TL;DRFCC proposing to expand drone ban to cover LiDAR, thermal imaging, aerosol dispensing, swarms, and heavy drones. Would retroactively ban previously-approved DJI models. Existing owners unaffected. DJI calls it “total reversal.” Comments open until September 2.
The FCC is considering banning DJI drones that it already approved for sale in the United States. The proposal would expand the agency’s existing drone restrictions to target specific capabilities: LiDAR sensing, thermal imaging, aerosol-dispersing systems, coordinated swarm operations, docking stations, and drones weighing 55 pounds or more. The FCC is classifying these features as “military-grade.” Several popular DJI models that already have FCC clearance, including the Air 3S, Avata 360, and Mini 5 Pro, would be pulled from the US market if the proposal goes through.
This is a significant escalation. DJI was already banned from selling new models after the FCC added it to the Covered List in December 2025. That ban affected future products while allowing previously-approved drones to remain on sale. Last month, the FCC expanded restrictions to cover companies suspected of rebranding DJI hardware. Now the question is shifting from “who made this drone?” to “what can this drone do?” — a change that could affect any manufacturer, not just Chinese ones.
