Drone maker argues FCC relied on broad assumptions instead of company-specific analysis In a sharply worded filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), drone manufacturer Autel Robotics is pushing back against the agency’s decision to place its products on the FCC’s Covered List. The filing makes one point especially clear: Autel does not want to be treated as … [Read more...] about Autel Challenges FCC Covered List Decision, Distances Itself from DJI
foreign-made drones
FCC Adds More Drone Exemptions to Covered List Ban: Elevon Aerial, Air6 Systems
New FCC notice expands the list of conditionally approved foreign-made drone systems exempted from the agency’s broad Covered List restrictions The Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List continues to evolve as federal agencies work through the implications of the FCC’s sweeping restrictions on foreign-made drones and critical components. In a Public Notice released … [Read more...] about FCC Adds More Drone Exemptions to Covered List Ban: Elevon Aerial, Air6 Systems
Mariah Scott on Building a Resilient US Drone Ecosystem
The FCC’s recent decision to prohibit new foreign-made drones and components marks a major shift in U.S. drone policy, aimed at reshaping supply chains in the name of national security. In this guest post, drone industry leader Mariah Scott explores why the ban is less about individual companies and more about building a coordinated, resilient U.S. drone ecosystem that can … [Read more...] about Mariah Scott on Building a Resilient US Drone Ecosystem
DJI Seeks Court Review as FCC Covered List Expansion Reshapes U.S. Drone Market
Petition challenges December ruling affecting foreign-made UAS and components The U.S. drone industry continues to adjust to a significant regulatory shift following a December 2025 decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand its Covered List to include certain foreign-produced uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and critical components. In response, Chinese … [Read more...] about DJI Seeks Court Review as FCC Covered List Expansion Reshapes U.S. Drone Market
AUVSI Op-Ed: Ending Reliance on PRC Drones: Why the U.S. Must Act Now to Secure the Future of Domestic Drone Manufacturing
In this Op-Ed, Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), offers an industry perspective on the recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report titled "Federal Lands: Effects of Interior's Policies on Foreign-Made Drones." This response comes in the wake of last week’s published statement from drone … [Read more...] about AUVSI Op-Ed: Ending Reliance on PRC Drones: Why the U.S. Must Act Now to Secure the Future of Domestic Drone Manufacturing
