The Drone Arms Race: Why America Must Build Its “Uncrewed Arsenal of Democracy”

At XPONENTIAL 2025, AUVSI’s CEO Sounds the Alarm on China’s Dominance

The robotics revolution is here, but the U.S. is at risk of losing its edge. At XPONENTIAL 2025 in Houston—drawing over 7,500 attendees from 60+ countries—AUVSI President and CEO Michael Robbins delivered a stark warning: America’s reliance on Chinese drones threatens national security. “We’re facing a supply chain crisis masked as a tech competition,” he said, pointing to China’s export controls on rare earth minerals as evidence of vulnerabilities. The message was clear: without urgent action, the U.S. could cede the future of uncrewed systems to adversarial powers.

“This isn’t just about drones. It’s about whether democracies will control the technologies defining 21st-century security and innovation.” —Michael Robbins

Robbins framed the challenge in historic terms, invoking WWII’s industrial mobilization. He called for an “uncrewed arsenal of democracy”—a coordinated push to revive U.S. drone manufacturing through regulatory reforms, from autonomy approvals to BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations. Key to this effort: cybersecurity programs like AUVSI Trusted Cyber and Trusted UAV, designed to harden systems against espionage. Yet hurdles remain. End users openly admit U.S.-made drones still trail Chinese rivals like DJI in performance and affordability, even as potential federal bans on Chinese hardware loom.

The Reindustrialization Imperative

The stakes extend beyond defense. “We must reindustrialize with purpose,” Robbins argued, linking drone production to broader economic resilience. China’s dominance isn’t accidental—it’s the result of state-backed strategy. Countering it requires equally bold moves: tax incentives for domestic manufacturers, streamlined certification processes, and public-private R&D partnerships. “Adversaries are betting we’ll stay fragmented,” he added. “Proving them wrong starts today.”

“This is our Sputnik moment. Win the robotics race, or watch others set the rules.” —Keynote closing remarks

The clock is ticking. With XPONENTIAL 2025 as a rallying point, Robbins’ challenge to policymakers and industry was unambiguous: invest strategically, innovate relentlessly, and treat uncrewed systems as critical infrastructure. The alternative? A future where America’s security depends on the very technologies its rivals control.