US Government

Two US Senators have formally introduced their version of the Countering CCP Drones Act as an amendment to the Senate’s FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reintroducing the call for a ban on the sale of new DJI drones in the US. To be clear, this amendment has not been considered yet. But tech giant DJI has expressed concerns about the recommendations outlined in the amendment, emphasizing that they are extremely problematic and damaging for the US drone industry.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has submitted an amendment he intends to propose to the Senate Armed Services Committee’s annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025. The amendment seeks to attach the Countering CCP Drones Act to the Senate’s version of the NDAA, thus reintroducing the call for a ban on the sale of new DJI drones in the US.

Last week, DroneDJ reported that the US Senate has released its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and it does not currently include provisions that would impact your right to use DJI products in the future. While this is a positive development, drone maker DJI is quick to stress there’s more to watch out for.

US lawmakers are calling upon the Commerce Department to include Chinese drones in the evolving regulations for connected vehicles. Members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, in particular, have outlined concerns regarding the espionage capabilities of Chinese-made drones including DJI.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has released its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which notably omits the demand to ban new DJI drones from entering the US market. The House passed its version of the bill last month with provisions to stop the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from issuing new licenses to DJI over national security concerns.

The United States has added Chinese drone maker Autel Robotics to its trade blacklist due to national security concerns. Tech giant DJI was placed on this list in 2020. But at that time, the US Department of Commerce cited “human rights abuses” as the reason behind DJI’s inclusion in its “Entity List”.

US lawmakers are urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to declassify information regarding the potential national security risks posed by Chinese-manufactured drones, particularly DJI.

Here is what’s happening with the potential ban of DJI drones in the US, and what drone pilots can expect in the weeks to come…

As Capitol Hill debates the Countering CCP Drones Act (HR 2864), an increasing number of industry professionals are coming forward to voice their opinions about the adverse effects of a potential ban on DJI drones. The latest to oppose the bill is Travis Waibel, CEO and founder of Advexure — one of the largest drone dealers and integrators in the country. He says the proposed legislation isn’t about data security at all. Then what is it about? Read on…

A new bipartisan bill has been introduced in the US Senate to keep commercial, off-the-shelf drones out of the hands of foreign terrorists.

As DJI’s future in the US hangs in the balance, a heated debate is unfolding within the commercial drone industry. Legislative efforts are underway to implement a ban on Chinese-manufactured DJI drones and bolster domestic manufacturers like Skydio and BRINC. However, it has raised deep concerns about the readiness and scalability of American drone makers to meet the market’s demands.

With Congress only hours away from deciding tech giant DJI’s future in the United States, here’s what the “Countering CCP Drones Act” (HR 2864) means for the drones you already have.

The US Senate will soon deliberate on a significant piece of legislation that could impact your ability to access and operate DJI drones. The bill in question is the “Countering CCP Drones Act” (HR 2864), and it aims to ban new DJI products from entering the US market.

Republican leaders on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party are urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to open an investigation into the Drone Advocacy Alliance (DAA). The industry coalition group has been actively involved in the discussion surrounding the potential ban on DJI drones in the US and has vehemently opposed legislation that proposes a new tax system to radically increase DJI drone prices.

The recent passing of the TikTok bill in Congress is raising concerns that it might set a precedent for similar actions against Chinese companies in the US. More specifically, it could affect pending legislation like the Countering CCP Drones Act, which would effectively make all DJI drones — new and old — unusable in the US, and a fresh proposal known as the Drones for First Responders Act (DFR Act) which relates to first responder use of Chinese-made drones.

Tech giant DJI has outlined the significant and immediate repercussions that denying access to their drones via the “Countering CCP Drones Act” will have on people across the United States.

Tech giant DJI has provided a detailed response to legislation that seeks to ban its drones in the US. If passed, the “Countering CCP Drones Act” would prevent operators from buying the latest DJI drones — and may also potentially ground existing fleets, regardless of how operators use them — because it would prohibit DJI from operating on US communications infrastructure. The bill has already advanced to clear a Congress committee hearing.

AgEagle Aerial Systems says it has secured a major contract for eBee X and eBee TAC drones for use by the US Department of Energy (DOE). The drones will support DOE in national security and emergency response efforts.

The world’s leading drone maker DJI has clearly had enough of the recurring accusations about the data security of its craft, and the attendant blacklists drawn up by US political leaders offering no substantiation of their claims. In response, the company has issued a rare clarification about the steps it takes to secure user information on its craft.

The walls appear to be steadily closing in on DJI in the US – and perhaps, users of its drones as well – following official warnings issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency over alleged security threats China-produced drones pose to operators.

The highly geeked out unit of the U.S. Department of Defense has issued a $10 million contract to develop its long contemplated Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay system (POWER), which will likely use drones as airborne platforms to conduct electric refueling for other vehicles – or for re-juicing their own batteries.