Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Chinese Drone Market Dominance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
July 23, 2025

Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Chinese Drone Market Dominance

Washington, DC — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today introduced the Leading Exports of Aerial Drones Act, or LEAD Act, legislation that would make it easier for American companies to sell unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to American allies and partners.

“The current restrictions on UAS sales to allies and partners are outdated and put American companies at a disadvantage, all while ceding the market to Communist China. This bill will spur American business and innovation while decreasing global dependence on Chinese military technology,” said Senator Cotton.

“Drones aren’t just the future of warfare—as we’re seeing in Ukraine, they’re its present, too. Against the backdrop of increasing alignment between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, we must ensure that the United States and our allies and partner have the weapons systems and munitions we need to defend ourselves. This bill is a first step towards the objective of greater military production, integration, and deterrence for the United States and our allies in an increasingly dangerous world,” said Senator Coons.

“This commonsense legislation would cut red tape to make drone technology more accessible and foster greater strategic defense cooperation with our allies, and I’m glad to support it,” said Senator Cornyn.

Bill text is here.

The LEAD Act would:

• Direct changes to the Arms Control Act, the United States Munitions List, and the Missile Technology Control Regime to require UAS be treated as manned aircraft and separately from missile technology for the purposes of defense transfers.

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