FCC Adds Security Letters to DJI and Autel Dockets
The move integrates national security agency findings into the formal regulatory process for drone equipment authorizations.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Robotics
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The FCC has added redacted cover pages of Department of War letters regarding DJI and Autel Robotics to its official dockets. These documents concern the inclusion of the companies on the FCC Covered List, which prohibits new equipment authorizations for designated entities.
Why it matters
The move formalizes the regulatory path established by the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. It signals an escalation in the national security review process for foreign-made drone technology operating within the U.S. market.
The FCC added DJI and Autel to the Covered List on December 22, 2025, triggering a restriction on new equipment authorizations. The exact technical criteria for this designation remain classified.
The players
FCC
The independent U.S. agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications and managing equipment authorizations.
DJI
A manufacturer of consumer and commercial drones currently contesting its status on the U.S. Covered List.
Autel Robotics
A drone manufacturer that is currently seeking an official review of its equipment authorization restrictions.
The details
The FCC disclosed redacted cover pages of correspondence sent to congressional committees under Section 1709 of the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, a law governing defense policy and spending. This process allows national security agencies to identify threats associated with specific manufacturers. The actual findings remain under seal, meaning the underlying technical evidence for these security assessments is not currently available for public inspection.
Timeline
December 22, 2025: FCC added DJI and Autel to the Covered List.
January 2026: DJI and Autel filed petitions for review.
September 2026: DJI challenged a separate FCC importation proposal.
October 14, 2026: FCC released a public notice regarding the letters.
The Tech Race
This development follows the formal process mandated by Section 1709 of the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. It marks a critical milestone in the ongoing efforts by regulators to isolate specific foreign drone manufacturers from the U.S. infrastructure supply chain.
The ongoing restrictions limit the availability of new, FCC-authorized equipment from the affected manufacturers in the U.S. market. Commercial and individual operators should monitor the dockets for upcoming rulings on the petitions for review filed by both companies.
The takeaway
The addition of these documents to the official record highlights the increasing weight of national security determinations in equipment authorization. Observers should track the pending petitions for review filed in January 2026 for any updates on the legal viability of the current restrictions.
Further reading
For broader context on the shifting landscape of drone hardware regulation, visit Robotics.
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Should the government restrict foreign-made drones based on classified security evidence?
