FCC Ban on Foreign Drones Reshapes U.S. Aviation Supply Chain Security

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently took a major step to secure the nation's airspace.

The agency added foreign-produced Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and their critical components to its Covered List. This action effectively bans new models from being imported, marketed, or sold in the U.S.

The decision followed a national security determination by an Executive Branch interagency body. This body concluded that foreign-made UAS pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States.”

Regulatory Basis and Geopolitical Conflict

This move was anticipated under the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Section 1709 of the NDAA directed a security review of certain UAS technologies.

The ban primarily impacts Chinese manufacturers, including DJI, which holds an estimated 70% to 80% of the U.S. commercial drone market.

DJI expressed disappointment with the FCC’s action. The company stated that security concerns were “not grounded in evidence.” Instead, DJI claimed the decision reflects protectionism, which is contrary to open market principles.

A Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson also opposed the move. The spokesperson criticized the U.S. for “overstretching the concept of national security.” They called on the U.S. to stop making discriminatory lists against Chinese companies.

Federal agencies, however, have long warned about the risks. They cite China’s national security laws. These laws compel companies to cooperate with state intelligence. This cooperation can grant officials access to sensitive data collected by the drones.

Concerns include the potential for unauthorized surveillance and data transfer. Such data could be used to map critical infrastructure. This poses a direct threat to homeland security.

Impact on the Domestic Drone Industry

The FCC’s designation aims to strengthen the U.S. drone supply chain and industrial base. It forces an end to reliance on foreign manufacturers. This is expected to stimulate domestic production and innovation.

American UAS producers are set to benefit significantly. The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) welcomed the decision. AUVSI, whose members include Skydio, stated the action will “accelerate innovation.”

BRINC Drones, another U.S. manufacturer, has also supported the ban. The company is actively working to replace foreign fleets with American-made drones.

Government Investment in UAS

This regulatory action aligns with recent government initiatives. In June 2025, President Trump signed the “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” executive order.

This order prioritized American-made UAS for federal agencies. It also mandated accelerated rulemaking by the FAA for advanced operations. This includes Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights.

Furthermore, the Department of War unveiled the $1 billion Drone Dominance Program in December 2025. This program seeks to acquire approximately 340,000 small UAS over the next two years.

These combined efforts signal a clear commitment to American drone dominance in both commercial and defense sectors. The shift is critical for public safety and national defense. For more commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.

Consistency in Security Measures

Consistency in applying national security measures is a key consideration. The same concerns driving the drone ban extend to other critical technologies. For example, the Commerce Department has proposed banning TP-Link routers.

This proposal, backed by the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, and Justice, is over similar national security risks. TP-Link holds a significant share of the U.S. router market.

Applying the same scrutiny to networking equipment reinforces the government's strategy. The goal is to secure the entire technology supply chain from foreign influence.