The Federal Communications Fee has added foreign-made drones and their important elements to the company’s “Lined Record,” making them prohibited to import into the US. In a public discover revealed by the FCC, it stated a number of nationwide safety companies have decided that umanned plane methods (UAS) and their important elements produced in international nations pose an unacceptable threat to the nationwide safety of america.
“UAS and UAS important elements have to be produced in america,” the company stated. “UAS are inherently dual-use: they’re each industrial platforms and doubtlessly navy or paramilitary sensors and weapons. UAS and UAS important elements, together with information transmission gadgets, communications methods, flight controllers, floor management stations, controllers, navigation methods, batteries, good batteries, and motors produced in another country might allow persistent surveillance, information exfiltration, and harmful operations over U.S. territory, together with over World Cup and Olympic venues and different mass gathering occasions.”
FCC Chair Brendan Carr clarified on X that the ban doesn’t have an effect on previous drones. Folks can proceed utilizing the gadgets they’ve already bought, and retailers can preserve promoting fashions which have already been permitted by the company. The brand new rule solely applies to imminent fashions. He additionally stated that the Division of Warfare or the Division of Homeland Safety can permit particular new fashions, a sure class of drones or explicit elements to be bought within the US.
Right now, based mostly on an Govt Department nationwide safety dedication, the FCC has added foreign-produced UAS (drones) and foreign-produced UAS important part components to the FCC’s Lined Record on a going ahead foundation.
President Trump has been clear that his Administration will… pic.twitter.com/tVLlsBeOfw— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) December 22, 2025
The FCC didn’t title any producers particularly, however probably the most well-known manufacturers that shall be affected by the ban is Chinese language firm DJI, which advised Engadget that it was disenchanted by the company’s determination. “Whereas DJI was not singled out, no info has been launched concerning what info was utilized by the Govt Department in reaching its dedication,” a spokesperson stated. DJI has lengthy been within the US authorities’s crosshairs and has been making an attempt to show that its merchandise aren’t a nationwide safety risk.
“DJI merchandise are among the many most secure and most safe in the marketplace, supported by years of evaluations performed by US authorities companies and impartial third events,” they added. “Issues about DJI’s information safety haven’t been grounded in proof and as an alternative replicate protectionism, opposite to the rules of an open market.”
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/us-bans-new-foreign-made-drones-and-components-053201854.html?src=rss