An article by Dronelife.com shares:
At XPONENTIAL 2025, industry leaders revealed how design-driven manufacturing and supply chain innovation are powering a new era for American-made drones.
The annual XPONENTIAL conference, hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles and Systems International (AUVSI), brought more than 7,500 global leaders and end users from over 60 countries to Houston, Texas, from May 19–22, 2025. In a panel discussion at Xponential, three US manufacturers explored how the United States can manufacture drones at scale- without relying on China. All three CEOs expressed strong confidence that large-scale U.S. drone manufacturing is not only possible but already underway.
Despite progress in engineering and automation, the panelists agreed that insufficient demand from U.S. government and commercial procurement remains a major barrier to scaling domestic manufacturing. While there is strong advocacy for American-made drone platforms, purchasing volumes have not yet reached the levels needed to drive down costs and support large-scale production. Chinese manufacturers, with their lower prices, continue to dominate much of the market, making it difficult for U.S. firms to compete.
Establishing a robust, less China-dependent supply chain remains a work in progress.
Soaring to new heights, together.
Be sure to visit the BWU Technology Partnerships Initiative website to learn more about how our NEOFIX program drives economic growth, promotes policy and infrastructure to improve drone safety and efficiency in various industries, and ensures that drone technology is being used responsibly.