US EditionFCC blacklists foreign-made drones over security, spying concerns
The FCC's ban targets all foreign-made drone models and components due to national security risks including unauthorized surveillance and data vulnerabilities, affecting major global events.
- On Dec. 23, the Federal Communications Commission added DJI, Autel and other foreign-made drones and components to its Covered List, blocking new equipment authorizations for U.S. sale.
- The White House-convened interagency review, finalized in recent years, found foreign drones pose security risks, supported by a January 2024 joint bulletin from CISA and FBI, and earlier executive orders by President Donald Trump.
- The FCC specified covered critical components including data transmission devices, communications systems, flight controllers, ground control stations, navigation systems, sensors, cameras, batteries and battery management systems, and motors, while emphasising previously authorised models remain usable.
- Contractors now face oversight and contractual risks as U.S. senators demand detailed disclosures, while the Department of Defense or Homeland Security may grant exemptions for specific drones.
- Citing upcoming major events, the agency said the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America250 celebrations and 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games drive the rule, which supports the U.S. industrial strategy to increase domestic drone production.
199 Articles
199 Articles
Foreign-Made Drones Are Now Banned in the US
As is often the case with today’s US government, the FCC has decided that the safest drone is a domestic drone. As of Monday, the FCC announced a ban on new foreign-made drones and drone components. The reasoning is vague, citing nebulous “national security risks” and officially adding them to its “Covered List” of prohibited communications equipment. The move follows a mandated review from last year’s defense bill, which asked federal agencies …
FCC Blocks New DJI Drone Sales
American buyers in the market for the latest DJI or Autel drones are about to hit a federal wall. The Federal Communications Commission has barred the sale of new models of foreign drones, including those from the top Chinese companies, the Washington Post reports. The FCC said it would block...
The Free Press (Tampa)
FCC Crackdown On Foreign Drones Signals ‘Clear Opportunity’ For US Tech, Says XTI Aerospace
Following a significant move by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to restrict future authorizations of certain foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), US-based XTI Aerospace, Inc. (Nasdaq: XTIA) says the regulatory shift has opened the door for a domestic takeover of the drone market. The FCC recently added specific foreign-manufactured drones and critical components to its […] FCC Crackdown On Foreign Drones Signals ‘Clear Oppor…
US to ban import or sale of new types of drones in America
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