Unusual Machines, which makes components for military and commercial drones, took less than a year to get its first USA plant running in Orlando, Florida, and says it can now match or undercut Chinese prices for drone parts, SupplyChainBrain reported on September 8, 2025.
Building a domestic drone supply chain
About 85% of the world’s drones are made in China, according to the report. CEO Allan Evans said that when the federal government moved to cut its reliance on China, “there was no [domestic] supply chain for drone parts.” Unusual Machines makes parts such as motors and flight controllers and said it needed to be within 20% of the price of Chinese equivalents to succeed.
Evans said the Orlando plant depends on scale, with a minimum order of 10,000 units, and on a short product list: three motor sizes, compared with as many as 300 at a larger seller. He said tariffs on imported drone parts have given the company “some cushion,” but it is trying to build a business that does not depend on them.
“Supply chains are super-spider-webby.”
Allan Evans, CEO, Unusual Machines, to SupplyChainBrain
Why it matters for Made in USA
The report notes that the company’s supply network could never be entirely domestic, although most of its electronics are produced in Orlando. That is the common situation for USA electronics makers. Products with significant imported subcomponents generally need a qualified claim, such as “Made in USA with imported components,” rather than an unqualified Made in USA label.
Defense buyers apply their own sourcing rules, which differ from the FTC standard. A part can meet a domestic sourcing requirement for a contract and still not qualify for an unqualified consumer label.
FAQ
Where does Unusual Machines make drone parts?
At its plant in Orlando, Florida, which took less than a year to get running.
Are its drone parts entirely made in the USA?
No. The report says its supply network could never be entirely domestic, although most of its electronics are produced in Orlando.
How does it compete with China on price?
Through automation, high volumes and a small number of products, according to CEO Allan Evans.
Source & credit
Originally published by SupplyChainBrain (Robert J. Bowman) on September 8, 2025: A Maker of Drone Parts Scores Success in Domestic Production