diverted. Procurement is slowing. Confidence is eroding.
With out decisive steerage, UK patrons, buyers, and public our bodies are left guessing—with long-term strategic dangers stacking up.
Due diligence isn’t simply advisable anymore—it’s important.
The stakes are nationwide. The implications? Doubtlessly catastrophic.
It is a slow-burning fuse that might detonate at any time.
I’d love to listen to your ideas—particularly from these in public procurement, defence, or business drone operations.
Let’s not wait till the explosion to start out the dialog.
Associated
Uncover extra from sUAS Information
Subscribe to get the most recent posts despatched to your electronic mail.
