US Bans Import of Foreign-Made Drones and Critical Parts Over National Security Concerns
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a public notice declaring that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their essential components manufactured abroad pose an unacceptable threat to U.S. national security. The agency stated these dual-use technologies serve both commercial purposes and potential military applications, enabling surveillance, data extraction, and disruptive operations over American soil.
The ban specifically targets future models of drones and their critical parts, including data transmission devices, communication systems, flight controllers, ground control stations, navigation systems, batteries, and engines. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr clarified on social media platform X that existing drone owners may continue using their devices, and retailers can still sell previously approved models. The new regulation only applies to future imports, with possible exceptions granted by the Department of Defense or Homeland Security for specific models.
While the FCC didn’t name specific manufacturers, Chinese company DJI – the world’s leading drone maker – expressed disappointment with the decision. A DJI spokesperson questioned the executive branch’s undisclosed evidence behind the ban, noting the company’s longstanding efforts to demonstrate its products don’t threaten national security.
