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 possibly can’t purchase a DJI drone proper now, however that is not true. Head over to Amazon and nearly the entire DJI drone lineup continues to be on the market. So what offers? 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 corporations reminiscent of DJI, Autel Robotics, HoverAir, and thers. That DJI is singled out in headlines has extra to do with its market dominance than the way in which the foundations are written.
I might wish to say that with the most important competitor basically faraway from the market that US-based corporations are swooping in with new drones. Truly we did say that after about Skydio, and we even favored the Skydio drone we examined, 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Whereas it is excellent news that the outdated stuff continues to be on the market, it is unlikely that any new drones will arrive.
As a way to promote in the USA, 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 below FCC jurisdiction. As a result of not one of the drone corporations have had the safety assessment they want by an accredited US company, they’ve all been positioned on what’s referred to as the Coated Checklist. Corporations on the Coated Checklist 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 client drone flyers. Final week, the FCC amended its Coated Checklist 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 important 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 the USA or to the security and safety of US individuals.”
For essentially the most half, this does not actually impression client drones, until you have been out there for a $13.6k Parrot Anafi USA Gov version thermal drone, nevertheless it’s higher than silence, which has been the first factor we have heard main as much as the December ban.
