FCC adds foreign-made drones and critical UAS parts to the Covered List

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has added foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems and their key components to its Covered List, effectively barring their import into the country. In an official notice, the agency pointed to assessments by several national security bodies that such drones and parts present an unacceptable risk to national security.

The FCC said that UAS and critical UAS components should be manufactured in the United States. The move tightens the focus on domestic production and, by design, narrows the pipeline for new foreign-built models.

Brendan Carr of the FCC clarified that the restriction applies only to new drone models. Existing devices can continue to operate, and retailers may keep selling models that have already been approved. The new rule does not cover drones previously purchased. Carr also noted that the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security may authorize sales of specific models or certain classes of components. That carve-out suggests the policy leaves room for exceptions in mission-driven scenarios.

The FCC indicated that the ban is likely to resonate most for products made by China’s DJI, even though the notice did not name any particular manufacturers. The absence of specifics is unlikely to dampen industry speculation about who is most affected.

A DJI representative told Engadget that, while the company was not singled out in the notice, no information was released about what data the executive branch used when arriving at its decision.

The company also maintained that its products rank among the safest and most reliable on the market, citing years of research by U.S. government entities and independent third parties. It argued that concerns about DJI’s data security are not backed by evidence and instead reflect a protectionist stance at odds with open-market principles. With no underlying evidence made public, the debate over risk and protectionism is set to persist.