Committee hears plan to replace Chinese‑made state drones, fund FAA radar data pathfinder for VANTAS

Representative Mike Nathie introduced House Bill 1038 in the Senate Committee on Industry and Business, seeking state funds to replace Chinese‑manufactured drones in state agency fleets and to fund a one‑year FAA radar data “pathfinder” to integrate federal radar into North Dakota’s VANTAS unmanned‑aircraft infrastructure.

Why it matters: Supporters said the bill addresses a national‑security concern — that many state drones are made by a single Chinese manufacturer (DJI) and may contain components or remote links that federal agencies have flagged as risks. The second portion of the bill is time‑sensitive, supporters said, because the FAA has invited North Dakota to test a federal radar data enclave that could expand VANTAS coverage statewide and set a replicable national model for integrating drones into the National Airspace System.

Key provisions and costs Representative Nathie described two primary sections: a replacement grant and support program for state agencies to replace Chinese‑manufactured drones, and an $11,000,000 appropriation to pay for an FAA radar data pathfinder to bring…