WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on

Friday signed executive orders to bolster U.S. defenses against

threatening drones and to boost electric air taxis and

supersonic commercial aircraft, the White House said.

In the three executive orders, Trump sought to enable

routine use of drones beyond the visual sight of operators - a

key step to enabling commercial drone deliveries - and take

steps to reduce the U.S. reliance on Chinese drone companies and

begin testing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)

aircraft.

Trump is establishing a federal task force to ensure U.S.

control over American skies, expand restrictions over sensitive

sites, expand federal use of technology to detect drones in real

time and provide assistance to state and local law enforcement.

Trump also aims to address the "growing threat of criminal

terrorists and foreign misuse of drones in U.S. airspace," said

Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science

and Technology Policy. "We are securing our borders from

national security threats, including in the air, with

large-scale public events such as the Olympics and the World Cup

on the horizon."

Sebastian Gorka, senior director of counterterrorism at the

National Security Council, cited the use of drones in Russia's

war in Ukraine and threats to major U.S. sporting events.

"We will be increasing counter-drone capabilities and

capacities," Gorka said. "We will increase the enforcement of

current laws to deter two types of individuals: evildoers and

idiots."

The issue of suspicious drones also gained significant

attention last year after a flurry of drone sightings in New

Jersey. The FAA receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports

near airports each month.

Drone sightings have at times disrupted flights and sporting

events.

Trump also directed the Federal Aviation Administration to

lift a ban imposed in 1973 on supersonic air transport over

land.

"The reality is that Americans should be able to fly from

New York to L.A. in under four hours," Kratsios said. "Advances

in aerospace engineering, material science and noise reduction

now make overland supersonic flight not just possible, but safe,

sustainable and commercially viable."

The Trump orders do not ban any Chinese drone company,

officials said. Last year, former President Joe Biden signed

legislation that could ban China-based DJI and Autel Robotics

from selling new drone models in the U.S.

DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer, sells more than

half of all U.S. commercial drones.