The FCC is planning to expand its drone ban to cover more products. That includes some of those it previously approved. The FCC is apparently proposing a ban on drones equipped with certain capabilities, like thermal imaging, LiDAR sensing, and aerosol dispensing. However, the new rules would not affect drones people already own.
FCC’s expanded restrictions could put LiDAR drones at risk
The agency, in a public notice posted last month, is seeking comment on expanding the ban to drones that the US government considers to have military capabilities or pose national security risks. The proper expansion would also cover drones that can integrate defence equipment, use docking stations, or operate as part of a swarm.
As a refresher, the FCC’s drone campaign began in December 2025, when it added foreign-made drones and their critical components to its Covered List of communications equipment and services considered a national security risk. This, however, applied to new drone models. So, older drones that had already been approved by the FCC and were on the market could still be sold.
Well, last month, the FCC expanded its drone ban to include products from companies suspected of rebranding DJI drones. And now with the new expansion, certain DJI consumer drones with LiDAR, such as the DJI Air 3S, DJI Avata 360, and DJI Mini 5 Pro, may be at risk. The ban could also affect commercial drones, including those from DJI, used for tasks such as agricultural spraying or search and rescue.
The FCC is currently accepting public comments
The FCC’s military-grade definition covers all foreign drones over 55 pounds as well as drones that use docking stations. This means that DJI’s FlyCart delivery series would also lose its FCC authorization, along with DJI Dock. The ban would not affect drones that users already own. However, it could prevent DJI and other manufacturers from selling more of them.
This could mean it may be hard for owners to find replacement parts. There are chances the software features could be removed or no longer updated. This could be bad news for creators, real estate, photographers, and drone enthusiasts in general.
On its part, DJI condemned the FCC’s latest proposal on its official ViewPoints blog. The company is calling it a “total reversal” from the agency’s previous position. The FCC is accepting public comments on the proposal to ban drones with “military-grade” features until September 2.
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