U.S. Regulator Targets Foreign Drones, Threatening Future DJI Models
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A DJI AIR 2S drone. Photo: VCG
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on Monday that foreign-made drones and key components pose an “unacceptable risk” to U.S. national and public safety and should be added to the agency’s Covered List, a move that would bar new models from receiving regulatory approval.
The determination means that Chinese drone maker DJI Technology Co. Ltd., which dominates the U.S. consumer and commercial drone market, is expected to be placed on the FCC’s Covered List.
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- The FCC plans to add foreign-made drones and components, including those from China’s DJI, to its Covered List, blocking new models from U.S. regulatory approval.
- Existing foreign-made drones can still be sold and used, but future imports face bans unless exempted by the Department of Defense or Homeland Security.
- DJI criticized the decision as harmful to fair competition and U.S. users; China’s Foreign Ministry also objected to the move.
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Who’s Who
- DJI Technology Co. Ltd.
- DJI Technology Co. Ltd. (大疆创新科技有限公司) is a Chinese drone maker that dominates the U.S. consumer and commercial drone market. The FCC has deemed its products an "unacceptable risk" to U.S. national security and plans to add them to the Covered List, barring new models from regulatory approval. DJI disputes these claims, asserting its products' security and reliability have been widely verified.
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What Happened When
- 2017：
- U.S. scrutiny of DJI intensified; the company began facing allegations related to national security.
- January 2021：
- The National Defense Authorization Act took effect, establishing the CMC list to identify Chinese military-linked firms.
- 2022：
- DJI was first added to the CMC (Chinese Military Companies) list.
- January 2024：
- DJI remained on the CMC list after an update by the U.S. Defense Department.
- September 2025：
- A federal court in Washington, D.C., ruled in favor of the Defense Department after DJI sued the Pentagon over its CMC designation.
- November 2025：
- DJI noted that U.S. Congress had set a Dec. 23, 2025 deadline under the 2025 defense authorization law for a national security review of DJI and another Chinese drone maker.
- 2025-12-22：
- The U.S. FCC announced foreign-made drones and key components pose an “unacceptable risk” and should be added to the Covered List; DJI responded and Caixin quoted their statement.
- 2025-12-22：
- Industry sources noted the FCC had not released details on how companies may apply for exemptions or how the process will be administered.
- 2025-12-23：
- China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized the FCC's move, calling for a fair and non-discriminatory business environment.
- By 2025-12-23：
- Deadline set by 2025 defense authorization law for the U.S. Congress to complete a national security review of DJI and another Chinese drone maker.
- As of 2025-12-24：
- DJI noted that, to its knowledge, a formal national security review had not yet begun and no U.S. agency had assumed responsibility for the review.
- As of 2025-12-24：
- U.S. government agencies, including the Interior Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and some military units were still using DJI drones.
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