FCC

When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) effectively placed nearly all foreign-produced drones on its national security “Covered List” late last year, many drone pilots feared the door was closing on a huge portion of the industry. Instead, a different story is now emerging.

Washington’s fight over Chinese drones is no longer just a national security debate happening inside congressional hearing rooms. For thousands of Americans, it’s becoming a deeply personal issue tied to jobs, emergency response, roof inspections, farming operations, photography businesses, and even search-and-rescue missions.

Washington may want America to move beyond DJI, but one big question keeps hanging over the debate: who can realistically replace the company’s affordable, widely used drones at the same scale?

Autel Robotics claims that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is unfairly treating its drones like DJI products, even though the company says regulators have never presented evidence that Autel itself poses a security threat.

When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added DJI and Autel equipment to its Covered List, many drone operators feared the move could eventually turn thousands of perfectly functional aircraft into outdated, unsupported hardware. But in a decision released earlier this month, the agency quietly hit pause on what could have become a major operational and cybersecurity headache for the US drone industry.

If DJI and Autel Robotics drones truly pose an immediate national security threat, then why are thousands of them still flying over America every single day?

As new foreign-made drones from brands like DJI remain effectively blocked from entering the US market, FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty is publicly defending the agency’s controversial decision to expand its “Covered List” of allegedly unsecure equipment to include foreign-manufactured drones and critical drone components.

The clock is ticking for American drone users who want their voices heard in one of the biggest drone policy battles the US has ever seen.

Across Europe and Asia, DJI’s latest gadgets are already in people’s hands. In the US, those same products are delayed, harder to find, or only available through third-party sellers after weeks of waiting. What started as a drone problem tied to national security concerns has quietly turned into something bigger — where even DJI’s cameras, microphones, gimbals, and power stations are getting held back, despite having nothing to do with drones.

DJI fans in the US could miss out on as many as 25 new drone and camera launches this year, as the company says a crackdown by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may cost it more than $1.5 billion in 2026 alone.

Just when it looked like tech giant DJI might finally get a real shot at pushing back against the US government’s crackdown on foreign-made drones, the Pentagon has stepped in — and slammed the door shut a little harder.

The Federal Communications Commission is making its next big move in the race to dominate drone technology, and it’s tying that push directly to President Donald Trump’s national strategy for what officials are calling “American drone dominance.”

The United States has exempted four foreign-made drones from its sweeping import ban. See the latest additions to a list that’s quietly getting longer…

After filing its appeal in federal court, drone maker DJI is now laying out why it believes the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to blacklist the company is unlawful, harmful, and unsupported by evidence. In comments shared with DroneDJ, a DJI spokesperson said the company is “challenging the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to prohibit DJI from marketing, selling, and importing new products into the United States.”

If you fly a DJI drone, here’s the answer you actually came for: yes, your drone can still receive firmware updates in the US. And yes, that was very much in doubt until now.

The HoverAir Aqua is designed to survive something consumer drones usually fear most: water. Marketed as the world’s first waterproof selfie drone, Aqua promised carefree flying over lakes, pools, and oceans — no emergency landings, no panic over splashes. That pitch helped the drone raise more than $2 million on Indiegogo from over 1,800 backers. However, the Aqua now faces a very different challenge.

The day much of the US drone community has been dreading is officially here. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken its most decisive step yet against foreign-made drones, adding DJI, Autel, and other overseas manufacturers to its national security “Covered List.” The move effectively blocks new drone models from entering the US market, marking the end of weeks of uncertainty, reviews, and waiting, as federal agencies ran out the clock on whether companies like DJI would ever clear long-promised security audits.

The US government just turned up the heat on DJI, again. In a unanimous 3-0 decision, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to give itself the authority to retroactively ban electronic devices that were already cleared for sale in the country, if their makers are later deemed national security risks.

Florida Senator Rick Scott is turning up the heat on Chinese drone giant DJI and on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is preparing to give itself sweeping new powers to ban previously approved devices from the US market.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is tightening its grip on foreign-made technology, and drone maker DJI may soon feel the heat. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has announced that the agency will vote on new rules allowing it to revoke certifications for previously approved devices deemed national-security risks.

The next product in DJI’s Power lineup, the DJI Power 2000, has appeared in the FCC database. While details about its features are still limited, the launch is expected to occur soon, as the FCC listing typically signals an imminent release.