# US bans DJI drones as military tech

> US government threatens to ban five DJI drone models as military tech.
- Title: US bans DJI drones as military tech · Digital Camera World
- Summary: US government threatens to ban five DJI drone models as military tech. The US FCC plans to ban DJI drones with LiDAR sensors from sale by January 2027…
- Keywords: federal communications commission, dji, liidar, trade war, drone, military tech, us government, bans, drones, military, tech, Digital Camera World
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/drones/in-britain-kids-can-buy-these-drones-but-the-us-government-is-threatening-to-call-five-of-them-military-and-take-them-off-the-shelves-why
- Published: 2026-10-06T10:27:08+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: federal communications commission, dji, liidar, trade war, drone, military tech, us government
## US FCC bans DJI drones
The US FCC now considers DJI drones with LiDAR sensors as military technology, threatening to remove them from shelves by January 2027.

> The FCC's proposed definition is broad enough to capture many of the civilian drones Americans rely on every day.
## DJI models affected
DJI Neo 2, Avata 360, Air 3S, Mini 5 Pro, and Mavic 4 Pro drones are listed as using military-grade LiDAR sensors.
## DJI's response
DJI states it does not design military-grade equipment and has opposed weaponizing civilian drones for commercial and recreational use.

> DJI does not design or manufacture military-grade equipment, nor has it marketed or sold its products for military use.
## Trade war reason
The US government claims the ban targets Chinese drone companies amid trade tensions, prioritizing military applications over affordable consumer drones.
## Impact on buyers
Retailers cannot sell new DJI drones after January 2027, but existing owners can keep their units.
## What happens next
Hobbyists must decide if they need LiDAR features before the January 2027 deadline to avoid losing access to advanced drone technology.
## Key takeaway

The US FCC plans to ban DJI drones with LiDAR sensors from sale by January 2027, claiming they are military technology due to trade tensions with China.