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

Staff writers from Al Jazeera and Reuters reported this story.

The proposed rule is the latest in a series of US actions aimed at limiting Chinese technology imports over security concerns.

Published On 22 Jul 202622 Jul 2026

Citing escalating national security worries about military-grade technology, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken steps to ban imports of advanced drones, predominantly from China.

Under the proposed rules announced on Tuesday, the US regulator will block the entry of drones equipped with swarming capabilities and infrared sensors for high-resolution thermal imaging.

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At the same time, exemptions for non-Chinese components, initially announced in December, have been prolonged through January 2028, indicating an effort to target Chinese firms like 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 such as Huawei could be used to interfere with fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks and collect sensitive information.

One of the largest manufacturers of telecommunications equipment in the world, Huawei has had an embattled relationship with the US and its allies, facing some of the heaviest sanctions ever placed on a single company in the US.

In 2019, Trump signed into law the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which established criteria to identify communications services Washington deemed could pose a risk to national security.

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

The FCC's move follows a broader pattern of US restrictions on Chinese telecom equipment, including a 2022 ban on Huawei and ZTE. These actions reflect persistent fears over data security and espionage. Industry watchers expect further measures as the US election cycle intensifies.