On June 21, 2024, the Brazilian Naval Commission in Washington (CNBW), USA, issued Request for Quotation (RFQ) No. Q2024-0074, aiming to select two Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the types Mavic 3 and Matrice. The deadline for submitting proposals is June 27.
The RFQ item list includes:
- – 1 (one) DJI MAVIC 3 ENTERPRISE THERMAL COMBO.
– 1 (one) DJI M30T PLUS COMBO.
– Support kits.
Manufactured by SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (also known as Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies Ltd. or simply DJI), the drones have been widely used—by both sides—in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In April this year, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced the acquisition of 4,000 DJI Mavic 3 drones to support the country’s military operations.
The Chinese manufacturer is a global leader in the commercial and consumer UAV segment and has expanded its presence in Brazil and Latin America. In 2021, DJI was estimated to hold a global market share of over 70%, followed by its competitors Intel (4.1%) and Yuneec (3.6%).
Since at least last year, the Brazilian Army has been operating DJI UAVs in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. In December 2022, Army Aviation (AvEx) received a batch of 34 DJI drones, including 30 Mavic 2 Enterprise units and 4 Matrice 300 RTK units.
During an official visit to Brazil in May this year, as part of Operation Southern Seas 2024, the Commander of the United States Southern Command (Southcom), General Laura Richardson, expressed concern over the expanding presence and influence of China in the region.
Controversies involving DJI
In the United States, DJI has faced increasing criticism from lawmakers over the alleged “unacceptable risk to national security.” Among the accusations, political leaders mention the possibility that the company could share data on critical U.S. infrastructure with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
This month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Countering CCP Drones Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY). The bill, which has bipartisan support, proposes adding DJI to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) list that would prohibit the company from operating in the country’s communication infrastructure.
The Countering CCP Drones Act still needs to be debated by the Senate before being sent to President Joe Biden for approval.
Images: Brazilian Army Aviation
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