FCC moves to bar DJI drones equipped with LiDAR and other military-grade features
The FCC has proposed extending its drone ban to include DJI models that use LiDAR, thermal imaging and other capabilities deemed to have military applications.
The Federal Communications Commission is seeking input on a plan to expand its existing drone restrictions to cover equipment it considers to possess military-grade capabilities. The agency’s notice lists functions such as LiDAR sensing, thermal imaging, aerosol dispensing, integration of defense articles, docking stations and swarming as grounds for prohibition. Among the affected products are several DJI consumer drones, including the Air 3S, Mini Pro 5, Avata 360 and Mini 5 Pro, as well as commercial variants used for tasks like crop spraying and search-and-rescue.
While owners who already purchased these drones would retain them, the ban would prevent further sales, potentially limiting parts and software updates. DJI publicly condemned the proposal, describing it as a complete reversal of the FCC’s prior position. The FCC has opened a comment window that remains open until September 2.
Why it matters
The rule could limit U.S. access to advanced drone technology and affect manufacturers, users and national-security policy.
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