As of December 23, 2025, the US Federal Communications Fee barred Chinese language-based drone maker DJI from importing any new drones into the United State. Which may sound like you may’t purchase a DJI drone proper now, however that is not true. Head over to Amazon and nearly the whole DJI drone lineup remains to be on the market. So what provides? Are they banned or not?
The important thing phrase within the earlier paragraph was any new drone. Nothing DJI has made previously is banned. Nobody is taking your drone away. It is nonetheless completely authorized to fly a drone. And this is not simply a DJI ban. It is a ban on foreign-made drones, which incorporates these from firms equivalent to DJI, Autel Robotics, HoverAir, and thers. That DJI is singled out in headlines has extra to do with its market dominance than the best way the foundations are written.
I might prefer to say that with the most important competitor basically faraway from the market that US-based firms are swooping in with new drones. Truly we did say that once about Skydio, and we even appreciated the Skydio drone we tested, however since then Skydio has shifted away from the patron market.
No New Drones
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Courtesy of DJI
Whereas it is excellent news that the previous stuff remains to be on the market, it is unlikely that any new drones will arrive.
So as to promote in america, something that makes use of radio frequency elements needs to be accredited by the FCC. Drones use radio frequencies when flying, in order that they fall beneath FCC jurisdiction. As a result of not one of the drone firms have had the safety overview they want by an accredited US company, they’ve all been positioned on what’s referred to as the Coated Record. Corporations on the Coated Record should not have approval to import merchandise into the US, successfully banning them.
There’s some proof that wheels are turning someplace, in a approach that would spell excellent news for shopper drone flyers. Final week, the FCC amended its Covered List to exempt drones and elements already accredited by the Protection Contract Administration Company’s Blue UAS checklist. The FCC says in its public assertion, “The DoW has decided that UAS and UAS crucial elements included on Protection Contract Administration Company’s (DCMA’s) Blue UAS checklist don’t at the moment current unacceptable dangers to the nationwide safety of america or to the protection and safety of US individuals.”
For essentially the most half, this does not actually affect shopper drones, except you had been available in the market for a $13.6k Parrot Anafi USA Gov edition thermal drone, but it surely’s higher than silence, which has been the first factor we have heard main as much as the December ban.
