The Australian Defence Force was forced to stop using drones made by a Chinese manufacturer over cyber-security fears, triggered after the US Army banned the surveillance aircraft.
US officials last month ordered army personnel to cease the use of Da-Jiang Innovations Technology (DJI) drones, citing “cyber vulnerabilities”.
US Army staff were directed to un-install all DJI applications and remove batteries and media technology from their devices.
The Australian can reveal the ADF suspended the use of “all commercial off-the-shelf unmanned aerial systems” following a US Army report in May, which examined the threats and “user vulnerabilities” associated with the drones.
A Department of Defence spokesman last night confirmed the ADF had implemented a two-week suspension of the drones, while conducting a “risk assessment”. As a result the military has now developed “revised operating procedures” for their use of commercial off-the-shelf drones.
“Defence operates a number of commercial off-the-shelf unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including the DJI Phantom,” the ADF spokesman said.
“On August 9, 2017, after Defence became aware of the US Army’s actions, the use of all commercial off-the-shelf UAS was suspended until a formal assessment into the cyber risk presented by these systems could be conducted.
“Flight operations recommenced on August 21, 2017 following the completion of the risk assessment that led to the development of revised operating procedures for commercial off-the-shelf unmanned aerial systems.”
Sources told The Australian the ADF operated about 40 DJI drones, which were used in military exercises.
DJI — a Chinese drone manufacturer based in Shenzhen, southeast China — has supplied its technology to the US, Israeli and Australian defence forces. DJI dominates the commercial and consumer drone market, and Goldman Sachs estimated the global market would be worth more than $100 billion over the next five years.
The US Army memo applied to all DJI drones and systems that use DJI components or software. It told its service members to “cease all use, un-install all DJI applications, remove all batteries/storage media and secure equipment for follow-on direction”.
Victoria Police and Australian universities also use DJI drones, which are considered popular alternatives to more-expensive aerial surveillance options.
Asked whether they used DJI drones and had considered abandoning the technology, a Victoria Police spokesman said: “For operational and tactical reasons we do not disclose the nature of specialist equipment.’’
In June, the Australian Army announced it would buy a fleet of US-designed AeroVironment’s Wasp AE drones from Canberra-based company XTEK as part of a $101m upgrade. The drones are used for surveillance and will then be modified to install Australian content. The ADF is currently on a recruiting drive seeking “surveillance aircraft operators”.
Following the US Army’s “unprompted restriction” on its products, DJI said they were “surprised and disappointed” and confirmed they had not been consulted before the decision was made.
“We are happy to work directly with any organisation, including the US Army, that has concerns about our management of cyber issues,” the company said.
On August 14, in response to the US Army’s concerns, DJI announced it was developing a new offline mode that stopped internet traffic to and from its flight control apps, in a move to placate its enterprise and government customers.
US publication Defense One quoted a drone expert and army intelligence analyst, Brett Velicovich, who said the drones were used in US special operations in Syria.
Paris Cockinos, managing director of Sphere Drones, based in Sydney, said he sells DJI to the ADF, as well as Victoria Police and state fire services. He said the drones were by far the best on the market. He said he was not aware if the Australian army had suspended the use of the drones.
