Amid Federal Ban on Foreign Drones, Birdstop Launches New Generation of Detroit-Made Drones
Detroit, MI - January 21, 2026 - Joined by more than 300 leaders from across Michigan, Birdstop, a pioneer in autonomous aviation, today announced the launch of a new generation of American-made drones manufactured in Detroit.
America leads the world in autonomy software, yet produces less than 1% of the world’s drones. Today, American-made drone systems often cost more than a vehicle while still underperforming their foreign counterparts. As drone technology reshapes modern conflict abroad and saves lives in emergency response at home, rebuilding America’s capacity to manufacture this critical technology has never been more urgent.
On December 22, 2025, the federal government enacted a ban on foreign drones and affiliated supply chains - technology that previously accounted for nearly all drones and components in use across the United States. The shift has forced the nation’s frontline operators - police, firefighters, emergency responders, and critical-infrastructure teams - to transition to domestic solutions that have historically been far more expensive and far less capable.
Birdstop’s Fealty is their first Detroit-made drone system
Birdstop’s launch of Fealty represents a first step toward changing that trajectory - ensuring American drone technology competes on merit, not protectionism. Drawing on Detroit’s manufacturing legacy, Birdstop is re-establishing a domestic production base for advanced autonomous systems. The United States continues to manufacture more than 10 million automobiles each year - highly complex systems integrating hardware and software not unlike modern drones. Detroit already has the supply chains, talent, and industrial capacity required to build the next American drone industry.
Keith Miao delivering remarks at the Fealty product launch
“Some American drone manufacturers are taking a victory lap right now to celebrate the exit of DJI and China’s near-monopoly on the US market,” said Keith Miao, Founder and CEO of Birdstop. “But at Birdstop, we believe real victory is building technology that is better. Victory is not when American-made equates to more expensive and less capable. So while others may see a finish line, we see a starting line - the starting line to build drone technology in America that leads the global industry. Today, we take that first step with Birdstop Fealty.”
A customer accepts their new Fealty system at the product launch
Birdstop Fealty systems provide scheduled and on-demand air support for government and critical infrastructure operators. Enabled by recent advances in FAA regulatory approvals and autonomous flight technology, Birdstop’s drone networks are designed to be operated from hundreds of miles away without requiring personnel onsite. The new Fealty systems meet - and exceed - national security requirements, built on American supply chains and manufactured in Michigan.
Guests inspect Fealty at the product launch
To mark the launch of Fealty, Birdstop hosted a product unveiling at its headquarters at The Icon, where the company delivered its first Made-in-Detroit systems to customers across both the public and private sectors.
