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 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 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 firms comparable 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 principles are written.
I would prefer to say that with the most important competitor primarily 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 favored the Skydio drone we tested, however since then Skydio has shifted away from the buyer 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.
With a purpose to promote in the US, 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 firms have had the safety evaluation they want by an accredited US company, they’ve all been positioned on what’s known as the Lined Record. Firms on the Lined Record do not need approval to import merchandise into the US, successfully banning them.
There’s some proof that wheels are turning someplace, in a manner that might spell excellent news for shopper drone flyers. Final week, the FCC amended its Covered List to exempt drones and parts already accredited by the Protection Contract Administration Company’s Blue UAS record. The FCC says in its public assertion, “The DoW has decided that UAS and UAS crucial parts included on Protection Contract Administration Company’s (DCMA’s) Blue UAS record don’t at the moment current unacceptable dangers to the nationwide safety of the US or to the security and safety of US individuals.”
For essentially the most half, this does not actually influence shopper drones, until you had been out there for a $13.6k Parrot Anafi USA Gov edition thermal drone, however it’s higher than silence, which has been the first factor we have heard main as much as the December ban.
