US targets China in move to ban military-grade drone imports

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday proposed rules to prohibit imports of advanced drones, primarily from China, citing escalating national security risks from military-grade technology.

Under the proposed rules, the regulator would block drones equipped with swarming capabilities and infrared sensors for high-resolution thermal imaging. These technologies are considered potential military threats.

Meanwhile, exemptions for components produced outside China, introduced in December, have been extended until January 2028, indicating a focus on isolating Chinese manufacturers such as DJI and Autel Robotics.

The move comes days after US President Donald Trump accused China of interfering in the 2020 US elections. It signals a hardening of Washington's stance against foreign-made surveillance technology while attempting to mitigate immediate supply chain shocks for domestic users.

FCC officials said the measures were necessary to "secure the drone supply chain" and prevent sensitive data from being accessed by foreign states.

In 2022, the FCC banned telecommunications and video surveillance equipment from prominent Chinese brands, including Huawei and ZTE, citing an "unacceptable risk to national security." US security officials have warned that equipment from Chinese brands like Huawei could be used to interfere with fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks and collect sensitive information.

The FCC's latest move reflects a bipartisan consensus in Washington to treat foreign drone technology as an "unacceptable risk" to national infrastructure.