The United States has announced plans to ban the importation of certain foreign-made military-grade drones, particularly models capable of operating in swarms and those fitted with advanced infrared technology.
The proposed rule was announced on Tuesday by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which said the measure is aimed at strengthening national security.
Under the proposal, existing exemptions for non-Chinese commercial drones and drone components will remain in place until January 2028.
According to the FCC, drones designed for coordinated swarm operations pose significant security risks because they can overwhelm conventional air defence systems and carry out prolonged surveillance missions.
If approved after a 30-day public consultation period, the new regulation will prohibit the importation of affected drone models.
However, the federal government and organisations that already own such equipment will be allowed to continue using them.
The proposal is the latest step in Washington’s efforts to tighten restrictions on foreign technology, particularly products manufactured by Chinese companies.
Among those expected to be affected is DJI, the Chinese drone maker that currently controls more than half of the US commercial drone market.
DJI recently filed a lawsuit in a US federal court challenging previous restrictions on the importation of its latest drone models, arguing that regulators exceeded their authority.
Meanwhile, US authorities say they are also working to expand domestic drone manufacturing and increase spectrum allocation to support the growth of the country’s drone industry.
