The FCC Covered List and foreign drones.
On December 22, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission added all foreign-produced drones and their critical components to its Covered List. New authorizations stopped. Existing aircraft kept flying. Here is exactly what that means.
What the Covered List does
The Covered List names communications equipment the FCC will not authorize for sale in the United States. Adding foreign-produced drones and critical components means no new equipment authorization for them, which is the step every radio-equipped product needs before it can be marketed here. The action followed a mandate in the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act and a national security determination issued on December 21, 2025.
What it does not do
- Aircraft already authorized and in use are not grounded.
- No agency is required, by this action alone, to replace a fleet.
- Updates continue: an FCC waiver extended in May 2026 permits security patches and software changes for already-authorized foreign aircraft through at least January 1, 2029.
What changed for buyers the same day
Federal funds have been unavailable for covered aircraft since December 22, 2025. For an agency that buys with grants, that is the operative restriction, more than the authorization rule. Separately, several states have their own requirements: Florida required replacement of covered aircraft already in service, and Connecticut runs a phase-in through 2028.
The timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | National security determination issued |
| 2025-12-22 | All foreign-produced UAS and critical components added to the Covered List; federal funds no longer available for covered aircraft |
| 2026-05 | FCC extends the waiver for firmware and software updates on already-authorized aircraft |
| 2029-01-01 | Earliest end of the update waiver as currently written |
What people do when they misread it
Some agencies parked working fleets in January 2026 because they believed the aircraft were illegal. They were not. Others assumed nothing had changed and applied for grants to buy foreign aircraft, which cannot be funded. The accurate reading sits between: keep flying what you own, and buy compliant from here on.
Questions buyers ask
Can I still buy a new DJI drone?
New models cannot receive FCC equipment authorization since December 22, 2025, so they cannot be legally marketed in the United States. Units authorized before that date can still be sold and flown.
Does the Covered List ground my existing fleet?
No. Aircraft you already own stay legal to operate.
What does the waiver actually cover?
Firmware and software updates, including security patches and larger software changes, for already-authorized foreign aircraft, through at least January 1, 2029. It does not remove any manufacturer from the list or change procurement restrictions.
Does this affect foreign components, not just whole drones?
Yes. The listing covers foreign-produced UAS critical components as well as complete aircraft.
What should an agency do this year?
Inventory the fleet, budget a compliant replacement for the tier you fly most, and keep the existing aircraft flying until they age out. Our DJI replacement guide lays out the plan.
- Wiley, "In Unexpected, First-of-Its-Kind Action, FCC Adds All Foreign-Produced Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and UAS Critical Components to Covered List", December 2025.
- DroneLife, "FCC Adds Foreign-Made Drones and Components to Covered List: What It Means for Operators and Manufacturers", 2025-12-27.
- DroneDJ, "FCC just saved millions of DJI drones from going obsolete", 2026-05-18.
- AUVSI, "FCC Covered List: FAQs for Industry and International Partners", accessed 2026-09-04.
- Harris Aerial, "Is DJI Banned? 2026 Rules for Utility, Gov & Public Safety" (state rules), accessed 2026-09-04.
In one line
- No new authorizations for foreign drones since 2025-12-22.
- Existing aircraft stay legal; updates through at least 2029-01-01.
- Federal money buys compliant aircraft only.
- Replacement guide