Brinc Founder Blake Resnick Advocates Removing Chinese Drones from U.S. Airspace

Brinc founder Blake Resnick is determined to replace Chinese-made drones in the U.S. law enforcement market. His Seattle-based company manufactures the “Responder” quadcopter, designed specifically for public safety use.

Currently, DJI, a Chinese firm, dominates about 70% of the global drone market, including more than 80% of U.S. police departments’ drone fleets. Despite the popularity and technical edge of DJI drones, Resnick believes national security concerns will drive demand for American-made alternatives.

As of late December, the U.S. government plans to ban the sale of DJI drones unless cleared by security agencies like the NSA. This regulatory stance aligns with Brinc’s America First positioning, helping the company achieve a $480 million valuation backed by investors such as Sam Altman and Peter Thiel.

Brinc’s Responder drone, which costs around $20,000, is notably more expensive than DJI’s comparable models such as the Matrice M30T priced near $15,000. However, its rapid deployment capability—reaching emergencies within 70 seconds—and the ability to operate remotely have gained traction with agencies like the Queen Creek Police Department in Arizona.

Since adopting the Responder, Queen Creek has used it in over 450 missions including burglaries and assaults, with the drone often arriving before officers. The local police chief plans to expand the fleet due to Brinc’s devices being exempt from forthcoming Chinese import restrictions.

Brinc also offers the Lemur drone for indoor SWAT operations and the Brinc Ball, a throwable communication device useful in hostage or disaster scenarios. The company’s clientele ranges from small police departments to large agencies, including the NYPD and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Despite these advances, some first responders criticize Brinc drones for limitations in range and technical performance compared to DJI. Moreover, Brinc faces strong competition from American rival Skydio, which boasts a larger public safety customer base and substantial funding.

Resnick’s long-term vision is to establish Brinc as the Western counterpart to DJI. With growing geopolitical tensions and U.S. government support for secure technology, Brinc may hasten the shift to domestically produced drones within law enforcement and possibly defense sectors.

Through dedicated lobbying and innovation, Resnick is positioning his company at the forefront of a strategic industry seen as vital for both public safety and national security. The evolving drone landscape could see Brinc playing a critical role in reducing dependency on Chinese technology in U.S. airspace.