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 entire DJI drone lineup continues 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 prior to now 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 corresponding 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 wish to say that with the most important competitor primarily 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 preferred 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Whereas it is excellent news that the outdated stuff continues to be on the market, it is unlikely that any new drones will arrive.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 parts must be accredited by the FCC. Drones use radio frequencies when flying, so that they fall below FCC jurisdiction. As a result of not one of the drone corporations have had the safety evaluation they want by an accredited US company, they’ve all been positioned on what’s known as the Lined Checklist. Firms on the Lined Checklist would not have approval to import merchandise into the US, successfully banning them.
There’s some proof that wheels are turning someplace, in a means that might spell excellent news for client drone flyers. Final week, the FCC amended its Lined Checklist to exempt drones and parts 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 vital parts 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 protection and safety of US individuals.”
For probably the most half, this does not actually influence client drones, until you had been out there for a $13.6k Parrot Anafi USA Gov version 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.