US Army calls for ban on DJI equipment over security concerns
- Thread starter GaryMortimer
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Army identified an unacceptable, unmitigated risk associated with a vulnerability + threat. They're shutting down all use until that risk can be mitigated. That's textbook Infosec.
Yep! All traffic is sent and received via logical ports on a network interface card, whether wired or wireless.
More reading on DJI and USARMY drone issues
By Popular Science
Consumer drones are causing problems for the military
By DRONELIFE
Why the US Army DJI Ban is Probably Justified
By Air & Space Magazine
It’s Been a Bad Week for Chinese Drone Maker DJI | Daily Planet | Air & Space Magazine
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They didn't "dump" DJI, they halted the use of DJI products. The memo cited “increased awareness of cyber vulnerabilities associated with DJI products.” This opens the door to allowed usage once the security vulnerabilities are addressed.
Putting the PRC in the US Military's supply chain was a stroke of sheer GENIUS. Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant!
Tell me about it. My job is pretty much putting out fires all around the Army's supply chain.
My guess is that until DJI remove Tinker from the Go app from the the military won't touch it - nor should they!
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US Army walks back DJI decision (slightly) 8/14
"An exception to policy with recommendations from the asymmetric warfare group that will permit the use of DJI kit once some conditions have been met.
The Android Tactical Assault Kit will become the ground control station (GCS) of choice when a DJI plugin has passed OPSEC (Operational Security) scrutiny."
US Army walks back DJI decision (slightly) - sUAS News - The Business of Drones
"An exception to policy with recommendations from the asymmetric warfare group that will permit the use of DJI kit once some conditions have been met.
The Android Tactical Assault Kit will become the ground control station (GCS) of choice when a DJI plugin has passed OPSEC (Operational Security) scrutiny."
US Army walks back DJI decision (slightly) - sUAS News - The Business of Drones
I agree.
As a certified computer dummy I would think the DoD has geeks on board who have good cause to recommend this action. Even if it is a bit of a stretch there is no good reason not to exercise this caution. Better safe than sorry.
Which prompts the question of why some of our own, 100% American, tech companies aren't competing with DJI, Yuneec, et. al.
For the same reason there are no 100% American made cell phones. We can't compete on the costs. Forbes did a detailed story of what happened to 3DR, the biggest US competitor that DJI faced.
Two most obvious reasons:
A) data about flights is sent to DJI servers
B) ability to remote disable Geo equipped devices.
I'll wager B is the biggest source of grief now that Geo is mandatory and its effects felt. Imagine being out on the field, doing your job when suddenly, "cannot take off"
DJI can create fake/erroneous NFZs anywhere and at anytime that cannot be defeated essentially grounding the drone fleet. This wasn't an issue while it could be overridden.
A) data about flights is sent to DJI servers
B) ability to remote disable Geo equipped devices.
I'll wager B is the biggest source of grief now that Geo is mandatory and its effects felt. Imagine being out on the field, doing your job when suddenly, "cannot take off"
DJI can create fake/erroneous NFZs anywhere and at anytime that cannot be defeated essentially grounding the drone fleet. This wasn't an issue while it could be overridden.
N017RW
Premium Pilot
Reason B is all the more reason to me too.
What happened to 'MIL-STD' or 'MIL-SPEC'?
These (Phantoms) are toys after all.
What happened to 'MIL-STD' or 'MIL-SPEC'?
These (Phantoms) are toys after all.
Geo must be made user overridable. Notification only. I'd accept a few hard coded NFZs, example: White House, Pentagon, Nuke Plants, etc, but everything else should be like other aircraft, notification only. Pilot should always be in full control of his aircraft.
N017RW
Premium Pilot
If it's [any] 'user overridable' then it's nonsense.
Hardcoded is interesting. While not an expert, Is any code really 'hard'?
it's just a toy so what's DJI's incentive to 'harden' this product tier?
I get the advantages of the DoD using mass-produced, off-the-shelf, products where prudent.
Now, I am curious about how much our DoD purchases from China?
Hardcoded is interesting. While not an expert, Is any code really 'hard'?
it's just a toy so what's DJI's incentive to 'harden' this product tier?
I get the advantages of the DoD using mass-produced, off-the-shelf, products where prudent.
Now, I am curious about how much our DoD purchases from China?
Ask yourself why such a system isn't installed in big aircraft?
Likewise, consider: on some planes the onboard computer can tell if the plane is heading nose down and towards the ground and going to impact the ground. It will sound alarms, flash warnings, "Pull Up! pull Up!" And yet, you can override the alarm as the plane plunges into the ground. The computer won't take over control of the plane and "pull up" and save all aboard, the plane and any potential disaster below. It will dutifully notify, unless told to shut up, about impending doom - but never, ever, ever take away control from the actual pilot even to the point of certain destruction.
All because, over decades and decades of use pilots have never ever decided to give up this type of control to a autonomous process.
Also, airplanes have fps aboard and apps and systems that will warn them: You are in a NFZ or within a TFR and you are NOT under any circumstances legal,y permitted to take off. And the pilot can just ignore it and take off and fly any direction he wants.
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So, Geo should work like the big boys. Warn the pilot. In clear terms say, I detect you are in such and such zone(s) and here is the rule.
Checkbox Here then click Ok if you accept responsibility and wish to continue, otherwise click Cancel.
That's how it should work. The action is logged, the flight records are logged. And he pilot remains the responsible party for their actions and DJI is indemnified.
N017RW
Premium Pilot
I can't address each of your points so long as one equates the responsibility and risks (all the trappings included) of operating while being on-board an aircraft with that of flying a remote controlled aircraft.
There's a magnitude of difference.
There's a magnitude of difference.
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