The U.S. government has pulled out a powerful sanction card against overseas drone makers, including China, that is effectively no different from forcing them out of the market.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-made drones and core components to a security-concerns list on national security grounds, making it likely that new models from major overseas brands, including China's DJI, will find it difficult to set foot in the United States. The move is seen as reflecting the Trump administration's strong will to completely retake the lead in the U.S. drone industry, going beyond simple import restrictions.
On the 22nd (local time), the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) announced it would add unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and core components produced overseas to a security-concerns list. The decision follows a joint interagency review led by the White House.
With this action, new products from major overseas drone manufacturers such as China's DJI, the world's No. 1 in drones, and Autel Robotics can no longer obtain the FCC equipment authorization that is a mandatory gateway to enter the U.S. market. To import, sell or market wireless devices in the United States, FCC authorization is required. It effectively amounts to an import ban on new foreign-made models.
Existing models already certified by the FCC and distributed in the market, or drones already purchased and in use by consumers, are excluded from this action. The FCC said, "Continuing to use drones lawfully purchased in the past is permitted, and we will not immediately halt the distribution of already certified models."
President Trump cited "restoring U.S. airspace sovereignty" and "strengthening U.S. drone dominance" as the backdrop of the move. In an executive order released the same day, the White House warned, "Drones have great potential to promote public safety and innovation, but at the same time, hostile nations or terrorists could use them to pose a serious threat to U.S. soil."
In particular, next year will see a string of major international events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. The move is a preemptive step to reorganize the security system. The FCC noted, "There is a high risk that foreign-made drones could be misused for attacks or interference, unauthorized surveillance, and leakage of sensitive data."
The economic motive is also clear. The Trump administration judged that the current structure of excessive reliance on foreign-made drones weakens the foundation of the U.S. drone industry. Experts said that, for this reason, rather than a simple regulation, an executive order was issued to reorganize the drone-related supply chain around the United States and steer the drone market—currently led by China—toward domestic production and component self-sufficiency in the United States.
The regulation greatly expands the scope beyond finished goods to include core components used in drones. It is assessed as having a broader impact than past simple regulations. The FCC included in the core component list data transmission devices, communication systems, flight controllers (FC), ground control stations (GCS), and navigation systems.
Sensors and cameras, batteries including battery management systems (BMS), motors, and even the software that controls them also came under the regulatory net. It virtually covers almost every component that goes into a drone. Observers say that even if components produced overseas are brought in and assembled in the United States, obtaining certification could become more difficult.
Items on this list will all be blocked from import once the executive order takes effect. To lift the block, the Department of Defense (DoD) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must separately determine that "a specific product or component does not pose a security risk" and notify the FCC. It is a strong signal that the U.S. government intends to control the entire drone supply chain.
James Lewis, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said, "A drone is not just an aircraft but a flying computer that collects data," adding, "Letting such devices be connected to networks operated by hostile nations clearly exposes a security vulnerability."
China's DJI, the No. 1 company with about 70% of the global drone market, took a direct hit from the move. DJI has long held an overwhelming share among public agencies, photographers and hobby users in the United States. But if new product launches are blocked, its market share is expected to naturally decline.
Experts predicted the move would become a turning point that completely splits global drone industry standards and supply chains into "U.S.-centered" and "China-centered." The U.S. drone market is likely to rapidly reorganize around "U.S.-made" or "allied-made" products. U.S. drone corporations such as Skydio are expected to gain the biggest windfall.
The drone-focused outlet Inside Unmanned Systems, citing experts, said, "The U.S. market is no longer a place to simply showcase flight performance but a place where you must prove how secure your software stack is," and suggested, "U.S. drone-related corporations must stake their survival not only on domesticating hardware but also on advancing data security systems."