US Interior Department grounds Chinese-made drones

US Department of Interior has grounded its fleet of Chinese-me drones as it conducts a review of programme.

Nick Goodwin, an Interior Department spokesman, did t provide a reason for decision but it comes amid US security concerns over Chinese electronics.

Goodwin said review h been ordered by Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt.

"Until this review is completed, Secretary has directed that drones manufactured in China or me from Chinese components be grounded," he said.

Exceptions would be me for drones that are being used for emergency purposes such as fighting wildfires, search and rescue, and dealing with natural disasters, Goodwin said.

According to sources familiar with program, Interior Department has a fleet of 810 drones, almost all built by Chinese companies.

Only 24 are US-me and even those have Chinese electronic components, sources said.

US Department of Homeland Security issued a warning in May that Chinese-me drones could pose a security risk.

United States has also taken steps against China's Huawei by effectively banning American companies from selling or transferring US techlogy to Chinese telecoms giant.

US intelligence believes Huawei is backed by Chinese military and that its equipment could provide Beijing's spy ncies with a backdoor into communications networks of or countries.

Chinese company DJI produces about 70 per cent of world's commercial drones.

"We're very disappointed," a DJI spokeswoman told AFP, ding that company h or comment for w.

Pentagon has banned military from using DJI drones for security reasons since 2017.