According to the FCC, new models from DJI and other foreign drone manufacturers “pose an unacceptable risk to the national security” of the United States.
This decision means that DJI, the world’s largest drone maker from China, Autel Robotics, and other companies are banned from selling their new drones in the U.S. Existing models that have already been approved for sale and are currently in use are not affected by this ruling.
The future growth of these companies may be limited, while U.S. drone manufacturers could benefit from this decision. The announcement likely stems from last year’s passage of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which mandated a security review of DJI, Autel, and other foreign-made drones by December 23, 2025. U.S. lawmakers are concerned that DJI technology could provide the Chinese government with a means to access American infrastructure.
In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has described the FCC’s actions as discriminatory.
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