DJI and foreign-made drones have been banned by the US Government. A new rule has been introduced by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) that effectively bans the import and sale of any drones made by foreign manufacturers, including DJI.
Foreign drones are said to “Pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States.” There will, however, be some exceptions in cases when the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of War identifies a particular drone or drone part as not posing a risk.
The biggest impact of this decision will be felt by DJI, which accounts for about 70% of the global market. While some drones are used for filmmaking applications, the majority of sales and uses apply to companies using them for infrastructure and construction inspections, as well as crop monitoring, etc.
DJI issued a statement in response to the ruling that said: To our U.S. community and everyone who has been following developments in the U.S. and speaking up – thank you. Your support means a lot. We remain committed to our U.S. customers and are actively exploring paths forward. Thank you for standing with us.
They also went on to say that today’s development will not affect customers who already own DJI products. These existing products can continue to be purchased and operated as usual. The FCC’s fact sheet also indicates that new products may, in the future, be cleared for launch based on determinations made by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.
If you already own and operate a DJI drone, then you don’t need to worry, as no additional restrictions are being placed on older or currently available drones. Still, if you are in the US, you won’t be able to purchase any of the new models announced before today.
One more thing to consider is that parts may be harder to source for your existing drone model in the future. Customs has been delaying DJI products when entering the US.
In the US, DJI products are more frequently backordered than in the past. This might be because demand for them is high and they can’t keep up, or, as I mentioned, because when traveling, they end up in secondary security screening, which delays customs clearance.
It will be interesting to see what happens with this ban and whether we will see a new or existing US drone company enter the market.
