In our previous post, we discussed the landmark Executive Order, “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” signed on June 6, 2025. This order marked a critical step forward in addressing the escalating threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to critical infrastructure, public safety, and national security.
However, the full scope of the administration's strategy is even more comprehensive. On the very same day, a second, complementary Executive Order was signed: “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.”
Viewed together, these two directives reveal a powerful, two-pronged national strategy: one that simultaneously seeks to secure U.S. airspace from threats while strategically boosting the domestic drone industry. For any organization navigating the complexities of drone technology, understanding both sides of this coin is essential.
While the sovereignty order focuses on defense, the “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” EO is about offense. Its stated goal is to "accelerate the safe commercialization of drone technologies" and fortify the American drone industrial base.
This isn't just about economic competition; it's a direct response to pressing national security concerns. As Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), points out, "This executive order marks a long-overdue investment in drone deterrence. Drone warfare isn’t a future threat—it’s already here."
A key focus of this order is supply chain security. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with taking steps to secure the U.S. drone supply chain from foreign influence, particularly from China. Singleton notes the gravity of this, stating, "Chinese-made drones don’t just collect data—they can surveil, disrupt, and sabotage." By creating a robust and secure domestic industry, the U.S. aims to mitigate the risk of adversaries mapping or targeting sensitive sites through compromised technology.
This is the order we initially covered, and its importance is only magnified when seen as the defensive shield for the industrial push. It establishes the legal and operational framework necessary to protect the very airspace that American drones will increasingly occupy.
As Jennifer Daskal, a partner at the law firm Venable, highlights, this order expedites rules that will "make it easier for critical infrastructure owners and other private sector actors to restrict drone flights for security reasons." It also mandates "increased civil and criminal enforcement against drone operators that violate safety rules."
This creates significant new opportunities and responsibilities for:
These two Executive Orders are not independent; they are deeply intertwined. A thriving domestic drone industry cannot exist without a secure and trusted national airspace. Likewise, airspace security is more manageable when built upon a foundation of secure, American-made technology.
As Daskal summarizes, "The dual EOs provide new opportunities—for the UAS industry, for those engaged in counter-drone efforts, and for private sector actors." The federal government is creating a symbiotic relationship where domestic innovation is protected by robust security measures, and those security measures are strengthened by trusted technology.
This new policy landscape reinforces a fundamental truth we at AirSight have always championed: effective action begins with detection.
Whether the goal is to foster a safe environment for authorized commercial drones or to interdict a malicious actor, you cannot act on what you cannot see. The protections and authorities granted in the “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” order are only as effective as an organization's ability to have real-time, comprehensive situational awareness of its airspace.
As the U.S. charts this new course for drone dominance and security, AirSight provides the foundational layer of awareness required to navigate it. Our multi-sensor platforms empower security teams to distinguish friend from foe and make the informed decisions necessary to protect their assets, people, and operations in this new era of American aviation.