The Federal Communications Commission blacklisted all new foreign-made drones and components over national security concerns, primarily targeting Chinese drone-maker DJI, which has a significant share of the market.
An interagency group carried out a thorough review of the possible threats related to foreign-made drones and components, finding that they carry “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.” As a result of its findings, the FCC placed the technology on its “Covered List,” a list of equipment and services that have been identified as having associated risks.
“Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, offer the potential to enhance public safety as well as cement America’s leadership in global innovation,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement. “But criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland.”
The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2025, which was passed a year ago, effectively initiated the investigation with a provision that set a one-year deadline for an “appropriate national security agency” to determine if “communications or video surveillance equipment” produced by DJI, Autel Robotics, and their subsidiaries “pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States.”
Beijing “firmly opposed the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security, which disrupts and restricts normal economic and trade exchanges, and undermines the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains,” Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy, said, according to Politico.
Together, DJI and Autel account for nearly 90% of the U.S. drone market, with DJI’s share of the global market exceeding 70%.
A spokesperson for DJI said the company is “disappointed” by the FCC’s move.
“While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination,” the spokesperson said.
The FCC announcement does not affect individuals’ ability to continue using drones they previously purchased or acquired.
Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), which was established in August to lead the counter-drone strategy, is focused on ensuring that upcoming major events in the U.S., most notably this summer’s World Cup, are safe from these threats.
This action is a proactive and prudent measure to safeguard U.S. national security and restore sovereignty over American airspace and directly addresses the unacceptable risks posed by foreign-made drones.
“The expansion of the Covered List is a critical threat-reduction measure that underscores the whole of government approach championed by JIATF-401. This decision will decrease the number of untrusted systems in the homeland reinforcing a layered defense of critical infrastructure, protected sites, and public venues where Americans congregate,” LTC Adam Scher, a spokesperson for JIATF-401, told the Washington Examiner.
Law enforcement and military officials are working together to address the growing threat posed by drones both domestically and at U.S. military bases globally. They need to be able to identify, track, and ultimately intercept any drone that could pose a threat to civilians, while also ensuring that their efforts don’t unintentionally harm anyone. This makes physically intercepting drones more challenging.
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The task force has been working closely with other agencies to prepare for threats during the World Cup, “to make sure that they have an informed picture of the threat and understanding of what these systems can and cannot do, make sure that they have access to counter-UAS capability,” Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, JIATF-401 director, said last week.
“I think the threat of small UAS is the defining threat of our time,” he added.
