The skies are staying open for DJI drones in the US. The world’s leading civilian drone manufacturer has avoided an immediate ban in the American market since the Countering CCP Drones Act was left out of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) approved by Congress this week.
The exclusion of the Countering CCP Drones Act from the NDAA means that, for now, DJI can continue its operations and sales within the United States. This decision comes as a relief to a vast ecosystem of drone operators, businesses, and public safety agencies that rely on DJI’s technology for various applications, from aerial photography to emergency response.
DJI has expressed gratitude towards the drone community for their active engagement with lawmakers. By sharing personal stories and highlighting the potential negative impacts of a ban, enthusiasts and professionals played a pivotal role in influencing the legislative outcome.
“Your support made a real difference. Congressional offices paid attention and listened to what you had to say. Your voice still matters, and we will continue to work to ensure you have access to the innovative tools you rely on,” says DJI.
It’s important to note that while the immediate threat of a ban has been averted, the NDAA introduces provisions that could impact DJI’s future in the US market. The Act mandates a risk assessment of drones manufactured in China, including those by DJI, to be conducted by an appropriate national security agency. If, within one year, no agency undertakes this assessment, DJI could be automatically added to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Covered List, effectively banning their products without a formal review.
DJI has welcomed the opportunity for scrutiny, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and security. The company has a history of conducting regular audits and has implemented a bug bounty program to identify and address vulnerabilities. However, concerns remain about the fairness of the process, particularly the lack of a designated agency to conduct the assessment and the absence of provisions allowing DJI to respond to potential findings.
“DJI should be provided with a fair opportunity and allowed due process in order to either validate or address any potential findings from the assessment, as no technology audit is ever perfect,” the drone maker stresses, adding that “DJI deserves a right of response to any findings and an opportunity to fix any flaws that may be found and to discuss any additional security mitigations the designated agency recommends.”
In addition to legislative hurdles, DJI is also engaged in legal battles to defend its reputation and market position. The company has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense, challenging its designation as a “Chinese Military Company.” DJI argues that this classification is unjustified, as it primarily produces consumer and commercial drones, not military equipment. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for DJI’s operations and its perception in the US market.
As such, while DJI has avoided an immediate ban in the United States, the coming year will be critical. The mandated risk assessment and potential automatic inclusion on the FCC’s Covered List present challenges that could impact DJI’s future in the US market. But for now, DJI’s innovative offerings, including the ultra-affordable DJI Neo, triple-lens camera system Mavic 3 Pro, and first-person view (FPV) drone Avata 2, remain available to US customers.
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