DJI’s most popular consumer drones are still legal to buy and fly in the United States, but the newest models can’t get new equipment authorization from the FCC — and the agency’s public comment window on a further restriction closes September 2, 2026.
That timeline is largely a government and enterprise problem right now — hobbyists are not required to buy NDAA-compliant hardware, and existing DJI products remain on the market. But for public safety agencies, federal contractors, and businesses that are budgeted, insured, or contracted around Blue UAS eligibility, “wait and see” is no longer free. Here’s what’s actually happening, who needs to care, and which non-Chinese-made drones are worth comparing right now.
Where the DJI situation actually stands
The FCC halted new equipment authorizations for DJI and other Chinese-made drones in December 2025, adding the company to its Covered List over supply-chain and data-security concerns. DJI has since sued the FCC, calling the restriction “arbitrary” and unconstitutional, and that challenge is still working through the courts alongside a parallel Autel Robotics case. Existing DJI aircraft remain legal to own, sell, and fly — the freeze applies to new models seeking authorization, which is why drones like the Mini 5 Pro and Neo 2 are still on shelves even as DJI’s pipeline for what comes next is effectively stalled in the U.S. market.
Layered on top of that is a separate FCC proceeding that would classify certain drone equipment as posing “military-grade” risk, with the public comment window closing September 2. It doesn’t ban anything by itself, but it’s the next data point in a regulatory track that keeps trending toward tighter restrictions rather than looser ones — a trend allaboutuavs.com covered in today’s morning brief.
Who this actually affects
If you fly for fun, none of this changes what’s in your bag today. The pressure is concentrated among public safety departments, federal and state agencies, and contractors who need Blue UAS Cleared List status or NDAA compliance to legally deploy or get reimbursed for a platform. For that audience, the Covered List freeze already narrows what can be purchased going forward, and it’s worth knowing the field before a procurement deadline forces the decision.
Six NDAA-compliant drones worth comparing
None of these directly clone DJI’s price point — that’s the honest first takeaway. Domestic and allied manufacturing costs more, and buyers should expect to pay for it.
- Skydio X10/X10D — 48MP wide camera plus a 64MP zoom lens and thermal sensor, roughly 40 minutes of flight time. Built for autonomous ISR and public safety work; pricing is quote-based through Skydio’s enterprise channel.
- Freefly Astro Max (Blue) — a 61MP full-frame Sony camera, RTK L1/L2 positioning, and about 43 minutes of endurance, priced around $28,995. Positioned for enterprise mapping and inspection where image quality drives the deliverable.
- Inspired Flight IF800 Tomcat — roughly 54 minutes of flight time, a 3kg payload capacity, and a dual-battery system, starting near $23,000. Aimed at heavy-payload and LiDAR mapping work.
- ACSL SOTEN — a 20MP global-shutter camera, about 25 minutes of flight time, and swappable payloads, around $16,660. A compact option for mapping and inspection.
- Parrot Anafi USA GOV/MIL — dual 21MP cameras with 32x zoom and a FLIR thermal sensor, roughly 32 minutes of flight time, priced between $7,000 and $14,000 depending on configuration. Built for public safety and thermal search work.
- Teal 2 — FLIR thermal imaging, 30-plus minutes of flight time, and encrypted communications at a mid-range price point, aimed at night operations and tactical use.
Six of these seven configurations carry Blue UAS Cleared List approval, but — as several manufacturers have pointed out — assembly location alone doesn’t determine NDAA compliance. Ownership structure and component sourcing matter just as much, so buyers evaluating any of these should confirm current Blue UAS and NDAA status directly with the manufacturer before a purchase, since eligibility lists change.
What to weigh before switching
Price is the most obvious gap — all six platforms above land well above what a comparable DJI enterprise drone would cost, and that’s before software, training, and support contracts. The upside is a supply chain that isn’t tied up in an active FCC dispute, and in some cases, hardware built specifically around thermal, LiDAR, or ISR missions that a general-purpose camera drone wasn’t designed for.
The realistic advice for most operators: if your current DJI fleet isn’t subject to a Blue UAS or NDAA requirement, there’s no functional reason to replace working hardware today. If you’re buying new equipment for a contract, grant, or agency that does require compliance, budget accordingly and start the eligibility conversation with a manufacturer now — procurement timelines for these platforms tend to run longer than a DJI purchase ever did.
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