ANAFI USA Targets DJI: the Newest Parrot Drone for Law Enforcement and Enterprise

Amid growing geopolitical and data-security concerns, French drone company Parrot launched the ANAFI USA, a tactical unmanned system engineered from the ground up to compete with China’s DJI for lucrative U.S. government and enterprise contracts. More than a product launch, it was a strategic declaration.

Built in the United States with a supply chain vetted for security, the ANAFI USA directly addressed mandates like the U.S. Department of the Interior’s grounding of its DJI fleet. Its specifications were tailored for public safety: a 32x zoom camera with thermal imaging options, a unique tilting gimbal for overhead inspections, IP53 water and dust resistance, and secure, local data storage with no external data transmission. Parrot’s CEO explicitly positioned it as “the trusted alternative,” emphasizing sovereignty and compliance. The move tapped into a swelling wave of legislation at federal and state levels seeking to limit the use of foreign-made drones, particularly Chinese, in sensitive operations. Parrot wasn’t just selling a drone; it was selling peace of mind, aiming to become the standard for agencies that could not afford perceived vulnerabilities.