From December On December 23, 2025, the United States Federal Communications Commission banned China-based drone manufacturer DJI to import new drones in the United States. This may make it seem like you can’t buy a DJI drone right now, but that’s not true. Head over to Amazon and about the entire range of DJI drones is still for sale. So what does that give? Are they banned or not?
The key word in the previous paragraph was any new drone. Nothing DJI has done in the past is off-limits. No one will take away your drone. It’s still perfectly legal pilot a drone. And it’s not just a DJI ban. This is a ban on foreign-made drones, which includes those from companies such as DJI, Autel Robotics, HoverAir, etc. The fact that DJI is singled out in the headlines has more to do with its market dominance than the way the rules are written.
I would like to say that with the largest competitor withdrawing from the market, US-based companies are jumping in with new drones. In fact, we did say that once about Skydioand we even liked the Skydio drone we testedbut since then Skydio has moved away from the mainstream market.
No new drones
Courtesy of DJI
While it’s good news that old devices are still on sale, it’s unlikely that new drones will arrive.
To sell in the United States, anything that uses radio frequency components must be approved by the FCC. Drones use radio frequencies when they fly, so they fall under the jurisdiction of the FCC. Because none of the drone companies have received the safety review they need from an approved U.S. agency, they have all been placed on what is called the Covered Countries List. Companies on the covered list are not allowed to import products into the United States, effectively banning them.
There is evidence that the wheels are turning somewhere, in a way that could be good news for mainstream drone pilots. Last week, the The FCC has amended its list of covered products to exempt drones and components already approved by the Defense Contract Management Agency’s UAS Blue List. The FCC states in its public statement: “The DoW has determined that UAS and critical UAS components included in the Defense Contract Management Agency’s (DCMA) UAS Blue List do not currently pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or to the safety and security of American persons. »
For the most part, this doesn’t really impact consumer drones, unless you’re looking for a Parrot Anafi USA Gov Edition Thermal Drone $13.6Kbut it’s better than silence, which was the main thing we heard before the December ban.
It could be worse. While FCC regulations govern what can be sold, which so far has little impact on those who use hobbyist drones, the Commerce Department was planning its own ban, which could have grounded existing drones. Fortunately, this plan was put asideat least for now.
Currently, the biggest problem is that future versions of DJI drones will not be available in the United States unless something changes. Drones are embroiled in the politics of U.S.-China relations, and we are unlikely to get clarity on the future of U.S. drones until there is clarity in U.S.-China relations. US-China relationship.
What the Covered List Ban Does to DJI, Autel and Others:
- Bans the sale of all future foreign drones and components.
What the ban doesn’t do:
- It does not ban existing drones, which will continue to be sold.
- It does not ground your current drone, flies away.
- This does not make it illegal to own a drone. You can remove the aluminum hat.
- This does not affect FAA regulations. There are no new rules in effect and you must still follow existing regulations.
Should you buy a new drone now?
Well…probably? The future of drones in the United States will likely depend on the future of U.S.-China relations, which could prove difficult given recent trade negotiations. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in April. It is therefore a safe bet that not much will change between now and then. If you’ve been wanting a drone but are concerned about the future of drone sales, now is the time to buy one. We will keep this article updated as things develop.
What about gray market drones?
Like networks, capitalism seems to have ways of circumventing what it considers harm. So yes, there will likely be ways to get a drone that doesn’t have FCC approval. However, purchasing one and importing it into the United States would be legally unclear at best and could potentially land you in considerable trouble. We do not recommend it.
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