US Grounds Future Foreign Drones, Barring New Models from DJI in Major Tech Escalation

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has effectively barred future drone models from China's DJI and all other foreign manufacturers from its market, a significant escalation in Washington's campaign to mitigate national security risks posed by Chinese technology. The move doesn't affect existing models but creates a major hurdle for the world's largest drone maker in its most important market.

In a statement on Monday, the FCC announced it is adding foreign-made drones and their critical components to its “Covered List.” This designation, which now includes industry leaders like DJI and Autel, means these companies can no longer obtain the mandatory FCC equipment authorizations required to import or sell new products in the United States.

What this means: The restriction is forward-looking. The FCC clarified that the ban does not prohibit the sale or use of any previously authorized drone models. Consumers can continue to fly drones they've already purchased. However, for DJI, which commands more than half of the U.S. commercial drone market, the inability to introduce new technology could severely impact its competitive edge.

The decision follows an inter-agency review convened by the White House, the results of which were delivered to the FCC on Sunday. The review concluded that these imported devices pose a direct threat to U.S. security interests.

The review found that imported drones and components pose security risks “given the threats from unauthorized surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration, supply chain vulnerabilities, and other potential threats to the homeland.”

While the ban is sweeping, the directive includes a potential off-ramp. The Pentagon retains the authority to determine that specific drones or classes of drones do not pose a security risk, which could grant them an exemption from the restrictions. As of Monday, DJI had not issued an official response to the FCC's action.

The Bigger Picture: The FCC's move institutionalizes the 'tech decoupling' between the U.S. and China, extending it from core infrastructure like 5G to the rapidly growing market of unmanned aerial vehicles. This isn't just about DJI; it sets a precedent for how the U.S. will regulate a host of connected devices from foreign sources, from IoT sensors to smart city hardware. For global tech companies, this reinforces the reality of a bifurcated world where supply chains and product roadmaps must be designed for geopolitical resilience, not just market efficiency. The key question is no longer just 'is the tech good?' but 'where was the tech made?'